‘Streaming is the answer’

Having released his Netflix special, the comic Kanan Gill thinks comedy works better when streamed

You are only the fourth Indian stand-up artist to have a Netflix special. Were there nerves?

Well this (Yours Sincerely, Kanan Gill) is my third hour, so I can say with confidence that there are always nerves. The process of putting [together] an hour involves a lot of rigour, a lot of writing, and show after show. I stage-tested this special more than I ever have before. It was exhausting. One and a half years of touring in India and six months touring abroad is what it took before recording.

The ability to laugh at oneself is a key part of being a good comic. Are being vulnerable and opening your life to scrutiny essential too? Being vulnerable and honest helps you come to terms with exactly what it is you’re going through. And then if you laugh at your predicament, it’s a sign that you’re no longer trapped by it.

What’s been your coping mechanism during the lockdown? Or do you work fine in isolation?

I am very privileged that isolation for me just means having my usual life at home. I ended up having to cancel around six months of shows. I was once worried about how much little free time I had, but now that I am lucky enough to have all this time, I have spent every waking moment working. That is life.

How does it feel performing live for an audience that is only accessible to you through a screen?

I think stand-up in its conventional form can’t be directly adapted to just working online. We’re still figuring it out, but I think streaming is the answer. It’s a little unnerving not hearing an audience, but I think there are enough examples of live streaming working well enough.