No Filter: Tamil standup comedy to get its due recognition

The show on Amazon Prime Video is all about talented standup comics judging and mentoring amateur standup artistes, in an attempt to find the country’s next big comic sensation.

It is about time Tamil and Tanglish (Tamil + English) standup comedians got their due. For as long as I have known, comedy in Tamil has either been filmy or mimicry. In recent times, with the boom in online video streaming services, we have seen several standup comics from Tamil Nadu getting noticed. I recently caught up with one of the hosts of Comicstaan Tamil, Vidyu Raman, on the sets of the show in her caravan (jealous much?). I guess being friends for years gives you an insider access, and I musttell you, the VIP treatment is as good as it’s advertised.

Vidyu cannot contain her excitement on being part of this exciting project. She’s happy that Amazon Prime Video is providing a platform for budding Tamil comics, also marking their first foray into the south. I’m really excited not only because the set had great snacks, but also because they got a fabulous comedienne par excellence as one of the show’s hosts. There is also a female comic participating in the show, which I’m even more excited about. Sadly, I cannot divulge any more details than this without getting sued guys. So, you will just have to wait and see for yourself when the show releases in 2020.

Vidyu thinks it takes a lot of courage to be a standup comic as you perform everything live and it all depends on the audience’s reactions. You can either bomb or be the person who leaves the room in splits. Vidyu tells me the standup scene in Chennai is teeming at this point with a lot of talent, but unfortunately, many of them go unrecognised as the masses remain largely unaware of open mic nights. Mervyn Rozario, her co-host, is popular in the city’s standup scene. Together, these two are a riot with engaging and entertaining repartee on set. They’re a hit with the live studio audience (who pay for their tickets, mind you). Vidyu tells me, “It feels like I’m back on the theatre stage and I get the same satisfaction as I did from my theatre days.” Evam Karthik, Praveen Kumar and Rajmohan — names synonymous with the Tamil standup comedy scene are our judges. I’m hoping that the show also expands to other languages. There are a few more episodes left to be filmed. Can 2020 get here soon already?