These past few months have been a really tough time for people emotionally as well as mentally. The world seems to have gone through a lot recently, and people are still reeling from its effects. While the vaccine may still not be available, laughter is the best antidote that is available. Okay, please don’t hate me for that pun.
With the growing fanbase of OTT platforms, one has noticed a big rise in the status of comedians and performers around the world, and today we shall give you a list of the stand-up specials by Indians that you shouldn’t miss.
Kaksha Gyaarvi – Zakir Khan:
Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime
We all have been through some form of trauma or anxiety as we grew up from a young boy to a teenager. Most of these problems revolved around the kind of group we had in our class, our ability or inability to talk to our crush, our first heartbreak, or even low marks.
I wouldn’t know about the first heartbreak as I studied in an all-boys school just like Zakir Khan. (Cries silently in the corner)
Zakir khan reminisces over his problems and struggles to get over the bullies and troubles that he had to face as a teenager in a witty manner that will keep you laughing for the major part of the show and leave you emotional at the end as he narrates the incidents of his time in school and college.
Pata nahi par bolna hai – Karunesh Talwar
Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime
We all have had particular problems with our education system and how society in general functions in this country.
Karunesh Talwar puts a funny twist on the few incidents that scarred his life in school early on. He also takes on cringe rappers and other stereotypes that are generally associated with an orthodox culture. He fumbles in a few of the sequences, but the fact that they chose not to edit them adds a certain amount and geniuses to the act, plus his demeanor will have you laughing throughout the show.
Yours sincerely- Kanan Gill
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Another comedian I believe has a lot of smart material is Kanan Gill, and sometimes that can be a problem as a wide number of people may not get the references.
In this stand-up special, Kanan Gill goes back in time and discovers a letter that he had written to his future self when he was younger.
He reads those goals and aspirations, bits of comedy that involve Shakespeare and the superfluous language used, his inability to get Sanskrit phrases out of his head due to the rote learning method and the jibes he takes at normal mundane things provide you with a fresh perspective and will certainly light up your day
Problems- Azeem Banatwalla
Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime
This is one of those dark sets where Azeem Banatwalla talks about the problems of his life (not a lot of creativity in the title, I guess.), and the solutions he has for them will either leave you in awe or have you laughing if you can bear to gulp it down.
Azeem Banatwalla talks about dating as a teenager and the problems that come with it. He also intertwines a lot of aspects like voting and democracy in a way that will make many laugh. Though things get pretty intense, you can’t help but admire his dark and funny solutions to it.
Losing it – Vir Das
Streaming Platform: Netflix
By far Vir Das has been one of my most favorite Indian stand-up comedians to grace the stage, and the fact that he has 3 Netflix stand-up specials and a Netflix original show shows just about the quality that he possesses.
I may be a bit biased here because I love all 3 of his stand up specials, but the one that I would recommend the most is ‘Losing It’, and while it may have some very controversial take on religion and the beliefs in this country, I would implore you to watch it with an open mind. He talks boldly about the political scenario and the religious entities that have associations with it. He speaks in a barrage of personification, metaphors, and puns that not only make you laugh but also think about the state of affairs in this country.
The new age of stand up comedians have been pretty bold and have always vied to tell the hard truths through their ironic comments and satire. These figures are rapidly growing in admiration by the Gen Z as they adore them and finally feel that there are some people who do not fabricate lies to justify the means. The OTT platforms have given them a special stage, and this means that their stature will keep on growing.