There’s no ambiguity that her favourite topics to write jokes on are the tragedies of her life. Standup comic Prashasti Singh gets candid with Shraddha Kamdar on why it works with the audiences
It seems she simply has to go up on stage, talk about the tragedies of her life, and she’ll have the audience in splits. Or she makes it look as easy as that. No, I am not joking, she has pulled it off multiple times in her new career as a standup comic, where the jokes are centred around her parents, her job, her love life, or the lack of it. In one of her acts, she says that since childhood she had a feeling that her father was the superhero, and, her mother, his clumsy sidekick.
For engineer-turned-standup comic Prashasti Singh, her new-found craft is all about being honest, and talking of things that she as experienced in life. The idea has worked well, it’s what clicks with the audiences and she feels it is her USP. Even if she has to comment on social situations or her workplace gender equations, the best way for her is to make it self-deprecating. “That way, I become the mirror of the society, I become the biased person, I become the person with a sexist point of view. It is much easier to write jokes on my biases, and have the audience laughing at me, rather than commenting on a third person,” she says.
In Singh’s profession, the ability to laugh at oneself can prove to be an asset, and in doing so, encouraging others to join in. She says that comics find humour in really odd situations, and most of their comedy comes from pain, anger, or some sort of angst. “Although I am not laughing at it in the present tense, in retrospect, it still requires me to laugh at how pained I was at that time. My biggest strength is to laugh at myself or to make a complete fool of myself and still not care about what people will take away from that, and it works for a lot of other successful comedians as well,” she says.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE GOODNESS OF GHEE
What: The Pure Cow Ghee range for babies with sensitive skin from Himalaya Babycare
Hello Hyderabad!
The Kaftan Company makes its debut in Hyderabad with a physical store
A COSMIC CULINARY JOURNEY
Located in the vibrant heart of Kolkata, That Place Bowl & Bar aims to be something out of the ordinary
BIG ON THE SCREEN
Writer-director INDIRA DHAR is no newcomer to international film festivals, but a standing ovation at Cannes for her latest film was an unforgettable experience. She talks to Shraddha Kamdar about the inspiration, her love for films and more
COMMAND RESPECT EFFORTLESSLY
Try these strategies if you hate not being taken seriously.
FIND CALM IN CHAOS
Deal with difficult situations using the principles of stoicism.
GREENER IN THE CUP
Samiksha Bhowmik details why a cup of matcha needs to be part of your diet
THE BEST OF TWO VIBRANT WORLDS
LYLA, in Mumbai's BKC, seamlessly blends Central American vibrancy with Californian flair
A Melange Of the Middle East & Indian Spices
Bringing contemporary twists to tradition, MERCHANT & ME is a youthful urban space for cuisine and cocktails in Pune
10 REASONS WHY SEYCHELLES COULD BE YOUR DREAM DESTINATION
Seychelles hits all the high notes on the romance roster whether you're on honeymoon or a love break.