Comically yours

Laugh riot

In the ever-expanding space of standup comedy, it takes a special flair to set one apart from the rest of the crowd. For Kritarth Srinivasan, who found his calling in this genre after a brief stint with engineering, this talent came naturally and spontaneously.

A defence brat who is a mix of Tamilian and Malayali cultures — that is how he usually likes to describe himself. A combination of charm and energy, Kritarth recently performed to a packed audience and took time off to talk to Rajitha Menon about his tryst with comedy.

How did you get interested in standup comedy?

I was never interested in standup as such but I loved attention! Always the class clown, always at the forefront for debates in school — I loved the limelight. And when my standup act took off, I knew that this was the best thing that I can do for a living. I am just glad I started off early enough to see the scene grow.

When I started, we had just one open mic at Urban Solace Cafe, Ulsoor. Now it has reached a point where no matter how many open mics we have, it is not enough for the number of comics who come in to try their hand at comedy.

Where do you find inspiration for your content?

Everything that I say on stage is true; I never make up stories to make people laugh. There are jokes all around us and it is the mark of a great comedian to get people to notice those jokes. I talk about everyday, relatable issues. One of my friends once said, ‘If an audience goes back home, thinks about your jokes and tells their friends about it, then you are doing a good job.’ That is all I try to do.

What are some of the things people do at your shows that really annoy you?

Two things really irritate me. One, people shouldn’t bring small children to a standup show. They don’t get the jokes and they disturb the people who do. Two, when people go overboard with the alcohol and think that they need to take on the comedian. That is just coming in the way of a good show.

Your most memorable performance so far...

It has to be the first run of ‘Identity Crisis’, my solo standup show. I was expecting a small crowd of 40 to 50 people. An hour before the show, the tickets were sold out and 20 people were sent back because there was no space. I ended the performance with a standing ovation. It was a dream debut.

Describe yourself in three words

Curious, mental and lazy.

What would be your idea of a perfect date?

One where I don’t have to do all the talking.

What is the best advice you have ever got after a performance?

I don’t mean to sound clichéd but I have got way too much advice to pick one. Once I was told — ‘Do comedy because you love doing it and not because you want to prove something to someone.’ Also this, which can count as the best advice I have ever got — ‘Having a bad show is great. It keeps your ego in check and helps you write better so don’t be scared to do badly.’ I always remember this and it helps me a lot.

If you were asked to perform at a bachelorette party, what all would you do?

(Laughs) I am hoping you are talking about a standup comedy performance. If given a chance, I would roast the bride. I think insult comedy would work great at a place like that.