JOIN US'Different comedians inspire me for different reasons'
It was five years ago that Daniel Fernandes decided to leave the advertising sector and try his luck in comedy. Today, that walk-out seems to be the best decision he ever made. Having gained popularity for a dark and surreal style of comedy, Fernandes turns heads for an unabashed manner of parading the stage with stand-up acts on topics ranging from Syria and marital rape to student suicide.
He takes them all up, with an honest and brutal perspective, showing a mirror to society. In 2012, he also launched his comedy production company, Microphone Entertainment.
In a chat with Metrolife, he shares his thoughts about the future of the stand-up comedy in India, his inspiration, and his pertinent reason for not liking television show Comedy Nights with Kapil.
Was it a conscious decision to do stand-up acts on social issues?
I honestly prefer “social commentary” over “social issues” to describe my work. When I started my YouTube channel, the idea was to talk about things that you wouldn’t expect in a standup comic’s repertoire, and it just grew organically from there. I picked random mundane news items and tried to put a comedic spin on it and somewhere I think I connected with a few people. Also, I think we’re living in a time where this is the most human beings have ever communicated with each other, so to be able to bring a unique perspective into these conversations for me is very exciting.
What inspires you?
Different comedians inspire me for different reasons. Right now, the ones that are pushing me to do the things I do are John Oliver, Kevin Hart, Anthony Jeselnik and Trevor Noah.
How long does it take you to conceptualise and prepare a script for an act?
For the videos that you seen on my YouTube channel, it takes me around two to three weeks to write, workshop, shoot, edit and upload. The process involves a lot of reading about these topics, speaking to people, bouncing off ideas to my non-comedian friends, figuring out how I feel about these topics and then putting it altogether and getting on stage.
Have you evolved as a stand-up comedian over the years?
In the five years that I’ve been doing stand-up, I think I’ve evolved in a way that I now am much less ghastly. I think my writing has improved a little, and I’ve learned how to use my smile more effectively when I’m on stage.
Has there been an increase in the avenues for stand-up comedians?
There are definitely more avenues for comedians than ever before. The internet has proven to be the big game changer. Because of the reach of Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, a lot of us went from playing half filled rooms in pubs to sold-out shows at major venues across the country. This has also translated to international success for some. The best part about this boom is that so many genres of comedy have the opportunity to thrive. It’s not just stand-up, but comedians can choose to showcase their talents through sketch, improv, musical comedy, podcasts, video logs, web series, films and TV writing. A lot of major brands are also leveraging comedy to sell their products and spend a fair amount of money to created branded comedy content.
Where do you see the stand-up comedy scene in India 20 years down the line?
Twenty years down the line, I hope to see the Indian comedy scene establish itself as a massive industry, possibly on the scale of Bollywood.
What are your views about Comedy Nights with Kapil, as you have ribbed the show in some of your acts?
I think Kapil Sharma is funny. It’s the things he chooses to be funny about that makes me sad. His TV shows perpetuate sexism, patriarchy, misogyny, fat shaming, domestic abuse and homophobia all in the name of entertainment. He never challenges his audience. He just meets them where they are and makes them stay there. India’s number 1 comedy show is a shoddy adaptation of a British TV show (The Kumars at No. 42) that used to be popular 15 years ago. That says it all doesn’t it?
Before going up on stage do you have a fear of ‘what if they don’t laugh?’
Barring the odd bad corporate gig, if you’ve been doing comedy for a while, it is very rare that an audience is completely unresponsive. You obviously prepare a set list of tried and tested material you know will work. There are always the odd instances where a joke may not land well, but that’s fine, you just move on to the next one. Everyone bombs and has a bad gig at some point or the other. Its part and parcel of what we do, no big deal.