New clubs in Bengaluru driving fresh interest in comedy

While cities like Delhi and Mumbai have a long-standing culture of comedy clubs, Bengaluru’s scene has taken off in a big way only over the past three years, say comics.

Anand Rathnam, a former civil engineer who switched to comedy full-time seven years ago, says that earlier, pubs and cafes would offer aspiring comics a space to perform in order to boost their own sales. He adds that Bengaluru’s comedy club scene has truly emerged only in recent years. 

Several comics agree that short-form videos on Instagram and YouTube have introduced standup comedy to audiences who were previously unfamiliar with the concept. Out of curiosity, many now want to see these artistes perform their full sets in person. “YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels have helped launch several comic careers,” adds Rathnam.

Today, Bengaluru has about five to six comedy clubs spread across areas like Brigade Road, Indiranagar, and Whitefield, three of which opened between 2019 and 2025. On weekdays, footfall ranges between 5 and 30, but weekends draw hundreds.

The Comedy Theatre opened on Church Street in January this year. Decoding the city’s growing interest in comedy, its manager and standup comic Vishal Kesarwani says, “In a cafe, everyone is distracted — eating, chatting, or catching up with friends and family. You have to perform loud jokes that involve movement and energy to grab their attention.” In contrast, he says, “comics don’t have to work as hard to hold the audience’s attention at dedicated clubs,” which encourages experimentation and more thought-provoking humour.

The Underground Comedy Club in Koramangala opened in November 2023. Its co-founder Harman Preet Singh says the “standup boom can also be credited to the fact that these clubs are founded by comics themselves”. He adds, “It’s not a capitalistic business — it’s driven by passion and love for comedy.” Rathnam agrees, saying that even event management professionals who enjoy comedy have helped establish dedicated spaces.

The audience at comedy clubs is in their 20s and 30s. Singh says they include recent graduates, young professionals, and newlyweds with shared interests. Kesarwani adds that comedy thrives in cities with migrant populations like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi.

“People who have little to do on weekends and some disposable income look for entertainment,” he says. Several comedians have faced backlash in recent times for allegedly offending people’s sentiments, especially on topics like politics or religion, or “when clips from their shows are taken out of context”. As a result, “around 70% of comedians avoid sensitive subjects,” Rathnam says.