Stand-up comedian Naveen Richard believes that even while disconnecting with the surroundings or not knowing about what’s happening in the world, one can come up with absolutely fresh content, provided it connects with the audience. That’s exactly what he did for Relatively Relatable. By Chahak Mittal
How did you conceptualise the show, Relatively Relatable? What inspired it?
When you’re writing a show, you don’t have to really conceptualise it. There are two ways to bring it out. First, you spend a few months and write down all the jokes that come to your mind and find a scene for it. It is actually a more fun way to do it. Then, you eventually get tired of doing that, so you challenge yourself. It then starts with the scene and you explore it. I tried the first option. I just kept writing for two years about things that came into my head and then seven to eight months before the show, I started thinking about how I want to connect the dots. At that time, I had a major crisis in terms of my political beliefs and philosophies and what could get me through the crazy times. The world seemed spilt so I felt the need to talk about that part in all of us.
Observational comedy has become the most mainstream comic genre as it easily grabs the attention of people who are able to relate to what’s being said. How did you decide on your content and write your script in a way that everyday observations are visible?
What’s great about observational comedy is that it’s available to everybody. It’s the same observation yet very few people find it. Everyone knows the comic scene and strikes to have the same observation. The best observational jokes seemingly are the most obvious ones yet no one seeks it or digs it specially. To all those who say observational jokes are easy, they are not. It’s not easy to explore. I managed to do it as I was aware of it. I take the audience through seemingly familiar parts of observational jokes and then take them somewhere else. Like Neil Gaiman once said, “If your job is of a storyteller, then take the audience into a forest, guide them and tell them it’s going to be okay. And then you leave them in that forest.” I have wanted to do that with my jokes. I want to have a broader understanding of my observational jokes and then start messing around with them, with my character work and start doing funny anecdotal ones.
Are such shows and online entertainment industry working the best in the time of self-isolation?
I can see most of the comic creators trying to innovate and explore new ways to shoot themselves from home. Although there are some who choose to go long-term and maybe they are working on it and moving along. When the world gets fine later, they will look foward to making it happen. There are some who are working on churning out more frequent content — kind of a short-term deal. They keep on innovating as they are creative people and will go mad if they don’t do anything, really. A lot of stand-up comedians aren’t able to go on stage due to the situation. I am excited about what they will come up with.
Earlier, comedy was only looked at as something that’s supposed to be funny and give people a break from their monotonous schedules. Today, humour has become a tool of dissent and something that could be used to put across a strong perspective in a satirical way. What’s your take on such a change?
It’s good. But I think it has always been that way. When it comes to Kerala, humour is the greatest tool or weapon against political propaganda. Maybe it’s been the case with other states as well, it is just getting highlighted today through social media use. I think for the longest time, humour through cartoons and comics in newspapers has also been the greatest tool to represent a political ideology or opinion. Stand-up has just become another way.
How has the comedy industry evolved in India? There have been talent hunt shows around dance and music but Comicstaan was first of its kind...
It’s about time because stand-up comedy as a reality show is already a known concept internationally. And not just stand-up, reality judge-based contests have always been around. I grew up in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, watching a lot of comedy groups doing comic sketches. They have always been around. It’s just that the format of stand-up is new. Hence, the format of Comicstaan seemed to be new as well.
Mimicry artists have gone through it and showcased their comedy. It’s great because the audience loves drama but they need something that keeps them hooked on in between just like reality show dramas such as Roadies or any other. But here, Comicstaan is a drama with comedy in between. And it caters to people of all ages.
How do you keep yourself updated with the current trends because as a comedian you have to keep your content fresh and contemporary with the time?
I don’t agree you have to. Though, yes, it helps. You could speak on relevant things but there are a million things that will always be there and could be watched. I feel you can disconnect with the surroundings and still can come up with something that works. It’s possible to not know what’s going on in the world and have it influence your work. You don’t have to literally watch news 24x7 to be able to come up with the content. There is still a lot to speak about and make jokes on in comedy. It could literally be about anything you like, given it hits the audience.
(The episode, a part of Amazon Funnies, a new visual identity for Amazon Prime Video’s Stand-up Specials, can now be streamed on the platform.)
