โBangalore has a split personality just like its weather. The people are either quite pious and into their culture, or have been smoking up and havenโt showered for a couple of days because theyโre too cool to do it,โ deadpans Sharul Channa.
The Indian stand-up comic from Singapore is winding up her tour of the country, and Bengaluru with a show this weekend, is her last stop. โFrom the time I started my show in Mumbai to its conclusion this weekend, Iโve gathered so much material. The people are so vibrant and things here can be quite amusing. I find myself chuckling away even as Iโm taking notes.โ
She recalls a recent incident in Mumbai. โI love Kolhapuris and this was at the height of the Kolhapuri-Prada controversy, so of course I had to get myself a couple to support the artisans. Two foreigners spotted my footwear and pitying the homeless craftsmen wanted to get some, so I opened up Google Maps and pointed out Kolhapur. They went their way, tutting that it was quite far, while I turned a corner and bought myself another pair,โ she chortles in absolute glee.
Her sharp-edged humour points inward too. โIt was for a lark and Iโm sure they figured it out eventually. But itโs fun to watch how we jump on to trends; I not only got myself four or five pairs of those slippers, I got them in vegan because Iโm one of those crusaders as well. โ
Stand up comic Sharul Channa
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Sharul admits she enjoys performing in India as โdifferent cities have their own vibe, culture, language, traditions and customs โ itโs quite exciting.โ
โWhen I travel across India, I take a break between shows. I went to Uttarakhand for a peaceful trip, then I was in a homestay in Mysore for four days and now Iโm in Pondicherry for a bit. I head to these little corners where I find comfort, and in the process, I get a lot of material too.โ
Pivoting back to Bengaluru, she says the auto drivers here are a class apart (but of course). โI love to take autos there โ the drivers should compete for F1. The last time I was there, the auto was going so fast I saw my next two reincarnations. I had to tell him โI want to go fast, but I donโt want to go fastโ.โ
She continues non-stop, much like those auto drivers. โI decided Iโd rather act like I couldnโt speak, than talk to an auto driver in Hindi while in Bangalore. So thatโs what I did on another ride. My manager was next to me and I mimed my way through it; the auto driver was quite sweet.โ
โLouis Vuitton has introduced a new auto bag and Iโm going to get one because the auto will tell me where it wants to go, rather than going where I want it to,โ she continues, taking a dig at the infamous attitude of the three-wheeled service providers in the city.
Stand up comic Sharul Channa at one of her shows
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
โIts a challenge, but I still love the vibe here and the lingo. I think people are way more open in Bangalore.โ
Watching a stand-up is fun. Talking to one, even for an article, can be a hoot, especially since Sharul amuses herself as well as her audience, even if it is a single listener. However, in conversation with her, one realises the thick accent associated with many of her stage shows is noticeably missing.
โIn Singapore, we are very good at switching accents. We have a majority Chinese population, followed by Tamilians, and then people of Malay origin. When we are in conversation with different nationalities, we turn our accents around. Its not a racist thing; its a Singaporean habit because of the many people we encounter there,โ she says, explaining that most of her shows are recorded for Asian audiences.
Even though her family moved to Singapore when she was a baby, Sharul identifies as an Indian. โWe would come back to India for holidays, and though Iโm an NRI, Iโm quite close to my Indian roots and Iโm proud of it,โ she says, adding that it is a nod to the title of her show as well as the reason why she is often seen performing in a sari.
โThe Indian identity is very strong โ you can move anywhere in the world, but you will not be able to get it out of yourself. Besides my mom is a Hindi teacher and my dad is an Indian chef, so how much more Indian can you get?โ
Sharul Channa will present Saree-ously Not Sorry at The Medai-The Stage on August 1 and 2, at 8pm. Tickets priced at โน499 are available on BookMyShow.