Stand-up comedian Rahul Subramanian

‘My humour is very simple and easy to consume’: Stand-up comedian Rahul Subramanian

Rahul Subramanian is a master of jokes that offer no opinion whatsoever. This ensures he’s at a safe distance from any kind of trouble and can happily go back to living his life after comedy. Or so he thought… Since turning his back on an MBA to take up comedy as a New Year’s resolution, Mumbai-bred Tamilian Rahul has won favour with critics and audiences alike. He’s goofy yet understated, with clever writing underpinning his silly takes on everyday observations. Rahul is one half of the award winning online sketch duo ‘Random Chikibum’.

 

Indus Age spoke to Rahul on the sidelines of Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2019 where he opened up about his popularity, the perks of being a known face, the most hilarious moment and more. Read on:

 

Interviewed by Nidhi Kumari

You’ve gained huge popularity and acceptance today, did you expect it, when you started?

When I started, I wasn’t aiming for any popularity. I was just overwhelmed by the idea of making a career out of doing something I like. So yes, definitely did not accept or plan for this, but it does feel nice.

 

What drove you to this field of stand-up comedy? When was the time you decided that you wanted to do this?

 

I was a brand manager, labouring in a job that I did not much enjoy. Needed a break/distraction so decided to try stand-up comedy. Everyday after work I would travel from one end of Mumbai to another to catch an open mic. Though extremely tiring, I was enjoying being part of something creative. I really started enjoying it and did this along with my job for 2 years. Then came a time when I had to choose between the two, as I was unable to do justice to either. The choice was easy.

 

You have millions of fans who connect with you, what do you think makes the audience identify with your acts?

 

My humour is very simple and easy to consume. My comedy is not about changing the world or driving a message, it’s about

things way sillier than that. I think that’s why people connect more with me, coz my comedy is a break for their overworked brains.

 

How do you create that charm, coming up with new and unique ideas every time? And what is it that you have to do to stay relevant?

 

I don’t have a process. My only principle for writing jokes is that it has to come naturally to me. You won’t find me deciding a topic and then trying to build a set on it. Anytime I find something funny I jot it down on my phone, and then I build on it. There are times when for months I find nothing funny, and that is fine with me, but the idea is to not force myself to make something funny. Although not consciously, but I do read a little about things happening in the world but not in depth. Details bore me. But I do read enough to have new thoughts about new things, but with limited knowledge – which is where my humour comes from – slightly relevant but not completely fact based.

 

To make someone smile and laugh is a very serious business and is extremely difficult, as there are chances of offending someone . What do you have to keep in mind as a comedian?

 

The filters keep evolving, some forced by the knowledge of possible repercussions (that you become a better judge of with experience), and some by your own principles which also keeps evolving. My core belief is one can joke about anything and everything. So, my first level of filter is that if anything is funny in my head then I can do it on stage. Of course there are few topics that fundamentally I don’t find funny, and I won’t joke about them but I will have no problem if someone else finds those topics funny and wants to joke about it.

 

The second level of filter (which is building in me subconsciously) is the possible reaction of people. This is something which has grown in me more in recent times, where I would find myself not approaching certain topics or angles even if I find funny, because  I know some people might not and at some level I just want to avoid that hate/backlash

 

Also do you think, it curbs creativity?

 

Yep it does, for sure. When I did my first open mic my only hurdle was my confidence, not the topics. Anything I find funny could be a topic and anything I don’t find funny would not. As simple as that. But now when I find myself rejecting/modifying content thinking of a possible backlash, of course it stifles my creativity.

 

You are visiting Australia for the ‘Melbourne International Comedy Festival’, is there any special preparation that you’ve done for the show? What’s instore for the audience?

 

I was there last year too and also did a roadshow with MICF in Singapore and HK. But the difference is I was doing 15-20 minute

sets in both of them. I am very confident about the first 6 shows coz they are in Hinglish, something that I am extremely comfortable in. I am slightly nervous about the 2nd 6 shows which are in English and so, truly for a global audience, because this is the first time I will be doing that. As far as preparation is concerned, I don’t believe in over preparation, I love enjoying the moment and leaving some of it to my gut. The only preparation I have done is for the English shows I have selected the jokes from my sets that will be relevant for the audience.

What’s in store for the audience? It’s an evening of mad, silly fun, at the end of which you will ask yourself “Is this even comedy?” but with a wide smile on your face. That’s a guaranteed.

 

In this competitive world of entertainment industry, what do you think sets you apart from the others?

 

I can’t say it sets me apart from the others, but what makes me come out as a genuine, unique comedian is how my jokes are extremely random and tend to jump from one unrelated topic to another without much fuss. As that’s how erratic I am in person, it comes out naturally on stage too and hence there is a weird honesty to the random things I say on stage. I think that’s something people like about my sets.

 

If you had to tell us about the most hilarious moment/s you have had while performing on stage . Your answer would be:

 

This is back when I had just started doing stand up. I was hosting a show and I used to do some lazy crowd work then. I looked at this man and woman sitting on the front row and said “So you both are dating ha”. The man replied “No”. I looked at the guy and said this with a smirk “So you are trying ha brother?” To which the woman replied “He is my father”. And I was stunned, had no idea how to react to that. After a few seconds of awkward silence I just looked at the crowd and went “So are you ready for you first act?”

That has to be the most embarrassing, and now looking back the most hilarious moment I’ve had of performing on stage.

 

There might be times when you aren’t in a good mood, still you have to do the show, how do you motivate yourself?

 

Stage is the only place I would be on when I am not in a good mood. For me stage acts like medicine when I am not in a good mood. So I always look forwad to be on stage, especially if I am not in a good mood. Don’t need any motivation at all for that.

 

What is your advice to aspiring stand up comedian?

 

If it’s funny to you it is funny. If people are not finding it funny means you have not yet managed to communicate to them exactly how you thought about it in your mind for the first time, which made you laugh a lot. So just be on it. And yes, also don’t take advice from anyone ☺

 

Your Message for the people in Australia?

 

To those who will make it to my show: What the hell were you thinking ??? To those who won’t make it to my show: Seriously, what the hell were you thinking ???

 

Some Quick questions :

Who is the last person you think of before going off to sleep at night?

 

My wife, only when I am not with her. If I am with her, then it is some Liverpool footballer.

 

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?

 

Someone tripped from their chair during my show and it was way funnier than the whole show, even for me.

A piece of advice someone gave you:

 

When there are 2 of you traveling by flight always book an aisle and a window seat. Most people don’t like booking a middle seat and high chances that will be empty. Even if someone does book it, that person won’t have a problem shifting to aisle or window and you both can still sit together.

 

What’s the best thing of being a popular face?:

 

The undeserving confidence that you acquire while walking in a public place.

What is it like to be on the stage as a stand up comedian?:

 

It’s like playing a sport. That’s the only thing you think that’s on your mind for the next 1 hour.

If not a comedian, what else would you have been?:

 

Brand Manager because I was one, and I definitely lack ambition to have tried something else.

To know more about the Comedy Festival visit: comedyfestival.com.au