Comedy is the best remedy, it can cure all your sorrows and sets you free. The comedy culture in India has developed quite well in recent years. Standup shows have got recognition as compared to the earlier years. To have good humour is not just talent but also a skill which not everyone possesses.
Can you make someone laugh with your wit and humour? However, comedy is not just about telling a joke. Similar to other industries, in the comedy industry as well, women have to work way harder than men. The percentage of women in the comedy scene is much lower than men.
We keep seeing videos of male comedians being circulated on the internet, but how many of you are aware that India has some quintessential female comedians? Here we are introducing you to the female comedians in India who make give you a laugh riot and inspire you to work even against the odds:
Neeti Palta
All those who said women cannot be funny, need to get on this list right now. Neeti Palta is a well known name in the comedy circuit. She has definitely made it big with her comedy special Almost Sanskaari where she takes a dig at her father, mother and herself.
Born in Agra, she lived most of her life in Delhi. She is a graduate in English and postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication. But we all must thank that she chose to take up comedy seriously. Neeti’s courage and strong will inspires many women to pursue their dreams with determination.
Anu Menon
Comedy is not about having humour, it is about using the humour into narrating incidents and storytelling. Anu Menon is one of the most recognised and experienced comedians in the comedy industry. Lola Kutty, her alter ego, was a popular Channel [V] VJ. This gave her a lot of attention from the circle. She is known to be wild, raw and unapologetic about being a “woman”. That is why most women in the audience connect with her the most.
Her narration of stories and incidents in her comedy special Wonder Menon is hilarious! You must watch it if you haven’t already. Her self deprecating wit is what attracts and makes audices laugh the most. Apart from comedy, she is also an actor, director and screenwriter. You can say that she is the jack of all trades.
Sumukhi Suresh
Most female comedians in India have to face abuses, trolling and slurs due to stereotypes and objectification. They are often commented upon with regards to their weight, size, color and other traits from physical appearance. One such comedian who faced these trolls but still came out strong is our ‘Pushpavalli’.
Sumukhi Suresh is a bubble of happiness and energy whenever she comes on stage. Her standup special ‘Dont tell Amma’ is a laugh riot. Furthermore, her collaboration with AIB and her self created character Behti Naak gained mass appreciation and popularity. If you follow her on social media, you will know how hilariously funny her stories are. She has come from getting trolled for her weight and sense of humour to being the Judge on India’s first comedy show “Comicstan”. Yes, her journey is indeed inspiring.
Urooj Ashfaq
Urooj Ashfaq may be new to the comedy scene but her humour is simple and on point. Most women can feel connected to the tales in her stand up comedy. In Queens of Comedy 2, she won the hearts of the audience with her wit and stood second in the show.
A unique thing about her sets is that she can make anything sound funny. On her Youtube channel, you can see videos where she states the struggles of being a Muslim girl and how her grandmother died. Her dark humour and intelligent jokes tickles the bones of everyone in the audience, Although she is comparatively young and inexperienced, she is exactly what you call “chhota packet, bada dhamaka”.
Aditi Mittal
If there is one female comedian who is unapologetically bashing patriarchy and societal norms, it is none other than Aditi Mittal. She was a part of the AIB team earlier. Her comedy special “Things They Wont Let Me Say” was sensational. She became the first female comedian to get her standup released on a web streaming platform.
In her stand up sets, you can find her tearing up patriarchal norms and questioning their logic. She talks about sex, menstruation and bra unapologetically. That’s why many women relate to her stand up comedy. Being one of the most successful and appreciated female comedians in India, she goes through trolling on a regular basis, but her undying raw attitude shuns all those who make fun of her or abuse her.
Kaneez Surkha
The toughest kind of comedy is Improv Comedy. But is anything tough for The Kaneez Surkha? We guess not. The queen of spontaneity has always been way ahead of her time. Her intellect and wit has often left people wondering how she does it.
One of the most experienced female comedians in the comedy industry, she has also faced a lot of backlash for stepping into comedy. Her sets are usually filled with madness and fun. If you have not yet explored her work, watch The General Fun Game Show, and you will be found laughing on the floor with your hands to your stomach. Apart from that, she is also a great actor, you can also find her in various sketches on the Youtube page of AIB.
Aayushi Jagad
A singer, writer and a comedian, Aayushi Jagad doesn’t get enough appreciation and credit for how funny she is. She is one of the most underrated female comedians. Her appearance on Queens of Comedy gained her popularity. She is basically the girl next door but Gujarati. Her attention to detail in her sets is always applauded by the audience.
She has an ability to fetch fun from the daily mundane lives of women. If you want to know about this badass woman, you can follow her on social media where she keeps posting about arranged marriages and dick pics received by women every now and then.
Jeeya Sethi
Jeeya Sethi has recently become quite famous in the comedy industry. Her standups are sensational and relatable. The trolls love to comment on her humour and physical appearance but she wont stop anytime soon. Her comedy Most punchlines from her standup sets have become memes because they are unforgettable.
Short stand up videos are available on her Youtube page if you want to check out. Bsed in Mumbai, her shows are mostly housefull. She is definitely a believer of Slow and Steady wins the race. She has slowly started capturing her audience with her irresistible wit. She is an example that anyone can follow their passion at any stage of life.
Agrima Joshua
The most essential part in learning comedy is observation. One who observes well has the potential to become a great comedian. Agrima Joshua hails from UP and she brings all her observation and experience into play with her comedy sets. Although people have not seen much of her work, her videos went viral on the internet.
Sadly, there was also a controversy on the videos due to which some people objected to her ‘religious jokes’. But she is a brave woman and she tackled it with grace and confidence. She even apologized later to hurt religious sentiments of people. Her video ‘UP s the Texas of India’ is absolutely hilarious and funny!
Aishwarya Mohanraj
After Comicstan, Aishrwarya Mohanraj has become a popular name. She seems like a cute girl next door but wait until you check out her comedy sets. She is hysterical when she cracks jokes on the stage. Her Youtube videos and Instagram reels are really funny and relatable. She is slowly becoming a big name in the comedy industry. You can find her talking about relationship problems, pregnancy tests and lingerie concerns.
Basically she is voicing everything that women have ever wanted to say. She is a peculiar storyteller and writer which is quite evident in her comedy setups. But she has also shared her share of setbacks on her social media handles. She has definitely come out brave, infact funnier!
Now you know where to reach out when you want to have a good laugh! These women are beautiful, exceptional and definitely funny. So the next time you hear someone saying Women aren’t funny, show them the comedy sets on these female comedians. It’s high that we shut all the sexist remarks. Because women are quite funny!