Allahbadia, Kamra incidents boost Kolkata comedy club footfall, open mics & stand ups draw under-30 crowd
Times of India | 29 March 2025
Kolkata: The controversy over the Kunal Kamra and Ranveer Allahbadia show has unexpectedly bolstered the interest in comedy shows in Kolkata. Numerous individuals, previously unfamiliar with terminology such as ‘open mic', ‘set' and ‘host', which remained relatively obscure beyond the comedy fraternity, have now gained widespread recognition.
City comedians are divided over Kamra's act. While Shahrukh Murshed found it "impactful", Krishnendu Sanyal described it as a "mellowed down" performance. "Kunal possesses remarkable patience, demonstrates unwavering fearlessness and upholds steadfast principles. He will not give up and we don't want him to give up. His set was well-written and impactful. His influence ranges from viral moments to actual policy changes. It proved that comedy isn't just entertainment but a form of dissent," Murshed said. But Sanyal said Kamra's recent stand-up piece was not even that edgy compared to what he used to say.
Both agreed that the stand-up comedy scene in Kolkata is growing, though not as fast as Bengaluru. Currently, there are three popular venues – Calcutta Comedy Company, Mad Bee Comedy Club, and The Satire Club with audiences typically comprising individuals under 30.
"Approximately 1,000 regular patrons attend stand-up performances in the city. The audience numbers are projected to grow, though I cannot ascertain if this surge relates to the controversy surrounding Kamra," Sanyal added.
Kunal's show, Murshed emphasises, has heightened public awareness of the genre . People are increasingly cognisant that open mics serve as practice sessions for comedians to assess audience responses before their formal performances.
"We casually invite passersby to attend our nightly open mic at Mad Bee Comedy Club. Not only do they attend subsequently, several have transformed into regular patrons," Murshed explained.
They've acquired the understanding that a set comprises a collection of jokes, whilst the host serves as a compère who energises the audience, guides them into a jovial mood, and presents the standup comics to the gathering.
Murshed, however, refrains from political humour. "There is widespread intolerance everywhere. Nobody ventures to crack a joke about the chief minister of a state. I have political viewpoints but shall express them solely when I have sufficient supporters . I am reluctant to jeopardise my career . Many comedians in Kolkata, who previously engaged in political satire, have now transitioned to slapstick comedy," Murshed remarked.
Sanyal uses humour while cracking a political joke. "When delivering political commentary, we customarily preface it by light-heartedly suggesting to the audience that we trust they won't lodge an FIR. It serves as a humorous precautionary measure," Sanyal said.
"Our advantage lies in the absence of video recordings, ensuring the content remains confined to the performance venue," Sanyal explained further.
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