CHENNAI: A casual chat with Niveditha Prakasam and Saadiya Ali shows us why these women have got the stand-up-comedy gig in the bag — we find ourselves in splits two minutes into the interview. The duo from Chennai was among the eight finalists on the online comedy reality show on TLC India Queens of Comedy (QOC), and what’s more, Niveditha even came back with the coveted title of TLC India’s First Queen of Comedy! We catch up with the charming young comediennes about how it felt to be part of India’s first talent-hunt show for women comedians.
How did you get to know about TLC India Queens of Comedy?
Saadiya: One of my friends told me about it and another helped me shoot my entry. I was so sure I wouldn’t get in even into the Top 30, but bam! I ended up in the Top 8! I’m so glad I have such great friends in my life.
Niveditha: I saw the post about QOC on Twitter just two days before deadline. I didn’t even have a clip from my previous shows, so I had to film, edit and upload — all in a few hours! I ended up making fun of the ‘Terms and Conditions’ of the show, while reading them. I still can’t believe it actually worked. (Laughs)
Life on the sets of TLC ought to have been great! Tell us all about it.
S: Oh, they really stuck to their name — they treated us like Queens! We had workshops, one-on-one sessions with incredible comedians like Kunal Kamra, Kaneez Surka, Varun Thakur, Kanan Gill etc. The crew and other participants were all so warm and kind — the hotel staff even made us dosas! (Laughs)
Eliminations happened real quickly. And you barely had four days to get a set together. How did you handle the stress?
S: Many people thought ‘Eight girls in a room, there’s going to be a lot of cat fights’, but that was far from the truth. On days where it got too stressful, we had huge cuddle-sessions, we’d put on props and start dancing, eat chocolate ice-cream at 4 am — it was crazy!
Saadiya, you got the first mic-drop from the judges!
S: Yes! And that was the only mic-drop too, because they couldn’t afford to break more mics. (laughs) It came as a surprise to me.
Was winning ever the goal?
S: I would be lying if I say I didn’t want to win. But the environment is set so beautifully that winning was not the priority, but putting up a good set was. Niveditha kept saying, ‘Winning isn’t the goal’ blah blah! Gah! Then why did you win it?! Could have left the title for us no! (Laughs)
N: (Laughs) I still can’t believe it. I still maintain that I lucked out big time. It could’ve been any of us, things just happened to work out for me on that day!
Have you ever made a huge blunder on stage? How do you cover up on spot?
N: That has happened a lot of times, and the best way to cover it up is to acknowledge it. In fact, sometimes, this could become your biggest laugh of the night, to your utter dismay. Imagine spending months writing jokes and the biggest laugh goes to your save instead!
Mingling with comedians from other States, did you have any advantage/disadvantage of being from the South?
N: Ah, an advantage was, all I had to do was speak in Hindi and people would laugh. I didn’t even have to write any jokes! On a serious note, I realised we all have the same goal — to make people laugh. I love the girls from QOC. You’ll definitely see us doing things together in the future.
So, where can we see you guys next?
S: I would love to do shows all over the world, and have people come watch me, and buy me free food!
N: I’m looking at stand-up comedy full-time, and be trying other platforms too. I want to see Indian-English comedy make its presence felt everywhere – movies, TV shows...gosh, that would be great, wouldn’t it?!
RAPID FIRE
Saadiya Ali
Best compliment Someone said I remind them of Diane from Bojack Horseman!
Worst criticism
Saadiya’s not funny!
Where you’d love to perform
A packed show at Canvas Laugh Club
The best laugh you’ve ever had
Every morning when I wake up and look at my face...I laugh. Sometimes I cry. But mostly laugh.
Niveditha Prakasam
Best compliment
You’re funny. (I die and come back to life every time someone says that to me)
Worst criticism
Women aren’t funny!
Where you’d love to perform
On Conan O’Brien’s Show!
The best laugh you’ve ever had
At home. Everyone in my house thinks they’re comedians and say the most ridiculous things.
Watch all episodes of TLC India Queens of Comedy on www.queensofcomedy.in.
Catch the comediennes on Instagram at @nivaysays (Niveditha) and @real_sassy_saady (Saadiya)