HYDERABAD: It was his exposure to an open mic that made Biswa Kalyan Rath, from the popular Pretentious Movie Reviews and Pretentious Comedy Nights duo, realise that he is good enough to become a stand-up comic. “There is no big story,” he shrugs.
The funny videos he makes along with his partner Kanan Gill have gained a lot of attention from youngsters across the country, but Biswa is modest enough to say that he is just an add-on to Kanan’s stint. “Kanan planned the show and the way to execute it. He asked me to be there. I was just part of the videos,” he admits.
The duo shoot and compose movie reviews all by themselves without any team working behind the camera. The camera is stationed on stands, and they edit and compile the clips together after recording.
Ask Biswa what he likes most about being a comic and he answers in one word, “Money.”
Telling us what kind of preparation they undergo before starting to make a pretentious movie review, he shares, “We write the jokes after we watch the movie and put the video together. That is it.”
Making people laugh is not easy and Biswa agrees. “There are two types of comedians – those who can naturally come up with jokes and the others who have to craft it. Comedy is as difficult as any other job depending on how well you are doing it.”
Ask him which category he belongs to, the comedian responds that he is a combination. “I think I am funny as a person but I have to craft my work to make it fit for the stage.”
Apart from the YouTube videos, Biswa has also travelled around the country making people laugh, standing up on stage. Like every stand-up comic, he too is prepared to deal with people who might take offense to his jokes.
He says, “The good way of getting away with it is to clarify that it is meant to be a joke and I mean no harm. Again, there are two ways to handle it – make your intention clear and take the audience along with you or make it offensive to such an extent that it becomes funny,” he explains.
He personally prefers to use the first trick to the second one as the latter is difficult to pull off.
Bring his attention to the All India Backchod’s roast that created a ruckus in the country and he says “There is a place for every kind of show and Indian Government should understand the concept of certification. They had proper certification for the show. There is no clear provision in the law. In fact there is no law.”
If you visit Biswa’s twitter handle, you will see that he does not follow anyone except for Superstar Rajinikanth. Explaining why he says, “I was following 300-400 people once upon a time. Then I realised that I don’t use my handle much. I decided to unfollow everyone. But I could not un-follow Rajniikanth as he is Rajinikanth,” he grins.
Biswa and Kanan give the most funny titles to their movie reviews – Most Values Ever for Hum Saath Saath Hain, Most Acting Ever for Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, Most Bollywood Ever for Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, etc., and the joke begins from the title itself.
But, the Bengaluru-based comedian has also had his share of embarrassing moments. “It is embarassing when people don’t laugh at your jokes,” he admits.
“It takes at least six months to take a joke to stage from the time it comes to my mind,” Biswas informs adding, “After I get an idea, I note it down. Put it across to audience at an open mic. Record it and find out flaws. Keep refining until you find it fit for a paid stage.” He has performed in the city twice before, the entertainer finds the city no different from the other cities.
Though Biswa is capable of making you laugh with his mindless jokes and priceless expressions, he might be mistaken for a reserved person when you talk to him personally.
You can find out for yourself.
Details: Catch Biswa live at Trip Tease, at Vivanta by Taj this Saturday.