HYDERABAD: Really? Women can be funny? I thought unho sirf rulathe hai. Haasana bhi aata hai? Those were some of the taunts Radha Krishnaveni, founder of Live Laughter Club in Hyderabad, encountered recently when she was talking about female stand-up comedians in the city. “I felt it is time to break yet another stereotype. Women are fun and funny too. Hence we are calling for an audition for funny women in the city on March 4 and 5. You can be from anywhere in the country. As long as you are in the city and can make us laugh, you can be our Comedy Queen,” says Radha, who also works part-time as an RJ.
“For ages, women have been picturised as victims of repression. Even strong women are understood as fighters or achievers, but their true intelligence and humour are seldom celebrated. It’s time we did,” says Swapna Sundari, news presenter, singer and radio jockey. She will be one of the two judges for the final audition along with Tollywood actor and director Srinivas Avasarala. rinivas directed Jyo Achyutandanda that went on to become a blockbuster movie in 2016. “Make me laugh, I challenge you,” says Srinivas. “I will judge you, no matter what,” threatens Swapna.
The participants can speak in Telugu, Hindi or English or a mix of all. “All they have to do is make us laugh,” says Radha about the event. The one who makes it through the initial auditions (judges RJ Grace and Radha Krishnaveni) will get a one-day grooming to be able to get better at their craft. The finalist will get to perform at an event titled ‘What Women Want’ on International Women’s Day March 8 to an audience of 200. Who are the women she thinks are funny in Hyderabad? “Swapna and anchor Suma.” Says Bhavneet Singh, journalist-turned-stand up comedian at Hyderabadass Comedy Club, “Of course women can crack you up with their sense of humour. Manjusha Banerjee and Rupali Tyagi, both are funny and from Hyderabad. On the national level, Kaneez Surka is awesome. She is an amazing improv artiste and along with that a great teacher of improv. Sumukhi Suresh is the other funny comic. She is hilarious both on and off stage, especially awesome on Snapchat.”
“No male bashing, no false feminism. All stags must get their deer women. Guys will get to know ‘WWW’ and girls will realise what they want. This is a challenge to see how many men get their women and how many women prefer coming with their girlfriends,” Radha adds. Hyderabad is known for its zany sense of humour. Hopefully, more women will flaunt their zany side up soon.