Stand-up comedy and web fiction are two relatively new genres of entertainment making waves in India. And TVF’s new web series Humorously Yours brings the two beautifully together. Directed by Amit Golani and starring stand-up comic Vipul Goyal along with Rasika Dugal and Abhishek Banerjee, Humorously Yours delves into the life of a struggling stand-up comedian and the comedy of life itself. Well-known stand-up comics like Tanmay Bhat, Kanan Gill, Abish Mathew and others also feature in the show.
The semi-fiction (inspired clearly by real-life experiences) revolves around stand-up comedian Vipul Goyal (played by Goyal), who quits a secure job to pursue a career in comedy. He is really good on stage but his lack of people skills doesn’t quite bring him the recognition he deserves. Not only is he bypassed by selfie-seeking fans, but he even has to fake being his own manager to get work.
What really sets Humorously Yours apart is how it neatly skirts OTT gags or melodrama to become a poignant tale of the Gen-Y common man - no less endearing in often humiliating day to day struggles in pursuit of his dreams.
The protagonist - a fantastic acting debut by Goyal strongly reminiscent of Amol Palekar - is a regular lovable guy who is downright paavam, gets conned by everyone from his bhajiwala to bai, often loses domestic battles (with wife Kavya and best friend Bhushi - played convincingly by Dugal and Banerjee respectively), and yet shines in the light of his talent.
Clips of Goyal’s own stand-up shows are woven into the story marking a stark contrast between real life and the precious minutes under the spotlight. And everything is wrapped in a gentle humour which lends a wonderful balance to the story.
For instance, one can’t help but laugh in the scene where contrary to usual entertainment tropes, Goyal fails to land a plum project thanks to Bhushi’s bravado. The situation had potential for high drama, but it is skilfully avoided.
Similarly one empathises with the utmost humiliation a stand-up comic experiences when his hard work is grazed to a halt by the wrong audience. But again, the show twists around cheap sentimentalism to prod the protagonist - and the audience - towards hard but fast learnt lessons.
With two more episodes to go in the first season - watch the three that are out if you haven’t already - this is one series that has won over our hearts with its simplicity, astuteness and quiet humour.
We are charmed.
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