The extraordinary rise of the stand-up comedy industry in India and its growing foothold over pop culture would seem unprecedented even a decade back.
A comedian like Zakir Khan’s Sakht Launda playbook or Varun Grover and Munawar Faruqui's political satires have gripped the imagination of many, especially the youngsters in the country, by carving a niche for themselves.
While the Internet has aided in the promotion of comedy as a creative art form, the transformation in its tone and tenor is noteworthy as well. Today, one doesn't have to participate in a comedy show to get noticed but anyone with the gift of humour and storytelling can enter into a market where the audience is constantly craving fresher content. It provides a level-playing field to everyone.
While it is getting inclusive and progressive by the day, one cannot deny the role of performing art in influencing and shaping socio-cultural and political narratives around us.