Balancing humour with responsibility isn’t easy: Shreeja Chaturvedi | Bengaluru News
Shreeja Chaturvedi, with her deadpan humour and animated hand gestures, recently awed the audience in Bengaluru. In a chat with us, she discussed the evolving comedy scene, finding humour in daily life and the responsibility of a comedian. Excerpts from a conversation with the comedian:
‘THROUGH COMEDY, I OBSERVE THE WORLD’
I am constantly searching for inspiration in and around my surroundings. Whenever I perform in any city, it is impossible not to comment on its peculiarities. There is always something to joke about. Comedy has the unique power of giving a different perspective on the smallest of things that often go unnoticed. I believe comedy is not entirely about changing the world, but it gets people talking, which is of the utmost importance in today’s world.
‘WHEN PEOPLE LAUGH AT MY JOKES, I FEEL LIKE I AM ACTUALLY DOING MY JOB RIGHT’
Laughter is always the best feedback for me. Whenever the crowd laughs the loudest, I feel I have hit the mark. There is no better feeling than this for a comedian. Often some people come to me after the show to tell me how they resonated with that ‘one joke’, it makes me feel like I am doing my job right. Comedy is always evolving and hearing feedback from the audience keeps me going.
Humour is a powerful tool for sparking change, but it can also hurt sentiments if not handled carefully. Over time, I have become more conscious of my jokes
Shreeja Chaturvedi
‘HUMOUR SHOULD BE FUN FOR THE RIGHT REASONS’
While writing any new material, I follow one rule ardently. ‘The joke must be funny’. The goal is always to make people laugh. ‘Why the joke is funny’, ‘Is it reinforcing something negative?’, ‘Will it hurt any sentiment’, – these are the questions I ask myself before putting out my jokes. Yes, comedy is all about pushing boundaries but I know my limits. Over time, I have come to understand that it is not easy to balance humour with responsibility. Though I can’t lose the essence of my jokes being funny that doesn’t mean I would forget the impact of my words. I do take risks in comedy but within my limits to make sure I am not reinforcing stereotypes. Humour should be fun for the right reasons.
‘BENGALURU’S AUDIENCE IS ALWAYS UP FOR A GOOD LAUGH’
There is something unique about the comedy scene in Bengaluru. I have noticed that every time I step on stage, I can feel the energy from the beginning. The youthful buzz fills the room with laughter, whether I am making fun of the city or joking about the traffic, and this just makes it easier for me to connect with the audience.
