Try ‘adulting’ along with stand-up comedienne Syama Harini, and have a good laugh

What better way to start the day than with a candid conversation with a comic! Our day was made trying to figure out what ‘adulting’ means with Syama Harini, and laughing over our failure at it!

By definition,‘adulting’ is “the act or practice of attending to the ordinary tasks required of a responsible adult”, and that in itself is baffling, as Syama explains. “As a child, I thought adulting was easy because our parents made it look so easy; I couldn’t wait to grow up, but when I grew up, I figured life was better as a child. And a lot of things that we studied are not even useful now — like LCM, HCF, geometry, etc. Also, many things that we learned as a 90s’ kid were a scam. Our parents told us, ‘You should not lie at all, you have to be honest. Lying is a sin’. When you grow up, the same parents tell you, ‘Don’t be so honest’. Or, ‘Don’t tell this/that to aunty/uncle’. So, I am confused what are they even trying to tell me! To lie or not to lie? To be honest or not be honest? Hence, we are confused, you see.”

Syama says she “can never be prepared for ‘adulting’. “I am still figuring out — a 90s’ kid trying to adult in the GenZ world; that’s why my show is titled Adultrying. And I guess I will always be only ‘trying’ to be an ‘adult’.”

In 2012, Syama was working with Evam Stand-up Tamasha, on the production side, and in 2014, she thought of giving comedy a try. “However, the journey started only in 2016, right after my PG. Honestly, it began as a hobby. I just wanted to go around and make fun of things. But I never thought it would become a full-time career for me, where I’ll be writing solos and doing my own shows! Actually, growing up, I didn’t even know stand-up comedy existed, an art form that is now my profession.”

Talking about the growth of stand-up comedy as an art in the recent years, Syama says it is because “we, the artistes, are saying what they (people) are not able to express or say. Most of the times, that is the

feedback I get after my shows. So, I think the relatability factor and the fact that somebody is speaking it out for you makes the audience happy, and they keep coming back to watch your show. And since there is a demand, there is a supply. In addition to that, come on, who does not want to have a good laugh!”

Syama, who wants to continue doing what she does — make people laugh — also tells us that she would love to collaborate with comics from different genres. “I mostly watch and follow comedians from India, and I look up to artistes like Sumukhi Suresh, Sahil Shah and Kanan Gill. If I ever get a chance to collab with them, it will be great.”

While the preconceived notion is that women can’t be funny, Syama shuns it saying, “I really don’t understand who says that. I disagree. Women in my house are funny. My mother is hilarious. In fact, she is the reason and inspiration behind a lot of my jokes.”

She adds, “I honestly think there is a lot more material for a woman to tap into than a man. You see, I can make fun of menstrual cycles, pregnancy, motherhood, which a man can’t. Of course, they have their own jokes. But what I am trying to say is one can only make a joke out of the experiences one has had. For example, I watched this comedian named Shruti, who had a set on being a mother and dealing with a toddler. I mean, she was so funny! But she could talk about it because she is a mother, whereas I can’t. Like I can’t make jokes on engineering because I never went to an engineering college. ”

Before signing off, we ask Syama if she wishes to do comedy for the rest of her life and pat comes the reply. “Yes, I am very happy where I am. I never even thought what would I be if not a stand-up artiste.”

Tickets start at Rs 299.

May 25, 8.30 pm.

At Medai - The Stage, Alwarpet.

Email: rupam@newindianexpress.com

X: @rupsjain