With Chennai being a city that doesn’t take itself too seriously, perhaps a stand-up comedy show was the best way to start the Madras Week celebrations this year.
Organised by Madras Musings in association with Evam Standup Tamasha, the show touched on all things that define the city and its people.
And so the three comics who were onstage on Sunday evening at The Park — Bhargav Ramakrishnan (Baggy), Alexander Babu and Dileepan (Deepu) — spoke about Sathyam Cinemas and their iconic popcorn, the Madras baashai (language) and how different areas fared on the coolness meter.
“Even if you say that Nungambakkam is the most happening place in the city, these fellows from Adyar or Besant Nagar will say ‘Hey we have the beach’,” quipped Baggy. He went on to taunt residents of Anna Nagar for being from a different country altogether and those from Velachery for being a part of Chennai only because of Phoenix Marketcity. And as for all the Madras Day events, out of all the heritage, nature and food walks, a very important one had been left out: the Boat Club Road walk, which happens every day.
Alexander elaborated on how American curse words were nowhere close to being as imaginative as the ones you would hear from an angry autorickshaw driver in Chennai.
When it comes to our beaches, he said, “They are appropriately named: Besant Nagar beach is called Bessy and Marina is Messy.”
Kollywood wasn’t left alone either, with Deepu taking a stab at Rajinikanth and how his leading ladies got younger every year.
He also spoke about the futility of trying to woo Tamil Nadu’s voters with Hindi slogans, saying, “The guys at the tea shop probably thought that the PM’s maid didn’t turn up and that’s why he was sweeping.”
With a lot of crowd interaction and relatable observations, the show was well received by the audience. Well, most of them at least.
The two middle-aged men next to me couldn’t decide whether the comedians were out to trash Chennai or to extol its virtues, which they debated in whispers throughout the show.
