Ever wondered what it is like to organise stand-up comedy nights, featuring the best comic talents, in Bengaluru? Ask Sumendra Singh. The engineering graduate is the founder of Comedy Wagon Productions and co-founder of That Comedy Club, which has become a landmark on Church Street.
But Sumendra has none of the airs and graces of a young achiever. His quiet confidence shows through his clarity of thought while he reminisces over his journey so far. “Before I started Comedy Wagon, I used to run shows at night clubs and had another company called Blue Umbrella. Three-and-a-half years after doing this, I was on the lookout for something different. Around this time, I happened to meet my ex-boss. She said let’s meet in this club in Koramangala, where the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Road show was being held. I entered half way through the show, and thought it was so good.”
Sumendra was so intrigued, he immediately set about doing research. “I watched Youtube videos and content around stand-up comedy. I also went to Mumbai, where Canvas Laughter, the first comedy club was located, to check out shows. I got email ids of the comics and and started writing to them. I used to do parties in Sugar Factory in Le Meridien, I told my friend there ‘just give me an evening, and we will do a comedy show’. Of all the artistes I mailed, I got a response from Radhika Vaz. We were sold out the first show!”
The success of the show led Sumendra to a self analysis mode: “There’s a saying in show business, ‘you’re as good as your last show’. So I thought I did the first show: but what next?” With every show, Sumendra learnt lessons and did things better the next time.
“I believe in quality work. The stage is an honest platform; when you put anything on stage there is no pretence. You have to do your best. I wanted to get the best from Indian comics.”
After a series of stand-up acts, Sumendra knew he was ready to host The Bengaluru Comedy Festival, the first ever in the country. “For any producer, a festival is a dream project. People love what we are doing. But we needed an incentive for people to come. we needed a venue.”What is it about Bengaluru that makes comedy such a big hit?
“Whenever anyone asks me what makes things work here, I say, ‘because it’s Bengaluru!’ Plus the audience is so diverse. There’s a general culture of going out and checking things out.”
Sumendra adds to his achievements, being invited to an International festival. “This year, Bengaluru Comedy Festival has been invited to Melbourne to do a Bengaluru comic showcase. We are doing four shows over four days in Melbourne. India’s best comedians will perform.” He’s now working on Stand-up and Crawl, another unique event. “I have a lot of good friends and they have faith in whatever I do.”
