Exclusive! Amit Tandon on the Indian comedy scene: People here have never been comfortable laughing at themselves but now that is changing

Comedian Amit Tandon is on his India tour with his set, Masala Sandwich. The comic will soon perform at Kala Kunj in Kolkata. Before the show, he spoke exclusively to OTTplay about his set and his opinion on the Indian comedy scene. 

Elaborating on his tour, he said, “Masala Sandwich is not just a stand-up comedy show. It is more about storytelling. It is the most honest show that I have done so far. I take potshots at issues I think are not right. I tell stories about my own life. I was not sure how my audience would react to the show. But I got a great response. It is about our generation that is sandwiched between our parents and children.”

This is not the first time Amit will be performing in Kolkata. While talking to us he said he enjoys walking down the streets of the city and exploring new eateries. “I have performed here quite a few times. I feel Kolkata has a rich culture of enjoying live performances. I love this city. I don’t usually go to famous monuments. Instead, I walk around and go to hidden sweet shops that are not very famous. I enjoy roadside phuchka.”

Amit also pointed out that the overall reception of standup comedy is getting better and India is becoming more conducive for the comedians. “People here have never been very comfortable laughing at themselves. But that scene is changing now. People are evolving and appreciating comedy more than ever. I don’t believe that people are becoming more sensitive. I think they have always been sensitive. But with the presence of social media, they can now vent their opinion. On social media, one can hide their identity and express their opinion. The internet has given you the power of being invisible,” he said.