In Pune this week, Singapore comedian who has a witty name for Ranbir Kapoor's biopic
On June 19, Channa will perform her latest show Saree-ously Not Sorry at Godaam Specialty Coffee Co in Pune's Shivajinagar. Saree-ously Not Sorry, which explores current events and society, is a continuation of her earlier show, Saree Not Sorry, and taps into her Indian identity.
Channa's father was from Delhi, and her mother from Punjab, and her family moved to Singapore when she was three.
'Although I have toured the world, performed in various cities, and grown up in a multicultural society, as an Indian woman, I believe that I, like many other Indian women, look best and beautiful in a saree. It represents our identity and dresses us up beautifully. I also plan on wearing sarees for all my shows, my entire lifetime. That's why Saree-ously Not Sorry!' she says.
Trained in theatre at the prestigious Lasalle College of Arts, Channa combines theatrical storytelling with her stand-up performances, creating a rich experience.
'I read the news a lot, and I watch a lot of people. Touring across Southeast Asia has helped me connect more deeply with my voice and expression as a comedian. I have come to understand what resonates with audiences — especially in India — and where the invisible lines are drawn. I, now, know which jokes land, which ones don't, and which ones might get me an all-expenses-paid trip… to jail,' she says with a smile.
She keeps a tab on Bollywood too. She says that when she found out that actor Ranbir Kapoor would be playing the role of Lord Ram in the film Ramayana, she kept thinking of his previous role in Animal. 'Now, if Ranbir Kapoor has a biopic, it will be called Kabhi Ram, Kabhi Haiwaan,' she quips.
She also delves deeper into how people have been behaving lately.
'Lately, it feels like the world has turned into one big episode of reality TV, with frequent flyers, plane etiquette meltdowns, and relationship drama taking centre stage. We're constantly debating personal boundaries at 30,000 feet and questioning how we interact with one another on the ground. Amid all this, there's also the deeper question: Does the world need more children? Or do we need to first become better people?'
Channa says stand-up comedians should take risks on stage, but they must also 'stand by it and take accountability'.
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