‘Fresh Thoughts’ By Kunal Kamra | Stage Show Review

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One of the most stunning transformations in Indian stand-up comedy I have witnessed has come in the career of Kunal Kamra. A good comedian who delivered the funny goods on topics like Taxis, Bollywood, religion, and occasionally politics, has now become one of the fiercest socio-political comedians in Indian stand-up comedy. ‘Fresh Thoughts’ sees him fortify his new forte with a sure footed socio-political awareness.

Masoom Rajwani was the opening act at The Habitat show of Fresh Thoughts in Mumbai. He seemed to be an apt choice for setting up the show given his astute political jokes on topics like cow, Lagaan, Savitribai Phule, and sexism. He warmed the audiences up for the irreverence soon to follow but I found him mechanical at times, stating jokes as if from a rote rather than an organic sharing of one’s views and stories.

Kunal Kamra comes on stage to a rousing applause and dives straight into an anti-establishment heavy hitting mode. Modi’s ‘Vikas’ and Reliance make their debut in a few minutes as Kamra exudes the peak cynicism of our times where one can’t help but just laugh at the predicament. Great analogies and a good oratory style helps Kunal make simple logical statements into hilarious bits (one would think this wouldn’t merit an applause, but the parody which real life is right now makes even stating of logical facts amusing to an extent).

The special doesn’t merely operate as a commentary on Indian politics but also reflects on the personal, such as the consequences of Kunal’s fresh fame. India’s casual bigotry is explored through parents’ requests to Kunal to be religious but the most cathartic part of the show comes when Kamra talks about his problems with old people in India.

A delightful irreverence and resonating frustration is evoked by the bit and the revelation of a personal event behind this anger makes it endearing. Kunal manages to change his persona during this bit from a political commentator to a personal storyteller trying to share his pain away through laughter. School and Whats App further take us into his personal life but a peak into his true obsession in life hogs the limelight.

If you follow Kamra on social media, you will be aware of his fascination with Republic TV and Arnab Goswami. The daily posts now seem to have a purpose in helping Kunal prepare his bit on the madness that is India’s most watched news anchor. The topic has inspired so many jokes over the years, the novelty of any new bits surprising you is unlikely. While Kamra manages to make us laugh, I hope he doesn’t invest too much of his future bits on a man who now inspires jokes en masse and at times, writes the jokes himself.

The final moments of the show maintain the rhythm and energy, with the bits on poverty and abusing in India ending the show on a perfect note. The show packs in enough for those who like their jokes to be literal and straight faced as well as profundity for keen observers of comedy. I don’t think we will see a better show to help us laugh at 2017 and our collective anxieties.

Rating- 4.5/5

(Was That Funny? paid for the admission tickets. If you have any feedback or were present at the show and have a counter-review, send to revere.nothing@gmail.com. If we like it, we will publish it)