Search for “Nepali stand-up comedy” on Youtube and you will be flooded with suggestions of various chan­nels and comedians. One of them will invariably be Apoorwa Kshitiz Singh. Apoorwa’s mini superstar­dom in the stand-up comedy scene is rising, thanks to the ever increasing hits on the Youtube of his satirical take on KP Oli government’s porn ban and of his self-mimicry of ‘Being a Madhesi’.

 

“What we are doing is urban stand-up comedy, which is performed in limited space, for limited audience, and with the use of slang words and adult content,” explains Apoorwa Kshitiz Singh, 25. “This makes it different to the traditional stand-up com­edy performed by the likes of Madan Krishna Shrestha, Hari Bansha Acharya, Jitu Nepal and Daman Rupakheti.” Urban youths do not feel offended by slang and strong language, he says.

 

Apoorwa was initially inspired by the growing pop­ularity of stand-up comedy in Delhi during his student years. He realized he too could use stand-up to increase aware­ness on social issues back home, while he also enter­tained young audiences. Apoorwa has been in this “creative indulgence” since June 2018.

 

With the help of his stand-up comedian friend Dipesh Dahal, Apoorwa managed to land a comedy gig with Com­edy Circle, and soon became popular for his unabashed wit. He has also performed stage shows for audiences in Pokhara and Bhairahawa.

 

“I am happy with the way Nepali stand-up comedy is gaining momentum and youth support. Compared to past years, comedy is getting better with more creative approach, youth-centric agenda and more innovative use of words,” says Apoorwa.

 

Born in a village near Gaur, Rautahat, the stand-up comic spent most of his childhood in Sarlahi district. He was always inclined to entertain his friends, teachers and rela­tives by sharing jokes.

 

The majority of his audiences fall under the age-group 16- 30, and come from various walks of life

 

For Apoorwa stand-up com­edy offers a sense of relaxation and helps him escape the daily absurdities of life. The major­ity of his audiences fall under the age-group 16-30, and come from various walks of life. “If we can mix satire and social message, it is sure to be effec­tive,” says Apoorwa.

 

In his experience, modern stand-up comedy is getting its due recognition, but “our comedians are still wary of talking about politics, com­munities, religions, celebrities and feminism”. Yet he is also delighted to see more women participate in the stand-up comedy scene in Nepal.

 

“The comedy scene has changed drastically. The advent of social media and seamless video streaming on platforms like Youtube is a boon for the current genera­tion of stand-up comedians,” says Apoorwa.

 

Asked if stand-up comedi­ans in Nepal face censorship, Apoorwa replies: “There has been a paradigm shift in comedy with regards to audi­ences, contents, platforms and issues. Today, there is no censorship. Few years ago, comedians used to be arrested for their satire of the state and those in authority.”

 

Apoorwa hopes Nepali stand-up comedy will fur­ther improve with bigger audiences, more interactions between the comics and their audiences, and more income for the performers.