Comedy is a joy-evoking activity and
probably it is the only way of preventing war and promoting peace. Comic
enthusiasts are strong advocates of comedy being a form of art. Although the
art has undergone some serious changes over the years, the motto of comic acts
has remained the same and that is to evoke happiness into the minds of the
audience.
Modern
stand-up comedy
The history of modern stand-up comedy
can be traced back to 1970’s when a new generation of comedians started this
new type of comic. One of the important features of the modern stand-up comic
is the inclusion of socio-political jokes that were not common earlier.
Suddenly the comic scenario witnessed a significant revolution, as comic
artists started using their freedom of speech and expression, in order to point
out the society issues in a funnier tone. New comedy clubs were established in
the USA, UK, and many other countries. But, India was still far from
experiencing such an innovative form of comedy until 2000’s. However, once the
Indian stand-up comedians started participating in the art, not only did we
laugh but also became proud of them. One such stand-up artist is Kenneth
Sebastian, whom most of us know by his nickname ‘Kenny’.
The journey of Kenny
Kenny was born in a middle-class family
and his father is an Indian army officer. His childhood was a significant one,
as he travelled across the country and had done his schooling in different
schools. Right from his childhood, Kenny has been a creative personality and
had an interest in filmmaking. He started making short films at the age of 15
and until he became 23, he already had directed and acted in a comedy show
aired on ‘Comedy Central’. And the name of the show was ‘The Living Room’.
