Not Just for Laughs: Comedy, Culture, and Craft (feat. Jagan Krishnan)
An engineer-turned-comedian shares his journey from corporate life to stand-up in his native language. Blending humor with cultural depth, he explores the art and emotional power of live performance.
This conversation delves into the multifaceted world of stand-up comedy, exploring the journey of artists, the nature of humor, and the challenges faced by comedians in India. It highlights the importance of finding one's audience, the balance between originality and audience expectations, and the role of social media in a comedian's career. The discussion also touches on cultural sensitivity, the influence of Western comedy, and the various career trajectories available to comedians. Ultimately, it emphasizes the need for continuous learning, adaptation, and passion in the art of comedy. In this engaging conversation, Jagan Krishnan (Instagram: @iamjaggenius), a stand-up comedian, shares insights into the art of joke writing, the importance of social media in reaching audiences, and the business side of comedy. He discusses the unique experience of live performances compared to recorded content, the cultural nuances of heckling, and the impact of AI on the comedy landscape. Jagan emphasizes the organic nature of comedy and the personal connection comedians have with their audiences, while also exploring the potential benefits of AI in generating content. The discussion wraps up with a light-hearted exchange about food and personal experiences in the comedy world.
Takeaways
Jagan transitioned from a career in IT to stand-up comedy after nearly 8 years in tech.
He began performing comedy within his IT company at internal events, gaining confidence and initial exposure.
Tamil was his first performance language in public speaking, despite an English-medium education.
Public speaking in school, encouraged by his mother, was a key foundation for his later career in comedy.
Jagan’s mother pushed him to write his own speeches early on—laying the groundwork for writing original material.
Tamil stand-up comedy was virtually nonexistent when he started—he helped pioneer the genre.
Performing in Tamil created stronger emotional connections with local audiences than English.
Comedy in Tamil required building a new performance grammar and structure, different from English.
Code-switching between Tamil and English is now second nature to Jagan—he performs fluently in both.
Early influences included Russell Peters, George Carlin, and later Andy Kaufman.
Jagan views stand-up as a performance art—delivery and presence matter as much as writing.
YouTube and internet accessibility post-2010 were crucial for the rise of stand-up comedy in India.
Stand-up was earlier seen as an odd career choice in India—often misunderstood and undervalued.
The public assumption in India: if you’re not famous, you must be struggling.
Today, public understanding of stand-up has improved due to prominent examples (e.g., “like Alex”).
Chennai, with 10 million people, has only around 100 active stand-up comics—a vanishingly small number.
Family support—especially from his wife—was vital in Jagan making the leap into comedy full-time.
Jagan is more interested in creating “shows” with narrative depth than chasing viral content.
He avoids “trend-hacking” and prefers original, long-form storytelling on stage.
Stand-up, for him, is not just laughs—it’s about emotional and intellectual takeaway.
The perception of comedy as art is evolving in India but still lags behind mainstream professions.
He believes art exists wherever there is deep engagement—whether in code, comedy, or sports.
He draws analogies from sports (e.g., footballer Baresi) to describe flow and intuition in performance.
Jagan respects all comedy styles—from one-liners to ventriloquism—but leans toward structure and arc.
Fame is not his primary goal—he’s driven by love for the craft and audience connection.
The journey involved a lot of “unlearning” from corporate life to embrace the unknowns of art.
Tamil literature and classical oratorical traditions still influence his worldview and material.
Even today, many parents in India still write speeches for their kids—Jagan broke that early.
Performing in temples, schools, and non-club venues helped him develop alternative comedy muscles.
He acknowledges the difficulty of explaining “art as work” in a society obsessed with visible success.
Success in stand-up requires resilience—it’s often a lonely, misunderstood path.
He values humility and learns from younger or less experienced comics regularly.
Comedy became “mainstream” only when it began intersecting with film, music, and OTT platforms.
Jagan sees himself as a “student” of stand-up—always evolving and absorbing influences.
He believes art should be a calling, not a hustle—it must be sustained by intrinsic passion.
Podcast
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Summary
Here’s a sectionalized structure of the full transcript organized into thematic parts based on the flow of conversation.
SECTION 1: Introduction & Background
Introduction to the podcast and Jagan Krishnan.
Jagan’s early life, education, and engineering background.
Transition from software/IT to stand-up comedy.
First experiences with public speaking and stage presence.
Influence of his mother and early encouragement in writing/speaking.
Tamil as a language of performance and cultural identity.
SECTION 2: The Rise of Stand-up in India
Historical emergence of Indian stand-up (~2010 onwards).
Role of YouTube and social media in its growth.
Contrast between older formats (e.g., Johnny Lever) and new-age comics.
Challenges in developing Tamil stand-up as a new genre.
Cultural shift in accepting comedy as a profession.
SECTION 3: The Art and Philosophy of Comedy
The nature of stand-up as an art form.
Writing vs. performing — performance as a vital element.
Influence of comedians like Russell Peters, George Carlin, Andy Kaufman.
Balancing creative integrity vs. audience appeal.
Examples of performance-focused comedians (Charlie Chaplin, Rowan Atkinson).
Use of physical comedy and staging.
SECTION 4: Language, Culture, and Comedy
Code-switching between Tamil and English in comedy.
Challenges and advantages of being an English comic in India.
Universality of humor vs. local specificity (e.g., pop culture references).
How human experiences transcend language barriers.
Example: Chris Rock’s bits resonating globally despite American context.
SECTION 5: Styles and Structure in Stand-up
Audience-interactive vs. scripted performances.
Examples of comedians: Raj Shekhar (interactive), Jimmy Carr (one-liners), Jeff Dunham (ventriloquism).
Jagan’s own style: structured shows with deeper emotional or reflective takeaways.
Crafting a “show” experience vs. just aiming for laughs.
SECTION 6: Motivation, Learning, and Evolution
Importance of continual learning and unlearning.
Personal drive: love for comedy, not just social media validation.
Analogies with artists like Ilaiyaraaja and directors like Clint Eastwood.
How true passion fuels lifelong commitment to the craft.
“Comfort zones” and the need to evolve artistically.
SECTION 7: Social Perception and Societal Reaction
Early societal skepticism toward comedy as a career.
Shift in perception due to viral videos and media exposure.
Quantitative rarity of stand-up comics in a city like Chennai (e.g., 100 out of 10 million).
Role of reference points like “Alex” helping validate the profession.
Importance of spouse/family support in a risky career transition.
SECTION 8: Final Thoughts and Broader Reflections
Comedy as a reflection of the human condition.
Cross-learning from new comics and open-mic performers.
Jagan’s humility and continuous search for growth.
Comedy as both art and discipline—merging intellect, intuition, and audience connection.
Transcript
