Of thick skin and sanitary napkins

Aditi Mittal, one of the most prominent comedians in the country, talks to us about her show and what it takes to be a woman in the field

From the AIB roast to her jokes on sanitary napkins, Aditi Mittal is one of the few female stand-up comedians, who is well known all over the country. Of course, that tag has its downsides too. In town to perform her show Things They Wouldn’t Let Me Say, Aditi dishes on what it’s like to be a woman in comedy.

“I’m very excited. Things They Wouldn’t Let Me Say are all the things I was taught not to say when I was younger. I believe this show will be the sanitary napkins set on cocaine,” she says, referring to an older show about menstruation, that went viral.

Aditi adds, “Comedy can help discuss taboo subjects, ones that may not be palatable in general discussion. It’s a scam if comedians try to be philosophers —the first intention is to make people laugh!”

This being her second time performing in the city, Aditi recounts, “I debuted my sanitary napkins set in this city, and I was told by a couple of men that I was too hysterical, too bitchy, and that it was too much about women! I’m a woman; what else do you expect me to talk about Despite that, I think Chennai has one of the smartest crowds in the country and you’ll always find a couple of people who won’t enjoy your work. I’m very eager to please the audience here and leave them in splits!”

Being one of the few well-known faces in the field, she also has some advice for aspiring female comics, “You need very thick skin to be a comic. Also, don’t wait for validation from men. As comedians, we write, produce, direct everything we put out and so are more protective. Listen to everyone but do what your heart tells you to do.”

“Being told you’re ‘funny for a girl’ is annoying on two fronts — first, they’re questioning my ability to be funny; and second, they’re questioning whether I’m female! I’m sorted on both fronts: I’m hilarious and I’m a woman — I have the parts to prove it!” she concludes, leaving us in splits.