Stand-up comedy in Navi Mumbai

(left) Deep Chabbria, (extreme left) Varun Grover

This Saturday, Navi Mumbai, will get its first taste of stand-up comedy, where comic act, Comedy Riot, will unveil their brand of laughs. Comprising of acclaimed comedians such as Anuvab Pal, Varun Grover and Deep Chhabria, it promises to be an enthralling evening for Navi Mumbai's audience.

Anuvab Pal

When asked about the reason for choosing Navi Mumbai for the show, Sumit Kant, Vice President, Four Points by Sheraton explains, "We are more than happy to bring a concept like stand-up comedy to Navi Mumbai, as it is our continuous effort to keep updating the trend for audiences here. We are happy that Navi Mumbai residents are mature and keen to experiment. The response has been fantastic response so far, from not just Navi Mumbai but also the Thane and Chembur belt."

Deep Chabbria and Varun Grover

Testing the waters for the first time, Anuvab Pal, comedian, is confident about delivering his act. When asked about his expectations from the untested audience, he shares, "I expect them to listen to me, as any other audience, and not throw things. The question isn't what I expect of them but what do they expect of me."

Mumbai or Navi Mumbai?
Pal dismisses the fact that the response for stand-up comedy might have been better in Mumbai. "The assumption might be that people in Mumbai will ‘get it' and people in Navi Mumbai won't understand English stand-up comedy. I hope the audience will prove me wrong."

He adds, "People are people, and where they live is not an indicator of cultural preference. It isn't like Navi Mumbai people prefer Akshay Kumar, and that people who drop by blueFrog prefer English comedians. With the Internet, everyone watches everything.

I don't see the break-up of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. There are as many English- speaking people in Navi Mumbai who might enjoy stand-up in Colaba as well," he summarises.