Ranveer Allahbadia controversy: Comedian Saikiran speaks on clean comedy, and touring

Stand-up comedian Saikiran Rayaprolu, known simply as Saikiran, doesn’t believe in gimmicks. In a stand-up scene where hyper-local jokes and viral soundbites often dictate success, he is a bit different. His comedy is not peppered with city-specific jabs or risqué punchlines — it is observational, universally relatable, and, notably, clean. “I perform completely in English, and most of the audience who come to an English comedy show anywhere in India will get my references,” he says, “I enjoy that the same joke that worked in Delhi worked in Coimbatore and in Kolkata also.”

Saikiran, who began his stand-up journey in 2014 after winning an open mic contest, has steadily built a loyal fanbase with his astute observational humour. His upcoming performance in Coimbatore is set to be no different. “I love immersing myself in local culture and exploring the food of any city I travel to. But I try to avoid making any jokes about the city while I am there,” he says, before adding a punchline: “I will do that in the next city I perform in (laughs)”

For a comedian who steers clear of regional pandering, audience reception remains key. “A joke going flat rarely happens in a touring show which has already been tested with various audiences. Occasionally, some reference may not be understood by an audience, and I try to tweak that by adding more context,” he explains.

Saikiran
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The ‘clean comedy’ debate

Saikiran’s comedy has often been described as ‘clean’ — a term that is sometimes used dismissively in stand-up circles. He, however, sees no limitation in it. “Surprisingly, it’s not rare. Most touring comics, both Indian and international, actually do clean. Anyone who does corporate shows also has to do it clean. It’s just that a few clips go viral and people assume ‘clean stand-up’ is rare,” he clarifies.

His refusal to indulge in edgy or controversial humour is not out of caution but disinterest. “Yes, I avoid many topics. Mostly because I don’t find them interesting or funny. Writing on a topic means spending days mulling over it. Some topics are avoided assuming the audience may not react well to them. But no matter how many topics you give up, there are many more to talk about. So no dearth of content.”

The ongoing debate around offensive comedy has been reignited by the controversy surrounding Ranveer Allahbadia’s remarks on India’s Got Latent. Saikiran remains measured in his response. “Not commenting on any particular incident, but the line between edgy and offensive is arbitrary and constantly redrawn. It depends a lot on time, place, perception and personal preference.”

Process, virality, and scrapped jokes

His most widely shared bit, ‘Dark Skin & Getting Married,’ amassed millions of views across platforms. While the set resonated with audiences, Saikiran does not see his comedy as a tool for social commentary. “I don’t think addressing any issue is a responsibility, it’s an instinct. I am a comedian and I process life through my art. A painter may paint about it and I will joke about it, that’s all. But society may not be willing to see every topic through the comedic lens.”

The process of joke development, he explains, is iterative. “We all have thoughts, and when you share a thought with someone and they laugh at it, it becomes a joke. If nobody laughs, then it just remains a thought. We comics take our thoughts to open mics and trial shows, test them, and once more and more people reinforce our belief that the thought is funny by laughing, they are fine-tuned into shows.” Some ideas, he says, take months to shape, while others land instantly.

Inevitably, not every joke survives. “Absolutely countless [have been scrapped]. In my head, I think everything I utter is funny. But barely one out of a hundred jokes makes it to a tour. Comedy careers are littered with dead jokes.”

Since his debut, Indian stand-up has transformed from a niche art form to a cultural phenomenon. “Audience size has exploded. More and more people who haven’t watched stand-up are coming to shows. Comics are also experimenting with the medium. It’s very exciting times to be a comic in India.”

For Saikiran, the goal is to make people laugh — wherever they are. “The more personal you get, the more universal you are,” he says. It is a philosophy that has seen him through over a decade in comedy, and one that will likely continue to shape his work in the years to come.

Saikiran will be performing in Coimbatore on February 23, 6pm onwards at Medai The Stage in Hope College. Tickets, ₹499 onwards, on BookMyShow.