Exclusive: In conversation with the bubbly Neeti Palta

Oh, she puts the ‘F’ in Female. She’ll tote you home with experience and beat you with laughs. An ex-advertising professional and Bollywood screenplay-writer, Neeti is taking full advantage of being born with XX chromosomes. This badass comic has injected an infectious female perspective into India’s upcoming standup comedy scene.

BI India caught up with Palta on a couch, chatting up a storm about life, comedy and being a woman.

What are you up to now?
Frantically trying to write new jokes *laughs*. Seriously, there is so much corporate comedy happening that you tweak jokes, and think of ice-breakers that will get you in with the crowd.

I’m also trying to do some YouTube stuff that’s still in the wraps.

How different are the corporate gigs from the general standup scene in India?
It varies, really. Some are ultra-formal. They tell you, “Nothing religious, nothing political, nothing below the belt, no bad language”, and so on. That’s fine. It’s when they say nothing controversial. That’s subjective, really. It’s the private gigs that throw you off. I very rarely do one of those.

What’s your assessment of the comedy scene in India?
It’s growing exponentially. I personally knew we’re there when people stopped telling me, “Madam paise nahi hai, par exposure accha milega” (Madam, we can’t pay you, but you’ll get exposure). When lesser number of people say that it means they’re treating you as a professional.

What triggered the standup comedy boom in India?
People say ‘paap se dharti phati, dharma se aasman’, it’s really that. I won’t call ourselves vigilantes, but things were getting so serious that there was a need for people who would not hold back punches. After all, people are sick of the same entertainment forms. If a person makes sense and makes you laugh, you’d head for it.

Do you think it was the tipping point of intolerance or the comic buildup that helped?
We’ve been at this for a long time. The slow buildup has been happening for a while. The AIB controversy really threw it up on everybody’s faces. To be on TV you’ve to be completely sanitized and to a large extent also appeal to the lowest common denominator. That way your jokes are not the cleverest there are. Maybe there was a positive in the negative.

You say the AIB Roast controversy helped comedians?
It did help us in a way. It also got us unwanted attention. Comedians are also getting more conscious that people might record them and use it as evidence in a court.

Is there a mental checklist you have before you do a standup gig?
A lot of things happen impromptu. However, my checklist is every personal. I know that even if I get into trouble, if I can stand by what I said I’m OK. I will not take personal digs at politicians. I prefer to comment on their policies and actions. As a part of a democracy I have the right to express an opinion.

What are the unique problems you face as a woman comic?
I had an organizer ask me, ‘accha, aap room share nahi karengi?’ (So you won’t share your room?) or ‘aap apni biwi bhej dijiye’ (Please send your wife). Some want me to come back to Delhi the same day. It’s crazy to land at 2 am and go home all by myself. Those are the little safety issues I take care of.

As a female I have restrictions on the kind of shows I say yes to. I’ve had people come up and say it’s their fortieth anniversary, and it’s an all-guys party with naughty jokes. I know then I’m being approached because I’m a female. One can rather hire a poll dancer. Other than that, I’m all good.

When you’re up on the stage surely people judge you. What’s your assessment of the Indian audience?
There are things I can say and get judged for it because I’m a woman. However, there are topics about woman I can talk about that men can’t without being labeled misogynistic. It’s balancing out somewhere, really.

Any plans to break into acting?
If any director can make me act, he deserves to have me as an actress *laughs*. I would love to go to acting school because it will help me professionally as a standup comedian on the stage. I’d also love to be a part of the Saturday Night shows on TV.

Image credit: Indiatimes