Sharul Channa, a Singapore-based stand-up comedian, returns to India with her tour "Saree, These Are Just Jokes!" in March. Despite the male-dominated industry, she has used humour to challenge stereotypes while staying committed to her craft.
With over a decade in her career, Sharul has learned many lessons, but she remains clear-eyed about the gender imbalance within the comedy circuit. "The gap between men and women in comedy is still huge," she says, adding that women often have to fight harder for the same space.
Sharul emphasizes that women must resist pressure to compete with each other for limited opportunities. "There is this idea that there is space for only one woman in the room. That's not true. There can be many voices, many styles, many perspectives," she says.
For Channa, comedy offers a platform to speak about issues that matter while challenging structures that silence women. "Stand-up allows me to use my voice for things that are close to my heart. If I can make people laugh while making them think about gender roles or stereotypes, then that's a win," she says.
