From Hasya Kavi Sammelan that used to be broadcasted on Doordarshan to stand-up comedy specials being aired on streaming platforms, the stand-up comedy scene in India has come a long way and so has Amit Tandon. Born in Patiala and studied in New Delhi, it was only after marriage, two kids and years of corporate experience that Tandon decided to go back to his first love - comedy. When his videos exploded on YouTube in 2016, he knew he had chosen the right path. "When I talk to comedians who are contemplating if they should quit their jobs and opt for a full-time career in comedy, I tell them that once you have performed ticketed shows in seven to eight cities, meaning that people are actually ready to pay and watch you, then you can think of quitting your job," says the 42-year-old Tandon. Talking of this veteran's track record, he has performed in more than 12 countries, including US, UK, Melbourne, Singapore and more, it's safe to say that this comedian is here to stay.
Not only are Tandon's jokes observational in nature, as he draws from his own life, they are also devoid of sexual innuendos, cuss words and offensive content. "It started with me watching my language at home, because of my kids and then it became a conscious decision," he shares. He soon realised that even corporate shows preferred this format. His journey itself is incomplete if we don't mention Grandmasters of Comedy which he started to lighten up corporate atmospheres. "We wanted to add a few moments of laughter in the otherwise stressful life of employees," says Tandon. In the past, Tandon has used a joke in the signature of his emails, which he used to change every week and once, when a colleague was engaged to be married, he gathered a few employees and pointed at him and started cracking up, just for laughs. These are the small things that he wants to bring back and take Grandmasters of Comedy further. For now, he has a Bollywood live show coming up, celebrating 100 years of the film industry and he is also contributing to a web series, in terms of writing. If you are in Hyderabad, Pune or Nagpur, don't forget to catch Tandon in his upcoming live performances.
For more on him, click on tandonamit.com
