BY SALONEE MISTRY

Performed by celebrated Indian-stand-up, improv and sketch comedian Kanan Gill, Teetar is a show not to be missed.

A part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the new show will be a different stand-up experience, especially for fans of Indian stand-up, he said.

Talking about things ranging from silly everyday observations to stories about himself and ancient Indian puzzles, the 70-minute performance he said is his funniest yet.

“This set was a different kind of challenge,” Gill said. “It’s me pushing my boundaries and questioning almost everything around me like never before.”

Once a software engineer, Gill started entering competitions and doing gigs while he was still working.

When he entered Punch Line Bangalore, the plan was to win two competitions while waiting for acceptance letters from universities.

They didn’t come, so he changed his plan – which all worked out perfectly, his fans will assure you.

“Stand-up could not have been a career in India when I started off,” the 29-year-old comedian said.

“When I quit my job, it was not to become a professional comedian, it was simply to quit my job. Stand-up just happened.”

Comedy initially is about planning and performing for an audience that appreciates you, much like music, he said.

“For me, the writing process is sometimes just seeing a thing and the joke is right there,” Gill said.

“Other times it revolves around insight, where I try not to think about anything else but the joke and then it naturally comes to me.”

While the Indian stand-up comedy scene has been growing there are still taboo topics, like politics and religion, he said.

The other challenging part of stand-up he added, is to simply keep doing it.

His advice to newcomers is simple.

“Start doing stand-up, but be sure why you are doing it,” Gill said.

“If you are doing it to have a career, you won’t get anywhere because it’s rare and you’ll be disappointed. If you start stand-up  because you like it, you will not be disappointed because you will get to do a lot more of it.”

Teetar is playing at the Pavilion in the Arts Centre Melbourne from April 19 to 21.