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"Breaking Language Barriers with Laughter: Mandar Bhide Proves That Passion and Perseverance Can Turn Dreams into Global Success!" |
1. Could you share your journey into stand-up comedy and what inspired you to perform in multiple languages?
It all started with attending a live show at Canvas Laugh Club in September 2014. The format was so different from what I had seen earlier – Movies, Plays, Music concerts, that it drew me towards it & I ended up attending another show after a few weeks at the same venue. It was while watching that show that I felt I could give this a try, since I was always the funny person in my friends circle. A few months of writing later, I felt I had a good 5 mins of content & that’s how I ended up doing my 1st open mic on 19th April 2015.
When I started doing stand up, it was a trend that most comedians would perform primarily in English with bit of Hindi interspersed, so I started of with what you would call – Hinglish. It so happened in 2017 that we had an open mic in South Mumbai at 8 PM & I happened to be in that area early(was in a sales job & had a meeting there) & a Gujarati open mic was happening there. Having grown up in Mumbai, I speak fluent Gujarati & so requested the organiser to give me a spot at that show. It went well, so I did another Gujarati open mic & then felt that I should perform in my mother tongue – Marathi too.
2. As India's only comedian performing in four languages—English, Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati—how do you tailor your content to resonate with diverse audiences?
I haven’t done a Gujarati show after 2018 but I try to keep my content separate in different languages. When I do Marathi shows, I make it a point to give it as much Marathi flavour as possible, so that the show has a USP.
3. Having been a significant part of the Marathi stand-up scene since its inception in 2017, how have you seen the genre evolve, and what role have you played in its growth?
The genre has evolved significantly, going from 5 people to more than 100. Marathi comedians are not just performing in Maharashtra now but also across the country in cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Baroda & so on. While its still nascent, I have played a little part in taking Marathi comedy global by being the first & so far the only Marathi Comedian to have done shows in 5 continents.
4. You've toured across five continents with your solo shows. How does performing internationally differ from performing in India, especially concerning cultural nuances and audience reactions?
Have toured all 5 continents where Marathi shows can happen – Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe & North America. To be honest, the audience composition is almost the same whenever we perform internationally – 80% people are from Pune & Mumbai, 10% from Nashik & Nagpur & the remaining 10% from the rest of Maharashtra, so beyond the first joke, it doesn’t really matter if you are performing in Dadar or in Detroit.
5. With over 200 corporate shows for clients like Google, Tata, and HDFC, what unique challenges and rewards come with performing in a corporate setting compared to public shows?
Mandar Bhide is the only multi-lingual comedian in India who performs in 4 languages - English, Hindi, Marathi & Gujarati. He has performed in more than 800 shows all over India & abroad. He has also acted in a lot of web series & in TV commercials. Corporate shows are his forte & he instantly clicks with audiences across all age groups. Mandar made his TV debut recently on Sony SAB TV's show - Good Night India.
Mandar is a veteran of corporate shows having done over 200 corporate shows for more than 75 clients with the most notable ones being Google, Glenmark, Tata, Volkswagen, ITC & HDFC
Mandar is the top rated comedian in the Marathi stand up industry & is the only comedian to have done multiple international stand up tours.
2. As India's only comedian performing in four languages—English, Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati—how do you tailor your content to resonate with diverse audiences?
I haven’t done a Gujarati show after 2018 but I try to keep my content separate in different languages. When I do Marathi shows, I make it a point to give it as much Marathi flavour as possible, so that the show has a USP.
3. Having been a significant part of the Marathi stand-up scene since its inception in 2017, how have you seen the genre evolve, and what role have you played in its growth?
The genre has evolved significantly, going from 5 people to more than 100. Marathi comedians are not just performing in Maharashtra now but also across the country in cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Baroda & so on. While its still nascent, I have played a little part in taking Marathi comedy global by being the first & so far the only Marathi Comedian to have done shows in 5 continents.
4. You've toured across five continents with your solo shows. How does performing internationally differ from performing in India, especially concerning cultural nuances and audience reactions?
Have toured all 5 continents where Marathi shows can happen – Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe & North America. To be honest, the audience composition is almost the same whenever we perform internationally – 80% people are from Pune & Mumbai, 10% from Nashik & Nagpur & the remaining 10% from the rest of Maharashtra, so beyond the first joke, it doesn’t really matter if you are performing in Dadar or in Detroit.
5. With over 200 corporate shows for clients like Google, Tata, and HDFC, what unique challenges and rewards come with performing in a corporate setting compared to public shows?
Corporate shows pay pretty well & most times, it is the only motivation behind doing corporate shows. The biggest challenge in a corporate show is that not everybody in the audience is your fan or is there exclusively for a stand up show. Sometimes, the audience members have been in a day long conference, post which they want to enjoy a few drinks & hit the bed but then you are introduced on stage as yet another speaker, which adds to their misery & ends up affecting your performance.
6. Your YouTube channel features a variety of stand-up videos. How do you decide on topics for your content, and what role does audience feedback play in shaping your material?
Since Covid, I have pivoted to only doing clean, family friendly content, so it in a way limits things you can joke about but having said that, there is enough happening in our day to day life for us to draw inspiration from. My style of comedy is mostly observational & is hence, pretty relatable to everyone. The audience, is always the biggest factor in determining what I talk about. Sometimes, I love to push the envelope a little by talking about social issues, which may or may not be received well by audiences. So depending on how receptive they are, I decide whether to continue doing a particular bit or to drop it.
7. Are there any upcoming shows or projects you're particularly excited about that you'd like to share with your audience?
Since Covid, I have pivoted to only doing clean, family friendly content, so it in a way limits things you can joke about but having said that, there is enough happening in our day to day life for us to draw inspiration from. My style of comedy is mostly observational & is hence, pretty relatable to everyone. The audience, is always the biggest factor in determining what I talk about. Sometimes, I love to push the envelope a little by talking about social issues, which may or may not be received well by audiences. So depending on how receptive they are, I decide whether to continue doing a particular bit or to drop it.
7. Are there any upcoming shows or projects you're particularly excited about that you'd like to share with your audience?
Since July 2022, I started doing my Marathi Solo Show called – Shubha Mangal Saavdhan, which really gave me a strong identity as a comedian, helped me stand up to the biggest names in stand up comedy & helped me tour the world. The show now goes live on YouTube on the 27th of January & I believe it is one of the best written specials written in the country across languages. So I am hoping the internet showers me with the same love as people in Live audiences have. I have started touring with my new show called – Aale Pak, which is touring Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, USA & Canada this year, so really looking forward to that.
8. If you could collaborate with any comedian, past or present, for a multilingual stand-up show, who would it be and why?
I adore, respect & revere the great P.L. Deshpande, whose writing I have literally grew up on. If I could go back in the past, would love to be associated with him in any way possible. Amongst the current comedians, I have huge respect for people like Amit Tandon Sir, who is like a mentor & big brother to me. Have opened for him multiple times & always love sharing the stage with him. Vipul Goyal, Atul Khatri, Zakir Khan are people with whom I would love to work with too.
8. If you could collaborate with any comedian, past or present, for a multilingual stand-up show, who would it be and why?
I adore, respect & revere the great P.L. Deshpande, whose writing I have literally grew up on. If I could go back in the past, would love to be associated with him in any way possible. Amongst the current comedians, I have huge respect for people like Amit Tandon Sir, who is like a mentor & big brother to me. Have opened for him multiple times & always love sharing the stage with him. Vipul Goyal, Atul Khatri, Zakir Khan are people with whom I would love to work with too.
Bio:
Mandar Bhide’s name is synonymous with Marathi Stand Up Comedy. He has ruled the comedy charts ever since Marathi Stand Up started in 2017 & has created a name for himself across the globe. He is the only Marathi comedian to have toured internationally with his solo shows. 5 continents done, he is hungry for more!
Mandar Bhide is the only multi-lingual comedian in India who performs in 4 languages - English, Hindi, Marathi & Gujarati. He has performed in more than 800 shows all over India & abroad. He has also acted in a lot of web series & in TV commercials. Corporate shows are his forte & he instantly clicks with audiences across all age groups. Mandar made his TV debut recently on Sony SAB TV's show - Good Night India.
Mandar is a veteran of corporate shows having done over 200 corporate shows for more than 75 clients with the most notable ones being Google, Glenmark, Tata, Volkswagen, ITC & HDFC
Mandar is the top rated comedian in the Marathi stand up industry & is the only comedian to have done multiple international stand up tours.
Interviewed by : Shivam Sharma
Edited by : Shivam Sharma
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