Cover Sharul Channa is Singapore’s only full-time female comedian (Photo: KC Eng)
Sharul Channa is Singapore’s only full-time female comedian (Photo: KC Eng)
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Known for her witty punchlines which address social issues, the stand-up comedian talks about how she navigates sensitive topics like adjusting underwear and the cathartic power of laughter
In the world of stand-up comedy, where every performance is a tightrope walk between humour and sensitivity, Sharul Channa stands out not just for her wit but also for her insightful observations on life. The Singaporean comedian has carved out a niche in the industry with her quirky perspective and fearless honesty; her performances gaining recognition for fiercely addressing challenging topics such as gender inequality and cultural stereotypes. She also draws on her experiences as an Indian woman to provide humorous perspectives.
Singapore’s only full-time female stand-up comedian, Channa performs regularly at sold-out shows throughout Asia.
We speak to her here about finding humour in the everyday, dealing with criticism and fighting stereotypes as a comedian, and how we can all not take life too seriously.
Read more: 5 quotes on self-worth, mental health and manifesting confidence
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Sharul Channa (SC): One of the things I do is observe. I sit around in cafes at parks, wherever I get a space to people-watch. I listen in on conversations because that’s where you get the most material. I read the news and make quirky remarks on happenings that are obvious from my perspective but might not be to others. I also draw a lot from my personal life. If I’m talking about something at a certain point, I’m likely going through it concurrently. I believe that’s where authentic jokes come from.
How do you transform everyday observations into hilarious material?
SC: It is a skill you pick up that then becomes almost like muscle memory, to watch something from a comical point of view. People usually see a situation from one perspective, but I’ve learnt to see it in different ways. It’s like when you go to a drawing class and capture the apple from various points of view. It’s about shifting your point of view.
How do you handle unexpected moments during live shows?
SC: I come from a drama school background, where we are taught to think quickly on our feet. When I first started doing stand-up, I did a lot of hosting gigs that taught me to speak to different kinds of people and have a comeback. I had to give it back to them.
Sometimes I do slip up. For example, when people arrive late and walk into the room during my comedy show, it breaks my flow. And when that happens, I work with it. I say things like, “Can I get you something? Did you lose something like your watch?” or, “Were you coming from Jurong? Thank you so much for spending so much on Grab to come watch this show!”
Read more: ‘Women have not hit their peak in comedy yet’: Sharul Channa on what it takes to be funny on stage
Above In 2020, Channa was nominated for Best Actress at The Straits Times Life Theatre Awards (Photo: Sharul Channa)
In 2020, Channa was nominated for Best Actress at The Straits Times Life Theatre Awards (Photo: Sharul Channa)
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I aim to impact people in a way that they would say, “She was carefree and truthful. She made us laugh, but also educated us”
How does storytelling play a part in your work and where is the line between truth and embellishment?
SC: Authenticity is paramount. I can’t go on stage and talk about being a mother when I don’t have children. That will be completely fake. As a comedian, if I steer away from my authentic self, I would feel so guilty. When you’re your authentic self, you’re the same everywhere. If you change or steer away from who you are, the audience will know. People will know.
There are two forms of jokes in stand-up. One is short form, where it’s a brief story that ends with the punchline. The second is a long-form, where you incorporate storytelling and build it up with a few punchlines that culminate in an epic end. The risk of long-form is that if any of the earlier punchlines don’t land, there’s a high chance that later parts will not either. If you make things up wholesale, the lack of authenticity could make some elements of the story awkward and it might not be funny to the audience. Comedians take the liberty to embellish their stories, but the most important part is the essence of the joke. The essence of the joke has to be true.
How do you cope with life’s challenges through humour?
SC: Comedy has allowed me to be normal in society. Because if I say these things in social settings, people will think I am unhinged. I’m so glad that I’ve been given a stage and a mic to go up and tell my truth, to speak about things which people can’t otherwise say at a party or in a conference room. It’s catharsis and therapy for me.
When adapting your material for international audiences, how do you ensure cultural sensitivity without diluting the humour?
SC: I emphasise our shared human experiences. The baseline is the same—everybody eats, everybody travels, everybody takes a sh*t, everybody has sex. The way people behave in different situations is very similar all over the world. You can’t go wrong with humour.
If it concerns cultural sensitivities, I contextualise my jokes by saying: “I’m from Singapore and I’m a minority in my country.” When I tell these jokes, I’m not making fun of the majority or minority in your country. I’m sharing my perspective based on where I come from. I talk about the idiosyncrasies of every society, but I don’t put them down. We have to be sensitive to the people.
Read more: 5 Asian comedians celebrating heritage, humour and diversity on the stage, one joke at a time
Humour can be subjective. How do you deal with the nay-sayers?
SC: I once put up a clip about the transgender community in India and a couple of them reached out and said, “Sharul, this was not funny. It triggered us,” to which I replied, “I apologise and will take it down.” The clip of that joke was about to go viral and had already reached India. I decided that I didn’t need those likes or views. I didn’t need those comments if it was hurting a community that was already marginalised, so I followed through and took it down. You need to take accountability for whatever content is put out there.
A comedian once told me, “You shouldn’t apologise because it weakens your power.” I said, “What power? What is this power that we are holding so dear to ourselves? The power is with the people. They make you who you are and you should respect them.”
But if you think you’re not wrong, then fight for your joke. I made a joke about how men adjust their underwear in public and how it’s distracting, especially to a woman. That went viral and some men came after me for it. In that instance, I said, “I don’t care. I love that joke. It’s the truth.” I never took it down. I reposted it a million times and I’m so happy with it.
What legacy do you hope to leave behind as a comedian?
SC: I aim to impact people in a way that they would say, “She was carefree and truthful. She made us laugh, but also educated us.” Legends are the ones who entertain and educate. My ultimate goal is to make audiences laugh while provoking thought and fostering empathy. When they go back home and talk about you, that’s when you’ve made an impact.
How can we all live a little lighter and not take things too seriously?
SC: I’ve found it helpful to think of things as my responsibility. When I see it that way, I can just put my head down and get things done, almost like wearing horse blinders.
Another trick is to laugh at myself and the situation. For example, if I stub my toe, I’ll catch myself saying, “Sharul, really? You had to do that to yourself?” Then I might think, “Maybe something big was supposed to happen today and this stubbed toe is God’s way of balancing things out.” I know some people might think I’m crazy, but it’s just about talking to myself and reminding my body and mind to learn from the little things.
Any life advice for our readers?
SC: When you wake up in the morning, do a little dance. Also, don’t cut your hair every time there’s a heartbreak. Don’t give anybody the power to make physical changes unless you want to do it yourself. Because otherwise, you will just go bald, you know?
