Hyderabad: While there are very few female comedians in the field of stand-up comedy, Sushma Chitta has made her mark in the comedy world. She often draws inspiration from her life as a working mother. A senior staff technical writer by day and a stand-up comedian by night, the Hyderabad-based comedian seamlessly blends her professional expertise with her comedy style. Sushma ventured into stand-up comedy after attending her first stand-up show in 2017, where she immediately felt a natural inclination towards the art. “I always wanted to get into comedy, but I didn’t know how. And with a daughter who constantly needed my attention, finding the right opportunity was challenging,” she says. The digital comic artist began her journey into stand-up comedy this February after working in corporate comedy shows last year.
Sushma sheds light on the changes and evolution taking place in the local comedy scene. With several open mic spots opening up in Hyderabad, especially in the last year, she says it was by chance that she came across an open mic ad on BookMyShow that inspired her to take the plunge. “My daughter, who is my biggest cheerleader, accompanies me to every set,” says the 36-year-old mother. Sushma draws comedy content from her daily life, focusing on parenting, the struggles of working from home, and corporate culture. Her unique selling point is the humour she infuses into the lyrics. “My approach is old-fashioned and homely. I lean towards clean comedy, aimed at entertaining audiences of all ages and backgrounds,” she says. Sushma’s big break came from Tamada Media’s ‘Mike Ki Kirikiri’, an open mic event exclusively gathering female comedians. Her set, which humorously depicted the reactions of NRIs on returning to India after a long time, received widespread acclaim. Talking about the Hyderabadi audience and her initial days, Sushma says, “Initially the response was not good. People would look weird and pretend not to laugh at my jokes. Unfortunately this is common for women in comedy.” Establishing oneself in the industry and overcoming the stereotype that ‘women are not funny’ demanded exceptional skills and resilience. She adds, “Things seem to be improving now. I hope this stereotype will vanish completely in the future.” Looking ahead, Sushma plans to expand her repertoire with solo shows and continue her corporate gigs. Apart from this, her digital comic strips are set to be published in a magazine, which will prove to be another milestone in her creative journey.
