EXCLUSIVE: Comicstaan 3 judges Neeti Palta and Sumukhi Suresh reveal who is the cry baby on the show

Comedy is one of the most difficult genres to pull off, and to train someone in comedy is even more difficult as sense of humour is innate. But Amazon Prime Video’s Comicstaan has been doing it successfully for two seasons and recently it returned with its third one. This year’s format came with some big changes as this time there is a separate judging panel comprising of Sumukhi Suresh, Neeti Palta, Kenny Sebastian and Zakir Khan, and a separate group of 7 mentors who will be coaching the contestants. As Comicstaan 3 hits the platform today, Sumukhi and Neeti indulged in a fun conversation with Bollywood Bubble where they opened up about this season while giving out some titles to their fellow comedians. Read excerpts from the interview here:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Comicstaan (@comicstaan)

The show has had two successful seasons already, how different is the vibe of Comicstaan 3? 

Sumukhi: “That it’s come after a long time. We are feeling like it’s the first season ourselves because it took us so long to shoot it that we found our mojo and it’s coming right after the pandemic. It’s going to be one of those light shows that people will talk about and that way, we are coming with a renewed energy.”

Neeti: “Also there are format changes and everyone’s favourite roast round has come this time. The contestants have got the chance to vent out their frustration on the judges and even judges have got the chance to remind them that we are still judging them. So, it has been a lot of fun.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Comicstaan (@comicstaan)

This year, since you aren’t mentoring, you are also not getting judged for the mentor leaderboard. Did that give you a sense of freedom?

Neeti: “A lot. We were talking about it that when we got to mentor them, we used to get so close to the contestants that we would deal with their insecurities day in and out and even put our insecurities on them. And then when it comes to marking, we judges were fighting amongst ourselves in previous seasons and then the next week, we were again treating the contestants like beganas back on the judging table. But we missed also that one-on-one time a little.”

Sumukhi: “I had the sketch round last time and I am so glad that they took it from me and gave it to Anu Menon. She is a way better mentor and she did a great job. I am glad that she did that because she is a better teacher.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by amazon prime video IN (@primevideoin)

Sumukhi, what do you think comes more naturally to you, hosting or judging?

Sumukhi: “I think hosting comes more naturally to me. Next season, I say Abish should be the judge and me and Kusha (Kapila) will host, people will enjoy it a lot more.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sumukhi Suresh (@sumukhisuresh)

Neeti, this is your second season as a judge, what do you think have you improved upon since last season?

Neeti: “I laugh very easy, and that is me as a person. This season I had to remind myself that I had to put that cap on that I had to tell them and help them. So, laugh but parallelly tell the contestants how to make themselves better. So, I think I have done a better job this season.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Neeti Palta (@neetipalta)

Were their any unexpected surprises this year on Comicstaan for you?

Sumukhi: “As Kenny said, this season everyone has those winner vibes. In each episode it went up and down and the tension is definitely there this time which was less in season 1 and not at all in season 2.”

Neeti: “Even our favourites were getting ping-ponged every episode.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kanan Gill (@kanangill)

Since there are 7 new mentors this time around, if you had to choose one to mentor you in a new form of comedy, who would you choose?

Neeti: “I would choose Kanan to mentor me because I had run my jokes past him once and the way he gives feedback, the insight he gives, his mind on alt comedy is just amazing.”

Sumukhi: “I think it is Sapan because he is very clear with structure. I find my structure on stage whereas he feels that one should have it before going.” 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sapan Verma (@sapanv)

What is that one piece of advice that you would give to budding comics out there? 

Neeti: “My favourite is don’t copy anyone else, bring your own point of view because that will make you stand out. No one would have experienced your life the way you would’ve, so bring your own voice.”

Sumukhi: “You have to be good at open mics. You might be funny in your gang but that doesn’t make you funny for the audience. There is a reason it is a profession and you get a taste of it at open mics, which is like a liquid test. If you are able to go there again and again and are not backing off, then you can make it.”

Neeti: “A lot of budding comics DM us saying that we have done 2 open mics, now when will we get our solos, what to do for corporate shows. And we are like rukk ja bhai, market kharab karega. (Laughs)” 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Neeti Palta (@neetipalta)

In today’s day and age, where people take offence so easily and are vocal about it too, does it feel risky to do comedy?

Neeti: “I think it depends on paltform to platform. If you play by their rules it will work.”

Sumukhi: “Of course there is a little bit of fear but I don’t think that governs anyone’s life. You go based on what you think is right, twitter thread aana hai to aa hi jayega. You can’t escape it.”

Neeti: “Our job as comics is to make you laugh. It’s in our benefit only if you laugh so why on earth will we deliberately intend offence?”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Neeti Palta (@neetipalta)

Here are some titles that we have, amongst the judges, hosts and the mentors on Comicstaan 3 , who would you give them to?

Master of the dad jokes: Rahul Subramaniam

PJ master: Abish

Master of acting: Sumukhi

Late lateef: Zakir

Cry baby: All of us, together we are all cry babies, separately we are not

Roastee of the group: Abish, he self roasts himself as well

Hottie of the group: Anu Menon and Kusha Kapila

Chatterbox: Neeti

The Drama Queen: The contestants were the drama queens this year… but yeah, Covid was actually the drama queen this year

Also Read: ‘Comicstaan’ season 2: If the trailer is this hilarious, we wonder how lit the entire show would be