From the shadows

“I really wanted to buy an SUV,” Daniel Fernandes chuckles, when asked what prompted the evolution of his new set, Shadows. He wrote furiously for a month and a half, testing out the material at trial shows before taking it on a national tour.

The set explores familiar territory, yet, he says, the material hits a lot closer to home. The show will chronicle his journey over the last six roller-coaster years, and will, he hopes, surprise the audience “by how personal and real it gets, as opposed to me making a joke about something that’s wrong with the world in general”. He adds, “It contains experiences and emotions that people can relate to with their own lives.”

Moving up

It is a different side of Fernandes — “I’ve deviated from my social commentary style” — one that his fans have not yet seen. Veering away from his trademark dark humour that often focusses on commenting on politically-relevant issues, he says the material marks the next stage of his evolution as a stand-up comic.

“As a writer, I’ve made sure my stories have an engaging narrative that is decorated with punchlines whenever necessary. Although it’s more personal, I don’t worry about how heavy the subject can get, simply because people can understand exactly what I’m talking about,” he explains.

Crowd control

Shadows, then, is a perfect fit for Chennai’s avid stand-up audience. The city is one of Fernandes’ favorite places to perform. “The audience is well-read. They get every reference you throw at them and they’re extremely supportive of quality comedy,” he says.

The enthusiastic crowd is what keeps him coming back year after year. However, despite the burgeoning stand-up comedy scene in the city, Fernandes feels there is still untapped potential.

“Chennai has some brilliant local talent, and the audience definitely needs to support them by attending their shows. That’s the kind of backing that budding comics need. It will encourage more people to try comedy as an art form, creating a cycle that’ll keep the scene growing. Visiting comedians like myself offer the audiences variety, but the best way for comedy to grow is also the most simple: buy a ticket, go out, and support.”

Evam presents Shadows — A Stand-Up Comedy Special by Daniel Fernandes, today at 7.30 pm, at Museum Theatre. Tickets at ₹400 on in.bookmyshow.com. weekend@thehindu.co.in