Naveen Kaushik is a Delhi-based actor, who has been pursuing acting for the last eleven years. After coming to Mumbai, he has acted in several TV commercials, plays and movies. One might recall him as the slick sales manager from the Yashraj movie, 'Rocket Singh- Salesman of the Year' or playing the menacing Asht Arya, on Sony Entertainment TV's series 'Seven: The Ashshvamedh Prophecy'. He also heads Improv Comedy Mumbai (ICM), which is a group that puts up improv shows in the city.
As ICM gears to perform their piece ICM:POPCORN, which is a theatre production born out of audiences' suggestions, at the annual NCPA Cheer Festival 2016, we ask Naveen his journey into improv, the form as a career option, and why he thinks it is different from stand-up comedy.
By Nishtha Juneja
Nishtha Juneja (NJ): How did you decide to do improv comedy? When did the association with Improv Comedy Mumbai (ICM) happen for you?
Naveen Kaushik (NK): Being an actor in theatre and later in movies, I realised the importance of instinctual response to the 'moment'. Improvisation has always been an integral and necessary tool of an actor. I wanted to learn more about this skill. When I became part of Improv Comedy Mumbai (ICM), I discovered that improvisation was not just a tool or skill but a whole performance art form. That discovery turned into an association with this performance form that has lasted 7 years. Comedy has always been a difficult genre for me. But through Improv I was able to find the humour inside me and found that Improv is the first step in understanding humour. I became an ensemble cast member with ICM in 2009.
NJ: If you were to give me three reasons why you like Improv, what would they be?
NK: My three reasons would be: A. It makes one comfortable with the unpredictable. The unknown becomes a friend and human nature becomes delightful.
B. It allows one to shape a narrative based on whimsical situations and characters which most performance styles can't do. In other performances the character or situation is dependent on the script. There is more freedom in Improv.
C. In Improv one learns the numerous possibilities available in the smallest of moments/words/thoughts/ideas, etc. A single word can open up stories that no one could have predicted.
NJ: Apart from performances, ICM also conducts workshops for people to learn improvisational comedy. Furthermore, after the completion of every workshop, you also give the students a platform to showcase their work. Could you tell us about the games and activities that you conduct during the workshops? How do these activities help the students perform live?
NK: Even though there is no script or pre-determined premise in Improv, there are methods and skills that allow a performer to successfully create an improvised scene. We teach these skills, for eg. developing your (and your scene partner's) character, developing the story of your relationship with your scene partner, creating the environment that enriches the scene. Also creating a story by trusting each other and allowing the multiple ideas to give it shape. Letting go of control yet knowing what you are creating. A lot of work goes into finding the focus in an improvised scene. We have a saying that ''Improv is the sport of life'' and life as we all know, is chaotic. Finding your focus in the chaos turns life playful as well as whimsically humorous. And that then translates into comedy as the fear of the unknown is removed by being better prepared for the 'moment'.
NJ: Could you tell us about some of the challenges while putting up an improv theatre show?
NK: Aside from the usual logistical and production hurdles of any theatre performance, Improv though 7 years old, is still young in India. Comedy is a very niche market and in that market, Improv, is even more miniscule. There are maybe a handful of groups in the whole country. Due to this limited reach, the audience is not educated or informed about the existence of Improv. That is the biggest obstacle we face: audience unawareness. People still ask us what Improv is. They can't fathom a performance where the performers don't know what they will do. They find it strange that everything that they will see or experience will be created out of thin air. It can appear amateur or ridiculous to them. After all, all art forms need immense planning and rigorous rehearsals. Explaining to them that not knowing what we will do is different from knowing how we will do it. However, once they experience an Improv show they view it as magical and fantastical sometimes. I feel the audience, suffocated by mundane and lacklustre programming on TV, is starting to courageously explore more forms of entertainment and soon their awareness will grow. Till then we shall strive on.
NJ: How does the group deal with hecklers while the play is in progress, if there are any?
NK: Usually we don't experience hecklers. The few times that we have faced them, we incorporate their heckles into our scene work and turn it in our favour. You have to understand, everything in Improv is a suggestion or idea to be inspired from. Once the hecklers see that their heckles aren't fazing us but providing us with more material to use, they generally stop. Improv is about incorporation and not intimidation. In fact, sometimes we have encouraged hecklers to come up with more heckles for us to use. It's quite unnerving for the malicious ones and awe-inspiring for the casual ones.
NJ: What are some of the essential tips to keep in mind for someone who wants to pursue a career in improv comedy?
NK: One needs to have the courage to let go of control. Not everything that is going to be created will be in one's hands alone.
Also, one must realize that the truth of comedy lies in the purity of the moment. When one recognizes the 'moment' they are in on stage, they can allow it to influence their response.
Dwelling in the past or planning the future never helps. Trust the moment and trust your scene partner. You will create together.
Play. Improv is like playing a game. Have fun.
NJ: ICM has also performed at 4 different international Improv Comedy Festivals including Amsterdam, Berlin, London, and Toronto. Could you comment on the state of improv comedy in the country?
NK: Improv in India is growing. Like I mentioned before, there are a handful of groups doing Improv. But that also means that there are a handful of groups doing Improv now. When we started 7 years ago, no one knew what Improv comedy was. We were the only team. Now more people are learning it. More people are watching it. It needs the support of organisations like NCPA Cheer festival, theatre festivals across the country and the most essential support- from venues. The more it is seen and experienced, the more it will grow. We currently train close to 60 people during our workshops. At many levels of training, which means that after every batch of classes there are 60 new improv comedians. This reassures us about the future of Improv Comedy in India. But there is still a lot to be done. We own the India rights to Theatresports, which is an international competitive format. They have world championships that happen in the States. Our desire is to one day host those championships here with many Indian teams participating.
NJ: We have known of people who have changed their career paths from a well-secured job to comedy. What advice would you like to give to someone who is thinking of making the switch?
NK: Comedy is about facing your fears and turning them into laughs. Comedy is about the mistakes we make and owning them. To anyone out there thinking of switching to comedy I say- Find your voice. Learn to laugh at yourself. Get up on a stage and make the world laugh with you. And never fear the mistakes or failures. They will become the next joke or scene your write and perform. The sound of laughter that you inspired is the biggest high known to mankind. I hope you feel that high someday. Break a leg.
ICM will be perfomed on 4th June, Godrej Theatre, NCPA, at 7 pm.
*Nishtha Juneja likes to act and write about theatre. Nishtha Juneja is passionate about dance and food and has completed a post-graduate diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute for Communication (XIC).
List Your Play