Today, our host Soumya is in conversation with two standup comics: Abish Mathew and Manjeet Sarkar to discuss the representation of men in pop culture and how the norm is evolving from the angry young man to more layered characters.

From reminiscing about childhood influences in Hindi and Malayalam cinema, to finding resonance in the works of Satyajit Ray, they discuss how everyday conversations at work and home have evolved over the years to include kinder, and more in depth perspectives. They also touch upon themes like the need for unlearning and relearning, the lack of a vernacular in regional languages to express ideals of feminism, and the very pronounced urban vs rural divide.

Abish Mathew started his career as a prime time radio host for Hit 95 FM, before becoming a comedian. Today, he is a formidable force in the comedy circuit and runs his own enterprise called Absurdist Studios through which he hosts his shows Son of Abish & Journey of a Joke.

Manjeet Sarkar is a stand-up comic who has been breaking new ground in comedy for over six years. He’s recently produced, directed and released a compelling documentary called Untouchable: Laughing Out Caste. He’s currently on a world tour with his standup solo show and feature film.

Know more about Breakthrough’s work at https://inbreakthrough.org/

Our Guests:

Abish Mathew

Manjeet Sarkar

Find them on social media

Instagram @InBreakthrough

Twitter @InBreakthrough

Facebook @InBreakthrough

Or email us if you have questions contact@inbreakthrough.org / contact@maed.in

This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni

Producer: Meghna Gulati

Sound Editing & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni

Artwork: Alika Gupta