5 funny women who’ll make you laugh and make you smart
They’re saving comedy and the world from monotony and tired tropes, one joke at a time
I’m convinced about one thing: the art of comedy — fundamentally — belongs to women. If comedy is the nightmare art of acute observation, walking the tightrope between ridiculing society and respecting its demands, all while inviting legions of strangers to judge you…women have lifelong training in all three.
And yet, female comics and their impressions of the world are still largely considered niche, while the men’s are universal, default.
And while that may be changing, somewhat, the wheels aren’t turning fast enough. One trope that’s almost always trotted out in this debate is that female comics don’t appeal to non-women audiences because most limit themselves to complaining about periods, men, and misogyny. Given the havoc each of those wreak on women, it would be perfectly understandable if female comics dedicated their lives to discussing the lived realities of 49.71% of the world’s population. But… it’s not even true.
Funny women around the world are serving edgy, dark, biting humour about politics, war, capitalism, imperialism, identity, culture— the list is long and fascinating. We’ve rounded up just five such comic stars-in-the-making who are mining their life experiences and socio-cultural location to bring their audience belly laughs but also lots to think about.
It’s a truth universally known that stories become richer and worlds become more weird and wonderful when there is a plurality of perspectives within them. In these intolerant times, maybe these artists will save comedy and in the bargain, save us from ourselves.
5 female comics who’ll leave you with laughs and plenty of food for thought
There are some topics so volatile, with so much potential for outrage, even seasoned comics would pause before poking at them. Like war, for instance. Who can summon the courage to make or laugh at jokes about terrified people fleeing their countries? Nataly Aukar can. The 30-year-old Lebanese comic is a war refugee who has turned a devastating life experience into rich comedic material.
Watching a comic navigate a thorny narrative so deftly and putting a name, face, and personality to our blanket understanding of ‘refugee’ is proof of serious skill. Jokes about war, race relations, and Arabophobia sit comfortably alongside periods, abortions, cheating boyfriends, and her mother’s disapproval in Aukar’s sets. Her comedy is also an important reminder that an artist is allowed to be more than just one thing, and that they’re not duty-bound to turn their art into a trauma tour.
Watch her viral “war vibes” joke as an antidote you didn’t know you needed for the anxiety that comes with doomscrolling.
There’s much secondhand empowerment to be had from seeing people who look like you on screens and stages. But what happens when people who look like you represent you in unexpected, even uncomfortable, ways? Enter, Gauri B.
Berlin-based Gauri, 30, rarely leans into her brown identity or tropes about Indian-ness in her comedy. She’s more intent on serving up jokes about the holocaust, colonisation, and European conservatism. It’s an unusual, slightly nerve-wracking experience to see a young Indian-origin performer confidently make fun of her mostly Caucasian, European audience. Their discomfort at her grabbing the race, religion, gender bulls by the horn often becomes yours too, making you realise you might still nurse a colonial hangover which insists you prioritise the comfort and approval of the White Man over your own.
Crowd-work makes up a large part of Gauri’s performances, and her cringe-core style is refreshing because of how self-assured she is. It’s a uniquely Gen Z way too — distress laced with sarcasm — of engaging with the forces that are shaping the world.
Watch Gauri’s White Saviour snippet to know why she’s one of the freshest new Indian voices in live comedy.
In the annals of American DEI, Zainab, 32, would be a veritable triple threat: Black, woman, and Muslim. Imagine the stories. You don’t have to imagine — in her hour-long Prime Video special Hijabs Off, Johnson talks about growing up with 12 siblings, the Islamophobic economics of a brother named Muhammad Abdul Rahim, and why her family is owed one bisexual and two gay kids. While the entire special is not available in India, you can watch it piecemeal on her YouTube.
Johnson draws her audience into her world through immersive storytelling that switches between ridiculing the privileged, and the idiosyncrasies of her community – but without ever belittling or punching down. Case in point, this hilarious bit about her booty calls being misconstrued as calls to protest. It is not the sole responsibility of artists to humanise the Other for us, but when they’re as good at their job as Johnson is, they certainly can (and do) make you more curious.
When you watch this 29-year-old comic’s Youtube special, Once A Cheater, you won’t know whether to laugh or be worried for her safety. Sachdev (who lives in Noida) talks about sex, (her own) infidelity and her bisexuality on stage. While these might not be unheard of topics on their own, a whole special centred on them in the India of today is — unfortunately — an act of courage.
But none of that bravery would matter if Sachdev’s delivery wasn’t what it is – progressive truth bombs dropped in an unassuming way along with the classic North Indian twang. A disarming combination. In addition to sex-positivity, Sachdev’s performances are also peppered with observations that keep every non-Delhiite in a love-hate loop with the capital city, and are rendered even funnier by her Dilli-wali angrezi (minus the endless stream of profanities that sours desi comedy for those of us who don’t giggle at the mention of genitalia).
Watch Sachdev’s take on Insta stalkers to appreciate her unique voice that must be protected at all costs.
Sasheer, 38, late-in-life lesbian (her words) is a witch. No, really, she’s the funny one in the coven in Agatha All Along, the 2024 Disney+ mini-series spinoff of Wandavision. If you liked her there, you’ll love her in her specials The First Woman (2023) and Pizza Mind (2017) and her weekly podcast Best Friends with BFF and fellow actor-comic Nicole Byer.
Zamata’s forte is balance – going for uncomfortable-bordering-on-harrowing topics, but delivered without wearying hysterics. Hers is feminist comedy at its finest, with everything from pink-washing to masturbation, becoming fodder for mockery. Her website has quick links to all her work spread over Youtube, Spotify, Prime, and other streaming platforms.
Have yourself a mini laugh-a-thon with endless well-crafted bits like the one about the real (and sexy) origin story of witches.
