Comic relief

Comedian Atul Khatri will stage a virtual show, proceeds from which will go towards Covid-19 relief work

Comic relief

Atul Khatri. Pic/Shadab Khan (right) Ruchin Kohli

For veteran comedian Atul Khatri, one of the biggest challenges when the lockdown was imposed was adapting his live shows to the digital medium. Now, over a 100 online shows later, he’s using his mastery for a good cause. Along with Event and Entertainment Management Association of India (EEMA) under their Project Ikshana initiative, Khatri is set to perform a stand-up show, proceeds from which will be donated to the project. “When we [stand-up comics] started doing shows online last year, it was a matter of survival. But because the second wave has been this lethal and depressing, I didn’t want to do ticketed shows. I just wanted to raise money for a good cause,” he reveals.

Khatri is no stranger to doing shows for Covid-19 relief, but this is his first with EEMA. “EEMA is a respectable organisation, and we’ve all already been through a year of donation fatigue. My biggest concern was that the funds should reach the right place, and I believe that they will spend it intelligently,” he reasons. “Atul came up with the idea because we were busy with fundraising, and many people wish to donate to legal entities, but we also wanted to reach out to rural regions,” says Ruchin Kohli, joint secretary of EEMA.

Earlier this year, Khatri himself tested positive for Covid-19 and hopes to include that experience in the content of the show, along with other silly anecdotes and observations. With avenues for people all over the world to join and chime in, it works comfortably for both Khatri and the audience, who can tune in from the comfort of their homes. Khatri and Project Ikshana are keen to organise more such shows, and for comedy fans who’d like a few laughs and help out with the cause, perhaps tune in?

On: May 27, 10 pm onwards
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Cot: Rs 499 onwards

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