Alexander Babu
| Photograph Credit score: Johan Sathyadas
In a parallel world, Alexander Babu is a singer like SPB; a tabla participant like Zakir Hussain; a comic like Vivek. In the actual world although, the slapstick comedian does somewhat little bit of all of the above: his trademark type is musical comedy, and Alex performs a number of devices on stage, together with the tabla. His common present Alex in Wonderland that’s now on Amazon Prime, was an ode to the 80s Tamil cinema playlist that Alex grew up listening to. He now brings his new present Alexperience to Coimbatore subsequent month.
The present might be just like Alex in Wonderland, and completely different on the identical time. “The premise will shock you initially,” he says, including that the remaining must be skilled.
Alex, who is predicated in Chennai, is from Andavoorani village in Ramnad district. He went to a Christian missionary-run faculty, and grew up singing within the choir on the native church and enjoying musical devices similar to harmonium and tabla. He additionally listened to a number of Tamil movie music, since his father was a fan of Sirkazhi Govindarajan and T M Soundararajan, and elder brother, a Yesudas fan.
Years later, when he sat down to put in writing materials for his first stand-up present, all these components made their look. “This was in late 2016,” recollects Alex, including that he would do 10-minute open-mics at cafes in Chennai to check his materials. “Most of my viewers had been youngsters and other people of their 20s, and I used to be about 40 years outdated. After they cracked up for outdated SPB songs, I realised the songs had been nonetheless transferring. I then pushed the boundary, and got here again with Sirkazhi songs for the subsequent open-mic,” he recollects. Alex discovered that his viewers loved the set. “I realised then that there was a spark right here someplace.”
Alex is now on the final leg of the world tour with Alexperience
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Particular association
When he did his first present at Museum Theatre in Chennai, the response proved that, “individuals won’t hesitate to take heed to tales in regards to the 80s Tamil playlist time and again,” says Alex. For somebody who had given up a profitable IT job to attempt his hand at standup comedy, this present was a turning level. “I had taken a two-year sabbatical, and thought I’d return if nothing labored out,” says Alex.
Nevertheless it did. He’s now on the final leg of the world tour with Alexperience, and is about to wrap it up after 5 exhibits, the final one might be recorded to be launched digitally. Alex says that he merely aimed to work with conviction in direction of one thing that will maintain him in the long term. “This, I assumed, was a really attainable aim.”
Alex’s jokes are clear, and he says that in all of them, he ensures there may be some objective. “They shouldn’t simply be foolish marriage or rest room jokes,” he says, “They need to be one thing that I can inform my sons.” The slapstick comedian had finished a small function within the Madhavan-starrer Maara, and says he’s at all times open to doing good, pivotal roles in cinema. “I lately auditioned for an fascinating function,” he provides.
His subsequent present might be based mostly on the historical past of the Tamil language, the fabric for which is prepared. With fixed excursions throughout the globe, Alex says he at all times makes time for his household. “I’m touching 50, and proper now, I wish to keep at house extra, and spend time with my youngsters,” he says. How is Alex, as an individual? He pauses to suppose and says: “I’m a bit critical in comparison with the person I see on stage.”
Alexperience, open to individuals aged 13 and above, is on August 10, 4pm to 7.30pm, at PSG Conference Centre. Tickets on insider.in and alexanderbabu.com.
