iWorld
Stand up comedy has been a slow romance and I am enjoying it: Sumukhi Suresh
Mumbai: Comedy is considered an art and known as one of the most powerful forms of expression for telling the truth to power. In India, personal, societal, and political satire-related stand-up and comedy shows are highly popular. These shows are popular sources of entertainment and provide happiness which may be defined as funny programs on YouTube and other social media handles.
Sumukhi Suresh, known for her sharp wit and humor, is all set to entertain her audiences on an international stage with her show “Hoemonal.” Starting from 31 July to 11 August, which marks an incredible milestone in her career as she takes her comedy beyond borders.
Sumukhi’s journey from a comedian to an actor, writer, and entrepreneur is nothing short of inspiring. Starting out in stand-up comedy, she quickly gained acclaim for her relatable humor. Her success on the comedy circuit laid the groundwork for her expansion into acting and writing, where she has continued to impress with her creativity.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Sumukhi is the founder of Motormouth, a platform that reflects her entrepreneurial spirit to foster new talent. Through Motormouth, she has contributed significantly to the comedy scene, helping emerging comedians find their voice.
Indiantelevision.com caught up with Suresh where she shared her stand up comedy journey, vision behind creating Motormouth, the Edinburgh fringe festival, combating misogyny and much more…
Edited excerpts
Congratulations on taking ‘Hoemonal’ international! What inspired this decision and what can audiences abroad expect from the show?
Thank you so much!
Edinburgh fringe festival is one of the most prestigious festivals in the world for performers. The festival was the inspiration behind it honestly. The audience can experience an honest tale of a 30s woman trying to balance hormonal imbalance and dating imbalance. I feel the core of Hoemonal is relatable and amusing and I would love for audiences abroad to experience that too.
As the founder of Motormouth, could you share with us the vision behind it and how it supports emerging talent in the entertainment industry?
Motormouth is my endeavor to bring together writers into the writers room and create movies and shows with protagonists that are female, flawed and fabulous.
The aim is also to develop more women who can be head writers and shows-runners. I wish to be able to do the same work for other genders as I learn more about it.
Comedy often transcends cultural boundaries. How do you think your style of humor resonates differently across different audiences, especially as you take your shows international?
Comedy is most effective for me when I am most honest about what I am thinking about a premise. So when I write the show, I try to keep my jokes and observations as rooted in reality as I can.
I like to perform by personalising my anecdotes and observations so that the audience either relates to it and those who don’t end up rooting for me.
From your roots as a comedian to now branching into acting, writing, and entrepreneurship with Motormouth, how has your journey shaped your approach to comedy and storytelling?
Actually my beginning was improv and sketch comedy. This is my love for writing and acting. Stand up comedy has been a slow romance and I am enjoying it.
Each of these skills are so dynamic that there is something new to learn every day. I also think they are interconnected in so many ways that it helps in the overall growth of me as an artist.
Lastly, what is your response to the “Women can’t do Comedy” narrative around the globe as we have been hearing this misogynist remark for a decade or so and what advice would you give to the upcoming female comedians for the same?
This remark is not going away. Also this remark is centuries old now. In fact the moment I see this comment, I know a video of mine has gone viral.
The only way to combat this is to keep doing the job, making money, dreaming about owning a mansion in your favorite city and then laugh at whoever says “women can’t do comedy”.
iWorld
Prime Video to stream Tamil thriller Exam from May 15
Seven-episode series from National Award-winner A. Sarkunam streams in India and 240-plus countries
MUMBAI: Prime Video announced on April 27th that Exam, a taut seven-episode suspense drama set against the crucible of high-stakes competitive testing, will premiere on May 15th in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Written and directed by A. Sarkunam, a National Award-winner, the series is produced under the Wallwatcher Films banner by the creative duo Pushkar and Gayatri, who have previously delivered Suzhal: The Vortex (both seasons) and Vadhandhi: The Fable of Velonie for the platform. Dushara Vijayan and Aditi Balan lead the cast, with Abbas in a pivotal role.
The show will stream in Tamil with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada, and subtitles in 15 languages, including English, a distribution sweep that underscores Prime Video’s push to globalise Indian regional content.
Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India, framed the series as both timely and commercially astute. “Exam is a very timely and relevant story that captures the emotional intensity of competitive exams and masterfully transforms it into a thrilling high-stakes drama,” he said. “We believe it is a story that will resonate deeply with millions.” Madhok noted that it was a privilege to once again collaborate with Pushkar and Gayatri following the success of Suzhal and Vadhandhi.
For Pushkar and Gayatri, the series is as much a moral reckoning as a thriller. “With Exam, we wanted to dig into ambition, injustice, and those moral crossroads that people face when pushed to the edge,” the creative producers said. “At the heart of this story is a young woman who refuses to remain powerless. Her journey is not about glamorising defiance, but about exploring the emotional and ethical cost of standing up to a system stacked against her.” They described Prime Video as “an incredible collaborator” and “the perfect home” to bring the series to global audiences.
Wallwatcher Films, which Pushkar and Gayatri founded and run, has been on a productive streak with the platform. Beyond Exam, the company is also readying Vadhandhi Season 2 for Prime Video, making the duo one of the platform’s most active regional creative partners.
The real exam, it seems, is for Prime Video itself: can a Tamil drama about systemic injustice and a young woman’s defiance crack audiences from Chennai to Chicago? If Pushkar and Gayatri’s track record is anything to go by, the answer is likely yes, and the results will be out on May 15th.
