Three months after the release of his debut special No Country For Moderation, Punit Pania is all set to hit the road once again. The brazen political comedian is bringing three deeply personal yet relatable stories in his new show Guilty Bystander. Pania hopes to release this show in the same fashion as his previous special on YouTube but he’s uncertain given the country’s current political climate which has turned him into an even more hardened cynic. With eight years in the standup game as a performer and producer, Pania is one of the best acts you can watch live. Read through to know what the comedian looks forward to the most on tours.

QUICK! WHAT’S THIS SHOW ABOUT?

My new show Guilty Bystander covers three stories that are deeply personal yet familiar to a wider audience. As an artist, you alternate between experience and observation and that’s where the title of the show comes from. It is unlike any of my earlier shows and I love the challenge of it.

HOW MANY SHOWS ARE YOU DOING, ACROSS HOW MANY CITIES?

I will be doing around 15 shows in about as many cities till December.

HOW LONG DID YOU SPEND WRITING THE SHOW?

I have been working on this since the end of last year but I also had a special to release so I took my time for this show.

IS THIS ALREADY LEADING UP TO A RECORDED SPECIAL FOR A STREAMING PLATFORM?

Everything we do on stage will be released eventually, hopefully on YouTube if it’s still allowed in the coming years. I don’t have much hope for streaming platforms given the commercial and censorship constraints they have to operate under.

WHY SHOULD WE WATCH IT LIVE?

For the same reason why you should watch any show live; shared social experience. But beyond that, I want my standup to evolve from a written to a rendered space that is best experienced in person. It will also be the only way to survive as a live act in a media-saturated world.

ACCORDING TO YOU, WHO WOULD BE THE IDEAL PLUS-ONE TO BRING TO THE LIVE SHOW?

Anyone who is dear to you would be an ideal plus-one from a spouse to a parent to a close friend.

ON A SCALE OF 1 – WTFAMIDOING, HOW NERVOUS ARE YOU?

After eight years in the business you don’t really get nervous you are just more alert since the sets are not a part of your muscle memory yet.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PRE-SHOWS RITUALS?

My pre-show ritual has always been listening to the audio recording of the previous show. I find it’s the best way to rehearse and get in the zone.

WHAT’S THE ONE DISH YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO EATING ON THIS TOUR?

I’m always looking forward to discovering something new even within my limited vegetarian scope but what I am really looking forward to is rava idli and filter coffee in Bangalore and Chennai in Bhubaneshwar.