Review: Urooj Ashfaq's "It's funny to me"

 

My relationship with Urooj's shows is a bit of a saga.

I've loved her acting and the things she's been in for a long time. The first I remember is the AIB sketch, When Apps Are People, Part 1. I've been following her online ever since, and I'm a big fan.

A little about me first. I travel a lot for work, and I'm usually not sure where I'll be on any given day a month from now. The travel has been heavy, though it's eased off lately. Anyway. Whenever a favorite comedian of mine announces a show, I just book two tickets, never mind whether I'll actually be in town. If I'm not, I pass them on to friends, or my nieces and nephews, or whoever else I can find who likes them.

That's exactly what happened a few years ago. Urooj announced a show, I booked, and then I had to be out of town and couldn't find anyone to take the tickets. So the next time she announced one, I booked again and decided I'd be in town no matter what, even turning down a family function at my in-laws'. One day before the show, Urooj announced it had to be canceled and would be rescheduled. When the new dates came, I wasn't in town. I thought something else was waiting for me.

So when she announced she'd be in Bangalore for "It's Funny to Me," I did the usual and booked two tickets, and this time I made sure I'd be around. Everything fell into place. I even managed to bring along a friend whose sense of humor, I think, is a lot like Urooj's.

And then I almost didn't make it. Of all the days, my Uber driver decided to take a wrong turn, and for a few minutes it looked like I might miss the show after all these years of trying. I made it. Just.

The first few seconds were a bit much, seeing her in person after all these years of watching her online. She set the context early: she was trying something new and edgy, built on feedback she'd gotten in Europe. My friend and I exchanged a look. We turn up after following all her older work, and the day we finally make it, it's the new stuff?

And yet, no, not disappointing. Not even slightly. It was every bit as good. Her sense of humor was fully intact, I had a blast, and I was simply happy to have finally caught her live.

If you like her comedy, and if you want to see her take on some darker themes (and I strongly recommend it), don't think twice. Book.