Anand Subramanian, a teacher by profession, is a Malayali comedy artist with Palakkad Iyer roots. Although his parents hail from Palakkad, he was born and brought up in Dombivli, Mumbai. Active in the fields of mimicry and stand-up comedy for the past two decades, he has successfully performed over 100 professional shows featuring family-friendly “clean comedy” in English, Hindi and Tamil. He has earned audience appreciation through popular comedy programmes such as The Subbu & Sreeni Show and Dudes of Dombivli, as well as his well-known sketch, SUPERMANIAN.
He has performed on prominent platforms such as Shemaroo, Namma Rasa OTT and Carnival Cinemas, as well as at venues including the Just BLR Comedy Club in Bengaluru. Known for his distinctive voice imitation and character portrayals, he has also trained and mentored more than 150 aspiring mimicry artists.
From Teaching to Comedy
Anand says his transition from teaching to comedy happened quite naturally. Alongside his 20-year career as a teacher, he has always nurtured a passion for mimicry and performing. What began with mimicry two decades ago gradually evolved into stand-up comedy.
He believes teaching and comedy share several similarities. As a professor, one must understand the audience—in this case, students—hold their attention, explain things simply and recognise when they begin to lose interest. The same principles apply on stage, he says. The only difference is that, instead of marks from students, a comedian receives laughter from the audience.
Teaching has helped him stand confidently before an audience, understand different kinds of people and communicate ideas effectively.
Mimicry and Stand-Up: Two Different Art Forms
With 20 years of experience in mimicry and seven years in stand-up comedy, Anand explains the fundamental difference between the two art forms. Mimicry is about becoming someone else, while stand-up comedy is about expressing one’s own personality more clearly.
Mimicry involves observing and recreating another person’s voice, mannerisms, expressions, body language and personality. Since the audience is usually familiar with the person being imitated, recognition itself becomes a source of laughter.
Stand-up comedy, on the other hand, leaves little room to hide. It is about the performer’s own personality, observations, experiences and perspectives.
While mimicry taught him the art of performance, stand-up comedy taught him storytelling and how to connect with an audience. When the two art forms come together, he believes, the result becomes even more entertaining.
Championing Family-Friendly Comedy
Anand prefers “clean comedy” that can be enjoyed by the entire family in English, Hindi and Tamil. He observes that audiences today warmly welcome humour suitable for family viewing.
According to him, comedy does not require vulgar or provocative content. Sharp observations, everyday situations, amusing characters and intelligent punchlines can appeal strongly to family audiences.
Finding humour without resorting to vulgar language or inappropriate themes is a challenge he deliberately sets for himself. Performing in three languages also helps him connect with a diverse range of audiences.
The Stories Behind His Popular Shows
Everyday life has inspired several of Anand’s successful shows, including The Subbu & Sreeni Show, Dudes of Dombivli and SUPERMANIAN.
The Subbu & Sreeni Show emerged from the chemistry between its characters. Meanwhile, Dudes of Dombivli is particularly close to his heart because it draws on familiar local experiences—the traffic, trains, roads, housing societies, neighbourhood characters and family conversations of Dombivli. He sees all these everyday situations as rich material for comedy scripts.
Despite its name, SUPERMANIAN is not about Superman. The concept draws inspiration from the name Subramanian, which belongs to both his father and one of his teachers. By adopting the name and incorporating a distinctive Palakkad-style manner of speaking, he created an exaggerated and humorous comic identity.
Understanding Different Audiences
Whether performing at corporate meetings or in front of large crowds, Anand considers understanding the audience his most important rule.
Corporate events, college programmes, family gatherings and comedy clubs all have different expectations. Before a performance, he tries to understand the audience’s age group, profession, the nature of the event and its cultural background.
Regardless of the setting, he remains committed to humour that is respectful and relatable.
Advice for Aspiring Mimicry Artists
Having mentored more than 150 aspiring mimicry artists, Anand’s main advice to the next generation is simple: rather than trying to become someone else, strive to become the best version of yourself.
He encourages beginners to start by imitating established performers if necessary, but gradually develop their own voice and style. He also emphasises the importance of observing more than just a person’s voice. Walking style, pauses, reactions and laughter can all contribute to an authentic portrayal.
Above all, he advises aspiring artists not to be afraid of failure.
Challenges in a Changing Entertainment Landscape
Performing on OTT platforms, at corporate events and in comedy clubs presents different challenges. Comedy clubs provide opportunities to experiment, while OTT platforms may impose certain contractual restrictions. Corporate shows require greater sensitivity to the audience and the occasion.
In an age when technology has made content readily available through social media and mobile phones, Anand believes that constantly reinventing oneself is one of the biggest challenges facing performers.
The Joy of Inspiring Others
Looking back on his two-decade journey, Anand says some of his most satisfying moments have come when someone he trained approaches him and says, “Sir, I started performing because you encouraged me.”
As a teacher, he finds immense satisfaction in watching his students grow. As an artist, he draws energy from making audiences laugh.
Anand says his artistic journey will continue, with more performances, new characters and fresh experiments ahead.
