SHE CAN CRACK YOU UP!

Akriti Jamwal. Updated: 12/21/2017 4:36:57 PM We the Women

Anshita Koul

“Woman, Comedian? Really?” Well, the joke is on you, if you think so.Pursuing something unconventional, irrespective of the gender is like turning rocks into powder, but for women, most of the times the rocks are bigger and extremely resilient. We The Women has brought to you about the journey, experiences and opinion of J&K’s Funny Girl. Let’s find out how did she grind the rocks of ‘Stereotypes, Patriarchy, Prejudice, Sexism and the long list and synonyms there are’ when she decided to tickle the funny bones.
“I'm a storyteller. I entertain, dance, make videos, write, pose, travel, eat, ‘lol’ and live”- that’s how she introduces herself. Quite an intro, isn’t it? All the 90’s kids whobrags about being a millennial generation, here is someone who can make you realize who the real deal is and make you take back what you have been throwing. And if you cannot relate, you can just enjoy reading about her.
Anshita is the perfect individual to make you realize that the youngest people old enough to really remember the 90's were actually born in the 80's and hence they are true mellanials, she has such a personality; and you would agree even if you are the 90’s ‘Kool’ kid.
“Unlearn and Learn” is the mantra of her coolness or ‘swag’ as we call it. And that goes for everyone in any generation. The idea is that there are perspectives that we create because of the environment we were exposed to while we are growing up and then there’s perspective we formulate with our experiences and learning, looking beyond the horizon and inside, which actually makes us grow.
Anshita explains, “We all have certain notions, ideology and mindsets, even superstitions and prejudice and they are so deep-rooted that they are acceptable. It is basically because we are marinated in them; so much that we forget to see the facts. Therefore, to grow one must unlearn what you know and make space for new learning,”
And her journey lives by that approach. AnshitaKoul is also known as ‘Anshita Crazy Koul’, amongst her YouTube subscribers and other social media followers. Born in Kashmir and brought up in Jammu, this Kashmiri Pandit, seems to have observed and imbibed both the cultures and the experiences that came therewith, to create rich and hilarious content for her videos. To understand better, you’ve got to watch her. Anshita shares, “I was born among people with substantial sense of humor. We are loud and talkative bunch of people in my family; we discuss, we cry, we laugh and even scream. Humor comes naturally to us; so much that we cannot even tell apart. The only difference is that they are spontaneous and shy if they had to do it intentionally, whereas I can compile and perform."
Right from the childhood, Anshita was one of those who did not need convincing or compelling from her parents or relatives, to start dancing at a wedding, or sing a song or recite a poem, she’d invite herself. Due to which she is comfortable in making fool of herself and can take a joke in good spirit.
In her attitude, a tip can be extracted. She explains,“I take jokes on me, quite well; even come up with few and better of my own. I believe forme a good tease, joke or response means good content. But if you are mean I could be meaner, but I will usually avoid. In case, you are not into that, respond the way you feel like; don’t suppress the feelings.”
Ladies you can take it because she is not preaching but sharing her experiences. When asked, how she fights the gender norms inflicted on her to live the life she is living right now, she exclaims ‘’OMG! I am 30 and married. So you can guess the question that I most frequently get asked these days. I get angry, disappointed and my first impulse is to shut them up, but as I am growing older I have learned to use satire and sarcasm without getting angry, to respond and not react; the idea is to prevent everything that would disturb your peace.”
Whenever she gets a remark like, “You’re so ‘Lucky’ that your husband cooks,” she wouldn’t hesitate to say, “You are lucky that you haven’t been punched in your face yet,”
Saw what she did there? Guess it made you laugh, that’s what she does; makes you laugh at simple things.
Do not let her craziness baffle you to even remotely doubt her sharpness. She is graduate in Computer Science Engineering; alumni of Pune University, has worked in the IT industry for around 5 years. So when she moved to Germany 2 years ago, she had a choice to continue working in the IT industry or quit and switchcareer to Digital Media and Entertainment. And we all know what she chose and honestly, we are all quite glad that she did.
You must be thinking that the idea of becoming a ‘Performer’ or comedian concreted over-night? Perhaps it didn’t; while she was working, she would still keep making vines, videos for friends etc., seek feedback and take notes by watching other YouTubers and artists.
She expresses, “I started watching YouTube, back in 2010-2011, when it had just started making its influence on Indian digital markets. So at that time when I witnessed beginning of journey of various YouTubers like AIB or Superwomen etc and their progress, I loved the concept and planned that one day, I am going to have my own YouTube channel.That being said, it was surreal to work with AIB lately.”

Taking the risk of following her heart and starting a YouTube Channel, set Anshita altogether, on a different track. And as of today, in this ever-growing journey another blinging badge of ‘Stand-up Comedian’ has attached after her appearance and remarkable performance at ‘Queens of Comedy’ on TLC.
“When I started, everyone was either curious or confused. The fact is that they take a profession seriously only if there’s money or recognition and it takes quite a while and patience to have both in this field,”she says.
Anshita even amuses, “I am mostly broke, but I am least bothered about that.It is a roller-coaster ride; scary, exciting with both highs and lows,” and highlights, “It is usually assumed that either I am financially elaborated or have a great support-system, but that’s far from reality. Even if I have support system, at the end of the day that support system constitutes people and they all have their own lives to deal with.”
Taking about her experience at ‘QOC’ she says, “It is a misconception that women do not support each other; that’s far from reality. They get along well because they are compassionate. Yes, I was intimidated as well as inspired. I had ideas and experiences but for QOC, what I had to learn and master was how to tell it in a stand-up format, which is obvious not at all easy but we all used to help and support each other.”
I couldn’t agree more because envy is result of the competiveness that this society has subtly put us in by comparing one woman to another, be it for beauty or cooking or power. She further adds, “Just because you have nothing to do after 6 and you happen to be into Daily soaps, please, refrain from assuming that every women is against you; don’t dive into such mindset and adapt such approach. Women should support other women.”
Being funny doesn’t mean being happy all the time. Anshita correctly puts it, “I am not always happy; that’s impudent to even have such impossible non-human expectations.” She adds, “I aim to be happy. I believe the only way to deal with the problems is the way through; rather than cribbing, look fpr solution,”
The other thing she has realized is that being funny could make you sad. However weird it sounds. She explains, “As I strive to write satires and question certain ideologies, misconceptions, prejudices and mal-practices, it often pains me; because you have to chew the bitter to spill out the funny."
Speaking about her parentssupport, Anshita says, “If you simply assume that your parents would not understand you, it is you who has taken them for granted. Yes, it takes both time and efforts to make them understand and convince them but such support system goes long way. You don’t get support system; you create one.”
Sometimes they understand, sometimes they don’t but she believes that as long as there is a dialogue, it prevents chaos. “The fact is at the end of the day, even parents are human beings; even they can be wrong and make mistakes; you just have to remind yourself that they want your best and go about it,”
"My father do not like my content all the time and often gives me harsh and blunt feedback which is often a one-liner. But I don’t get discouraged by that and only irk for an elaborated feedback which is hard to extract,” she speaks.
Butthere is more to Anshita's life than justYouTube. She is a busy bee who has her Sundays covered as well. “I am a freelancer and work as a Social Media Influencer Monday to Wednesday; two times a week I work as Tour Guide, being a passionate traveler myself and createYouTube content rest of the days,”
What’s next for her? Well, she is onto writing web series. She is looking forward to indulge more in Stand-up comedy and even act.
To the women out there words of Anshita are not at all crazy and make immense sense, “First, do what you want to do, but before that sit, think, write down, research, do your homework, talk, discuss, get started, don’t crib. Second, lift other women; pulling each other down will not only rot you but the whole society,”


Updated On 12/21/2017 4:44:44 PM


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