In for a comedy ride? This new venue in Bandra is where you should be heading

Pranit More performs

A smile is right around the corner, goes the old, tiresome phrase. It feels like a sarcastic remark by the subconscious as we run through the rain into the cover of Smoke House Deli in Pali Hill. A few floors above us, an early audience gathers for the first show at the Spades: Mumbai's Comedy Open House.

Founder and showrunner, Sahil Kale is busy managing guests and technical details as he greets us at the door of the cosy performance space. This might be his first venue in the city, but Kale has been in comedy for almost a decade.

Audience enjoys the show

Kale stepped into comedy in 2016, and managed and produced gigs alongside his comedy routines. "I realised that stand-up comedy requires more skill and time than I could deliver, but I still loved the vibe of the industry," he shares.

In 2019, he set up the first Spades Comedy Club in Baner, Pune. While the venue has become a regular, Kale admits that the reach is limited. "The audience in Pune also prefer to stay close to their neighbourhoods when opting for leisure," he reveals.

Munawar Faruqui

Bandra was a natural choice to expand, for it allows access and reach. The space previously housed another performance venue.

It also appeals to all demographics, the founder explains.

The new venue

As if to prove the point, we find ourselves a couple of rows behind rapper Srushti Tawade sharing some banter with Munawar Faruqui. It is a familiar vibe to both the audience and the performers, comedian Aakash Mehta quips.

Spades Mumbai was set up in the first week of July. The Pune experience helped, Kale admits. The first performers were friends and colleagues who were only happy to turn up for the opening day. With its comfy chairs, close proximity to the stage, and a cosy setting, it made for a relaxed experience.

Sahil Kale. Pics/Aishwarya Deodhar

The gig moves smoothly. After a slight delay - normal considering the July rains - the crowds saunter in. A curtained enclosure serves as a green room for the performers. Pranit More's opening act is followed by familiar names such as Rajat Sood, Urjita Wani and Aaditya Kulshrestha.

The crescendo arrives with Faruqui and Mehta's finale at the end of the 90 minutes. Both comics delight in their subtle, sly takes on society's schadenfreude. "Don't go and tweet against me on the outside," warns Faruqui with a smile. Engaging as it is, running a comedy club entails more grind than banter. Kale also works on brand management, live production and promotion of talent through the venue, which help support the commercial aspects of the business. "A comedy club cannot survive purely on comedy," he says. The venue will also host weekly open mics and live performances to diversify content.

Yet, is there a risk of entering a crowded space, we wonder. Kale disagrees. "Bandra is crowded with entertainment offerings, but it also means that people are showing up. It is the perfect opportunity for us to build a space that attracts budding artists," he concludes. Till then, we shall laugh along.

Till July 27; 8 pm onwards
At Spades:Mumbai, above Smoke House Deli, Pali Hill, Bandra West.
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Cost Rs 399 onwards