Kochi Comedy Festival to be held from April 19

Kochi: A month-long stand-up comedy festival will be held in the city from April 19 to May 17, marking what organisers describe as the first event of its kind in Kerala. Kochi Comedy Festival is being organised by artist collectives based in Kochi, including Spotlight Socials and Comedy Lounge.According to Vishnu Pai, co-founder of Spotlight Socials, the initiative aims to popularise stand-up comedy culture in the state. "While we have been hosting shows at our venues, a festival of this scale can create greater awareness and reach a wider audience," he said. The festival will feature performances by well-known comedians such as Kenny Sebastian, Shamik Chakrabarti and Abish Mathew, among others, along with emerging talents from Kerala. The opening show will be held at Kinfra International Centre, Kalamassery. Events are scheduled to take place on weekends throughout the month, offering audiences a diverse lineup of performances.