In his debut UK show – and first international performance – Indian stand-up comedian Shamik Chakrabarti took to the stage at Soho Theatre, London, with a deceptively low-key presence that quickly revealed a sharp wit beneath his ‘sensible nerd’ exterior.
The aptly titled Despite Appearances saw the bespectacled comic defy expectations. His softly spoken, academic demeanour gave way to punchlines filled with sly irony, sarcasm and culturally specific references that regularly caught the audience off guard.
The promising newcomer joins a growing list of Indian comedians making their first international strides through the iconic venue. Performing in English, Chakrabarti opened with locally tailored jabs at British quirks before shifting to idiosyncratic tales from life in India.
What followed was a string of wry observations on topics ranging from his (notably tall) height and online sex bots, to an unforgettable visit to what seemed like a knock-off safari park – complete with deer and what appeared to be a man in a tiger costume.
Rather than delivering rapid-fire gags, the slow-burn set leaned into long, ironic setups and unexpected, sideways punchlines – building a world that felt both absurd and relatable.
The show’s centrepiece was an extended story about losing his laptop in a rickshaw and the surreal events that followed – including trying to explain the situation to bewildered police officers. While this was clearly a crowd favourite and delivered several strong moments, it slightly overstayed its welcome and dragged the pace in the second half.
That said, Chakrabarti’s delivery remains distinctly his own – dry, deadpan and unapologetically niche. It resonated with sections of the audience, though others, perhaps expecting more energy, were less engaged.
With over 25 million Instagram views and more than 8 million on YouTube, Chakrabarti already commands a sizeable fan base – one that is now set to grow. If he can sharpen the storytelling and tighten the structure, he could soon become a regular name on the global stand-up circuit, with the upcoming Edinburgh Fringe as his next big step.
