“As I sit here and reflect on my journey, I cannot believe how far I’ve come. My name is Barathi, and I am an IT professional, a mother of two, and a stand-up comedian. These three roles may seem like they don’t fit together, but they make up who I am today.

It all started during the lockdown when I discovered my passion for comedy. I was stuck at home with my family, and we were all trying to find ways to keep ourselves busy. My office asked how we were spending our time, and I decided to prepare a song with a famous Tamil karaoke and sang it. It was a hit among my colleagues, and it gave me the confidence to pursue comedy further.

I started a YouTube channel and named it ‘Mommy Soda.’ I started posting videos of my comedy shows, and the response I received was overwhelming. One of my videos, which was about Corona, went viral, but unfortunately, I was affected by the virus myself. Despite being ill, I started gathering more content and used my experience to create comedy.

One of my biggest talents is turning serious situations into comedy scenarios. I have my own followers and fans who enjoy my clean comedy, and I perform not only for corporates or ticketed shows but also for cancer patients, homes, visually challenged kids, and more.

I lost my dad due to brain cancer, but he remains my inspiration. I perform for my kids, who are my first audience, and I try to keep my comedy clean and subtle. Sometimes, I miss opportunities because of my responsibilities, but I know that my family comes first.

As a mother, it’s not easy to balance my family life with my passion for comedy. I have a working husband, two kids, and in-laws at home, and it can be challenging to address my concerns and issues. Because in happening cities like Chennai, the most welcomed events and programs are held in the evenings or late evenings, which is when my kids are back from school and my husband is back from the office. Though sometimes I’m not available to handle the mess, my family (especially my husband) takes responsibility for supporting me.

I don’t know where my passion for comedy will take me, but I know that I can make a difference in other people’s lives. Even if it’s just for a dozen minutes, I can bring a smile to someone’s face and make them forget their worries. So, while I may be an IT professional for my career, I am a stand-up comedian for my passion.”