Rahul Subramanian is an Indian stand-up comedian. He is known for his crowd participation performances at bars, clubs and birthday parties. In March 2023, he was featured in the Amazon Prime Video crowdfunding special Rahul Talks to People.
Wiki/Biography
Rahul Subramanian was born on Tuesday, 10 May 1988 (age 35 years; in 2023) in Mumbai, Maharashtra. His zodiac sign is Taurus. Rahul had a great sense of humor since childhood. During his school days, he often received praise from his classmates and teachers for the quick pranks he delivered between his classes.
Rahul Subramanian in his school days
He attended Vivekanand Education Society’s Institute of Technology (VESIT), Sindhi Society, Chembur, to pursue a Bachelor of Engineering and Information Technology from 2003 to 2007.
Rahul Subramanian during his college days
After that, he pursued a Master of Business Administration in Marketing from the Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad (2009-2011). A sports fanatic since childhood, Rahul was a part of his college football team. Rahul also performed stand-up comedy in various stage shows during his college days.
Rahul Subramanian with his college football team
Physical appearance
Height: 5′ 7″
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Dark Brown
Family
Rahul belongs to a Tamil family.
Parents & Siblings
Not much is known about his parents and siblings.
Wife
Rahul Subramanian is married to Sonica Subramanian, a corporate employee.
Career
Corporate
Rahul Subramanian started his career as a sales manager at Convonix Inc., Mumbai, in July 2007. As a sales manager, Rahul handled B2B end-to-end sales along with post-sales customer service mainly for US & UK. He also takes care of internet marketing services such as SEO, SEM, SMO, and Shopping Cart Development. He worked there for about a year and a half and then resigned. In February 2009, Rahul joined Bare Associates International, Mumbai, as Business Development Manager and was responsible for client acquisition and retention there. He worked in the company until May 2009. After that, he did a 3-month summer internship at Mahindra Retail Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore. During training, Rahul launched a loyalty program for Mom & Me across all stores in India. After his internship, he joined Mahindra Retail Pvt. Ltd as a management trainee. As part of her duties, she looks after digital marketing and consumer relations for Mom & Me in Bangalore. A year later, he was promoted to the position of e-commerce manager at the firm. As the e-commerce manager, Rahul established and launched the e-commerce channel for Mahindra Retail and also handled the digital marketing, business development and customer retention departments. He left the firm in June 2013. In July 2013, Subramanian joined Mahindra Rise, Mumbai, as a manager and ran the corporate branding and digital marketing department. There, he was part of the team overseeing the Parent Brand for the Mahindra Group. In 2015, while she was on her way to watch a play featuring Paresh Raval with her family, she received a text message, carrying a job offer from Godrej. Although Rahul wanted to work in the position (which was offered to him by Godrej) for years, he realized that he was not suited for the corporate world and declined the offer.
Stand up comedy
Rahul Subramanian started doing open mics when he was studying in college. He continues to perform stand-up comedy at shows and parties while he does corporate work.
Rahul Subramanian during his first stage performance as a stand-up comedian
However, he never considered pursuing stand-up comedy as a career option. When Rahul was working at Mahindra and Mahindra, he met Kumar Varun (solo comedian). A few months later, Rahul and Varun formed the collective Random Chikibum (another RCB). The duo created a YouTube channel called Random Chikibum in July 2015 and started uploading their comedy videos on it.
Rahul Subramanian and Kumar Varun in their characters for a YouTube video
In the same year, YouTube, along with All India Bakchod Kanan Gill and Biswa Kalyan Rath, announced OML’s Comedy Hunt, an online competition for new and aspiring comedy creators. According to the format of the contest every Monday the contestants have to create a sketch based on a certain theme such as news comedy and branded content and eliminations happen every week. The final was held at the National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, where out of the four finalists, RCB’s Rahul and Varun won. In an interview, while talking about winning the competition, Rahul said,
I’m mostly just relieved that I don’t have to sketch late at night, after a long day at work and amused that we just won this. We’re just having fun.”
Soon after winning the contest, Rahul received an offer to work with artist management company Only Much Louder. He accepted the offer and decided to give up his corporate job to pursue comedy as a full-time career option. At Only Much Louder, Rahul Subramanian started working on YouTube’s daily comedy show, Laughter Games. After that, he won several stand-up comedy competitions by Virgin Pants and Canvas Laugh Club. Kal Main Udega, an hour-long solo, is Rahul’s much-loved and crowd-pleasing piece where he makes spontaneous and impromptu interactions with audiences in Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. Later, the show is made available to viewers on Amazon Prime Video.
In addition, Rahul has also appeared in the Amazon Prime Video comedy show Comicstaan (2018) and Comedy Premium League (2021). In 2018, he was featured in Amazon Prime Video’s fun battle game Improv All Stars: Games Night. That same year, on January 17, he performed on the Signature Start Up Master Class show, where he shared his journey of confusion that led him to comedy. He also appeared in MX Player’s Kiski Sarkar (2019). Rahul has also appeared in various episodes of All India Bakchod. He is associated with several comedy clubs such as That Comedy Club and Tuning Fork Comedy Club.
Rahul Subramanian during his stand-up act at That Comedy Club
He has also toured various cities in India for his crowdsourced show You & Me. In 2023, Rahul was featured in the public works special Rahul Talks to People which was streamed on Amazon Prime Video. Produced by OML and directed by Biswa Kalyan Rath, the crowd-sourced piece features, Rahul as a stand-up comic, engaging in unscripted and unrehearsed conversations with 6 different audience groups across 5 cities. The show’s audience ranges from marketing professionals to a group of friends. With a sharp sense of humor, ability to be extemporaneous, and instant improvisation, Rahul is seen turning ordinary conversations like technology, corporate culture, cricket umpiring, stressful jobs, and marketing into laugh riots for the audience and the live audience.
Rahul Talks to People
Other Work
In 2017, Rahul Subramanian appeared in a short film directed by Mrinal Bahukhandi.
Rahul Subramanian in a short film
In the same year, he appeared as Lakshman in Amazon Prime Video’s comedy drama series Pushpavalli. The series was originally released in four languages- English, Hindi, Kannada and Tamil.
Rahul Subramanian in Pushpavalli
Favourite
Facts/Trivia
- Her family and friends fondly call her Vidya.
- Rahul is a devoted follower of Lord Ganesha.
- He is often seen consuming alcohol on various occasions.
Rahul Subramanian with a glass of alcohol
- An avid dog lover, Rahul has a pet dog named Arya.
Rahul Subramanian with his pet dog
- A food connoisseur, Rahul loves to try different cuisines.
- He follows a vegetarian diet.
- Although Rahul is very active on various social media platforms, he has joined all of them due to pressure. In an interview, while talking about it, he said,
I went on vacation and was worried that I hadn’t sent anything in two days. And honestly, I spend less time than other comedians online. So, I think that’s the future. That’s where I’m headed.”
- In an interview, Subramanian revealed that he is not a superstitious person and does not follow any pre-show rituals. He also said that he doesn’t have a lucky sock or a specific song backstage.
- He was heavily influenced by Brian Regan.
- In an interview, while explaining the techniques he uses to stay alert on stage, he said,
When you do a lot of planning, it becomes an easy habit; it repeats and you don’t live the show anymore. So I wasn’t really prepared and when I went on stage I was completely blank for 10 seconds. I say whatever comes to mind and sometimes I just stand still. It helps me stay alert. I’m aware of the lights, the audience, I’m here, I’m on stage and I’m doing what I love. It was the first 10 seconds.”
- In an interview, when asked about his most memorable show, he said,
The first time I did an open mic night, I bombed and I cried on the way home, and the first time my wife’s parents came to watch me perform, I was absolutely terrified.”
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
