Popular comedian Manoj Gajurel has said that younger audiences are losing interest in long-form comedy, preferring short and quick content instead.

Speaking at the fourth session of the Kantipur Conclave 2026, titled “What’s Funny about Politics? In Nepal, Almost Everything”, Gajurel, on Monday, noted that audience psychology has changed with time, particularly among the youth, who now lack the patience to listen to or watch lengthy performances.

“Today’s generation prefers short content. If it becomes long, they lose interest midway. People now want to watch briefly and understand quickly,” he said, adding that comedians must adapt to changing audience behaviour.

Gajurel also pointed out that comedians, realising their grave responsibility, should pay important attention to self-editing their content.

Comedian Sundar Khanal said the comedy sector requires serious thought and professional responsibility to sustain itself in the long run. He stressed that comedy is not just for laughter but is closely connected to society, making research and self-awareness essential.

“I do caricatures myself, but I have not been able to give enough time to character-building. Guests in regular programmes are rushed, which creates problems,” Khanal said, adding that adequate research is crucial for meaningful humour.

Khanal also stated that many emerging comedians are influenced by foreign comedy. Emphasising the need to preserve originality in Nepali comedy, he said artists must clearly understand what should and should not be done in the field. Popularity alone, he added, is not enough; consistency, character development and social responsibility are equally important.

Comedian Adarsha Mishra said comedy has no linguistic barriers and is universally understood. He argued that satire on politics and politicians should not be overly restrained, noting that political speeches themselves often provide the biggest source of humour.

“People today don’t even have time to watch a 15-second reel. So who will wait for a joke that comes after one and a half minutes?” Mishra said, highlighting declining attention spans. He also recalled that comedians faced arrests in Nepal and abroad, underscoring the risks associated with political satire.

Comedian Prabhat Lama, meanwhile, compared earnings in comedy and journalism, stating that journalists often earn more than comedians. He said jokes can be more powerful corrective tools than weapons and noted that comedians have played a significant role in Nepal’s political changes as well.