Ssumier Pasricha: The guy behind Pammi Aunty

Ssumier Pasricha is the funny guy behind the social media rage, Pammi Aunty. For those of you who have not caught on, Pammi Aunty is your next door (if you are in Delhi) middle aged Punjabi aunty, who is constantly disgruntled, constantly opining and always hilarious. In his short videos as Pammi Aunty, Ssumier provides a rich social commentary on urban India’s attitudes, values and overall sensibility, all packaged in a humorous manner.

“Pammi aunty is there in every family” says Ssumier, when asked what inspired him to take on a persona so different from his own, and at this early stage in life. “Pammi aunty is never happy with her circumstances, and gossips about everything. I have met many such ladies in my life and the ideas come from my personal experiences”, he adds. Pammi aunty is a reflection of a segment of contemporary Indian women of an older generation who are witnessing events and changes all around them, but not always partaking in them.  


This makes the character a unique commentator on current trends, which becomes a very entertaining cocktail when fused with the personality of the average Delhi Punjabi lady. The episodes find Pammi aunty commenting on a whole host of current trends like Pokemon Go, Brexit, Airtel 4G and Game of Thrones, among others. Her daughter in law remains a constant thorn in her side, in a reflection of the commonly strained relationship between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law visible in daily Indian life. Interestingly, Pammi aunty refers to her daughter in law as “MBA”, which again is a reflection of the pervasiveness of management education in India today, though it remains unclear whether it translates into a professional life!

The whole package has come together in a manner that is finding instant relatability. “I am getting e-mails and messages from every part of the world – Canada, UK, USA, Australia and even Dubai – with people saying that Pammi Aunty talks like their grandmothers, aunts or even their mothers” says Ssumier. Adding a layer of explanation to what makes the character tick, Ssumier mentions that “Punjabi culture and people are very colourful and full of life. They create humor in even sad situations”.

Besides having a colourful personality, Pammi Aunty has quite a physical persona as well. She is often caked in a facepack, wearing large pink sunnies and has a towel wrapped around her head along with hair curlers. It is a bold move for a young actor like Ssumier, who is completely comfortable playing the character, irrespective of the gender, age or background they represent. And this, when he has an entire career ahead of him, having played parts in TV serials and a Shekhar Kapur directed play as well. After Pammi aunty, of course, there has been much media attention on Ssumier and he is being offered multiple opportunities across TV, radio and social channels.

“Keep loving Pammi aunty” says Ssumier for his fans and signs off with the message “Believe in yourself and a creative person in you. The world will give you what you deserve, all you need is the determination to do something”. Your determination is certainly paying off, Ssumier, and it is well deserved!