‘Hinglish’ stand up comedy show – Bringing India’s funnies to the UK

April 30 2016

Professional comedy in India is young and still growing, spurred on by new clubs and venues and now three are on tour in the UK and our correspondent went to check them out…

By Dimple Pau

THE UK’S STAND UP comedy scene is in a place it’s never been before – truly buzzing. Listings are saturated with stand up for kids, the elderly, new act nights and for those who like to watch comedy in the dark! Yet I have never found anything I could take my parents to, and believe me, they could do with a laugh.

“Hinglish Standup Comedy Show” could be it. Since the Comedy Store India opened its doors in 2010, it has been showcasing some exciting talent. This show is a chance to experience three critically acclaimed comics from the East. They are: compare Nishant (‘Jokesingh’) Tanwar, Atul Khatri (pictured above) and Sumit Anand.

‘Somewhat famous’ Nishant Tanwar is a confident performer, handling whatever was thrown at him with a quick wit and dry persona. His material crosses over well enough, covering topics such as Facebook, wooing women and a cheeky blue explanation of how he gained his ‘Joke Singh’ middle name. All in all, it’s not easy compering an audience, the majority of whom have never been to a live stand up show before. While tough at times, he never let it phase him – even when heckled repeatedly by an irritating audience member.

Nishant 'Joke Singh' Tanwar

Next, ‘dude or dad’ Atul Khatri, is winner of the oddest talent show ever: “CEO’s Got Talent”. A winner with the audience, tackling age, being cheap and a rather face palming debate on tissue paper verses water. Atul gets the big laughs from the older audience members while able to keep everyone’s attention well. Certainly the most polished and professional comic, with honed material.

Lastly, Sumit Anand – slightly more off the cuff and one for the younger ones. Expect lots of swearing and crude jokes, likely to fly through a normal ‘Downstairs at the King’s Head’ gig, but struggling more so with a live comedy virgins audience. Starting off strong with brilliantly written jokes – highlights being about jaywalking and the seconds in his life when a man stops being a feminist – he’s one to watch. Sumit is definitely a cross over act who would do brilliantly in the UK comedy scene, especially with well crafted, intelligent jokes being the “in” thing.

Sumit Anand

The venue was in the back room of club, bar and shisha lounge Mango’s in Wembley. The venue itself seemed pretty decent but walking into the room set up for comedy seemed a little bit like a cross between a wedding and a stand up show – a little more done up than any comedy show I’ve been to before. It was, however, in keeping with the crowd. The majority of whom all admitted this was their first live stand up comedy experience. As a comedy buff, hearing this filled me with joy. To successfully get a large group of people of varying ages, out to their first comedy night deserves a thumbs up.

All in all, the comedians at this show are a promising bunch and worth a watch. The set up of the event is not necessarily that of a comedy show we’re used to in the UK, but in an odd way, it adds to the experience and pageantry of the night.

Producer and promotor, Sudip Roy of Roy Media is the main force behind the show and looking to show British Asian’s that there’s more out there than just Bollywood.

“There has been a massive shift in India over the past six years. Everyone’s going to stand up shows in the evening and I want to bring that culture to the UK. Everyone knows about Russell Peters and Paul Chowdhry but there is a huge market of Indians in India doing English comedy. I want to be a pioneer for Indian stand up comedy – Nishant Tanwar beat the gong at the Comedy Store London recently (which is no mean feat!) proving that this can work with any audience,” said Roy.

AVC Rating **** (out of five)

Listing
‘Hinglish Standup Comedy’ TONIGHT (April 30): The Waterlilly Banqueting Hall, 69-89 Mile End Rd, London E1 4TT
Sunday May 1: Second City Suite, 100 Sherlock St, Birmingham B5 6LT
Bank Holiday Monday (May 2): Athena Leicester, Queen St, Leicester LE1 1QD

For more info + tickets:http://www.roymediauk.com/