Indian comic Sanjay Rajoura enthralls Pakistani audiences

The stand-up comedian also speaks to The Express Tribune about his upcoming film set in the city of Karachi

KARACHI: With Indo-Pak political tension rife once again, The Second Floor (T2F) couldn't have chosen a better foil to the entire situation by having an Indian comic, Sanjay Rajoura, treat the local audiences to 30 minutes of stand-up comedy.

Performing to a full house at the popular arts and culture centre, Rajoura started off by poking fun at the political stalwarts from both sides of the border. One joke in particular that worked up the audiences was about how PTI chairman Imran Khan despite being a major political figure and iconic cricketer does not require any fans.

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"I just met Imran Khan yesterday and one thing I realised after meeting him was that he didn't need any fans. You know why — because he's his own biggest fan."

While the lion's share of Rajoura's comic routine relied on poking fun at India's current political climate and politicians, his act also included some cultural jokes. With most of his upbringing taking place in the subcontinent, he joked about some of the norms and traditions. Most notably how desi parents are always of the view that their children are ungrateful, a viewpoint that seems to have been strengthened by a growing number of Indian movies on this topic such as Baghban.



"All of us grow up watching horror movies like Nightmare on Elm Street and The Exorcist. You know which movie really scared me: Baghban. Any parent who sees that movie becomes disillusioned and starts viewing his or her offspring as being disrespectful. That is the real horror," joked the comedian.

Having started the show on a slow note with too many Modi jokes, a recurring feature in Rajoura's performances, he did eventually cover ground by adding a more local flavor to his jokes and making them more pop culture-centric.

Even though his stand-up routine was not without its moments of brilliance it was the question-and-answer session that succeeded the performance that displayed Rajoura's master class. He enthralled audiences with his quick witted one-liners. The question and answer session also brought the comic's more introspective side to the fore.

Explaining why Pakistani artistes were constantly at par or better than their counterparts across the border, he credited the strife and struggle Pakistani artistes are subjected to for bringing out the real art in them. "People over here have to face a lot of strife because of which you see real artistes emerge whereas in India there has been no major struggle for the past few decades."



Cinema calling

Rajoura has been a frequent traveller to Pakistan. These days, the comic is working on a script for a film that he intends to be made in Pakistan. During a conversation with The Express Tribune, the comedian spoke in detail about his upcoming project saying, "This film is about Karachi and an Indian guy who visits the city for seven to 10 days. How the city treats him and how he treats it in return, eventually causing him to fall in love with the city."

Describing it as a semi-autobiographic and fictional film, the movie, according to the comic, will heavily draw from his own experiences in Pakistan during the course of his four visits. While the script for the film is being written by Rajoura, he expects it to be produced and filmed in Pakistan.

"I am in the process of meeting a few people, let's see what happens."

Rajoura is slated to return to the city, once again, in February, 2016, as part of the upcoming Karachi Literature Festival.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th,  2015.