‘Punching up against colonialism is glorious!’ The unstoppable rise of Indian comedy in the UK
Standup has enjoyed a rapid rise in India over the last decade, and now its leading lights are conquering the Edinburgh fringe and packing out the Royal Albert Hall. Where better to take aim at the legacy of Empire …
In the summer of 2010, Anuvab Pal was writing an article about the opening of the Comedy Store in Mumbai, impresario Don Ward’s attempt to introduce British-style standup to India. Pal, then working primarily as a screenwriter, went to interview Ward, whose storied London venue was a cradle of alternative comedy in the 1980s. He told Pal that press coverage was all well and good, but what he really needed was performers. The initial plan – flying British comics out to India – would be too costly to maintain long-term, which meant he had to find talent, fast. Would Pal audition for him?
Pal agreed but remained sceptical. “I remember telling my family: ‘This is just a little hobby, I don’t think English comedy’s going to pick up in India,’” he recalls. “Fourteen years later here we are chatting. I still wake up every morning thinking: ‘This is going to end, obviously.’”
Continue reading...Date: | |
Tag: | United Kingdom |
Filter
-
Global investors wake up to cheap UK stocks as takeover activity rises
Jupiter Asset Management boss says London-listed shares are ‘cheapest they have been in 50 years’Financial Times - Business - United Kingdom -
‘We get punched hard, get up and go again’: Jürgen Klopp on love, leadership and Liverpool
Before his final game, the manager reflects on an Anfield career that delivered seven major trophies and made him a club legend. First, how do you reflect on the past eight and a half years? It is so rare in this industry that you can create this ...The Guardian - World -
UK infected blood scandal made worse by cover-up, inquiry concludes
Thousands of deaths could have been avoided, final report on infection of thousands with HIV or hepatitis C concludes. UK politics live – latest updatesThe scandal that caused thousands of people in the UK to become infected or die from ...The Guardian - World - United Kingdom -
Navalny ally says he will ‘never give up’ in fight against Putin
Leonid Volkov, who was brutally attacked in March, says he shares his late friend’s belief in ‘beautiful Russia of the future’. Leonid Volkov, a close ally of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has vowed to “never give up” fighting ...The Guardian - World -
Pro-Israel groups ramp up spending against Republicans
Pro-Israel groups have often engaged in Democratic primaries, but are now increasingly targeting Republicans who have opposed aid to Israel in its war with Hamas.NBC News - Top stories - Israel -
The unstoppable duo of Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos
Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos' collaboration has by now become so regular that it would be easy to take it for grantedABC News - Entertainment -
Tories scout for post-election jobs as UK parties dial up campaign mode
With a poll date still unknown, concerns grow over Labour readiness for officeFinancial Times - Business - United Kingdom -
How Vanguard stacks up against BlackRock in ETFs as new CEO Salim Ramji steps in
Vanguard is moving closer to BlackRock’s top ranking in U.S. exchange-traded-fund assets.MarketWatch - Business -
Biden urges Atlanta voters to stand up against Trump: 'He's running for revenge'
President Biden during a campaign reception in Atlanta urged his supporters to stand up against former President Trump, as the two party front-runners head toward a rematch in November. Biden in remarks Saturday at Mary Mac's Tea Room, argued that ...The Hill - Politics - Joe Biden -
I love being a pharmacist, but the UK’s drug shortage makes me want to give up – and Brexit makes it worse | Mike Hewitson
Telling patients I can’t get their life-saving medication is awful. The government must act to prevent a real tragedy. Mike Hewitson owns a pharmacy in west DorsetFor the past 16 years, I have run a small community pharmacy in rural west Dorset. ...The Guardian - World
More from The Guardian
-
Biden attacks request by ICC prosecutor for Netanyahu arrest warrant
US president sides with Israeli PM as he calls Karim Khan’s pursuit of warrants for Netanyahu along with Hamas leaders ‘outrageous’. US politics live – latest updatesJoe Biden has attacked as “outrageous” an application by the international ...The Guardian - World - Joe Biden -
Lawyer: Michael Cohen said ‘numerous times’ Trump didn’t know about Stormy Daniels payments – live
Trump’s team indicates ex-president won’t testify and that they plan to rest today. Cohen tells trial he stole from Trump OrganizationSign up to our free Trump on Trial newsletterJudge Juan Merchan is speaking about whether or not to restrict the ...The Guardian - World - Donald Trump -
No signal from helicopter that crashed killing Iran’s president, Turkish minister says
Initial investigation by rescue group finds ageing aircraft either did not have transponder fitted or had it turned off. The helicopter that crashed killing the Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, and the foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, ...The Guardian - World -
More than third of Amazon rainforest struggling to recover from drought, study finds
‘Critical slowing down’ of recovery raises concern over forest’s resilience to ecosystem collapse. More than a third of the Amazon rainforest is struggling to recover from drought, according to a new study that warns of a “critical slowing down” ...The Guardian - World -
Julian Assange wins right to appeal against extradition to US
Judges had deferred a decision on whether Assange could take his case to another appeal hearing. Julian Assange has been granted leave to mount a fresh appeal against his extradition to the US on charges of leaking military secrets and will be ...The Guardian - World