Melbourne International Comedy Festival proudly presents Indian all-star comedy showcase
Returning for a third year, the Indian All-Star Comedy Showcase features the hottest artists from the subcontinent. The vibrant showcase brings the most exciting and energetic performers on the Indian scene to Melbourne, from stand up and improv stars to YouTube sensations. A one-of-a-kind opportunity to discover some the first-class artists from a flourishing comedy scene! Performed in English.
So, who will perform at this year’s showcase?
Anuvab Pal
Widely regarded as one of India’s top stand-ups, he was the first Indian to perform at London’s Comedy Store, and has since sold out houses from Mumbai to San Francisco. His screenplay for the global hit ‘Loins Of Punjab’ played at 20 international festivals and remains the highest grossing Indian English comedy film of all time. Known for his dry and clever humour, Anuvab has been called ‘India’s answer to British wit’ by the BBC and appears on ‘The Bugle’ with John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman.
Kaneez Surka
Improviser, actor, sketch performer and stand-up comedian, a formidable host, she presents ‘The General Fun Game Show’ which has featured popular comics including Kanan Gill, Biswa Kalyan Rath, Tanmay Bhat and Rohan Goshi. One of India’s first female improvisers, she has been invited to four international improv festivals and conducted improv workshops across India. Her latest special, ‘Improv All Stars’, is receiving rave reviews on Amazon Prime.
Naveen Richard
Perhaps best known as a member of comedy collective ‘Them Boxer Shorts’, creators of the acclaimed web series ‘Better Life Foundation’, he is one of India’s most versatile comedians. Naveen is celebrated for his perfect impressions of everyone from your cab driver to your landlady. His quintessential character, ‘Uncle Francis’, has a cult following in India and beyond. Since becoming a finalist on Comedy Central’s Indian Comedy Festival in 2012, Naveen has performed over 400 stand-up shows and headlined Festivals around the country.
Sonali Thakker
This Mumbai-based comedian has been writing, performing and convincing audiences (read: her parents) that she’s a stand-up comic for over six years. With an observational style peppered with self-deprecation, Sonali delights audiences at comedy clubs and festivals around India. Sonali recently finished touring her debut show ‘Almost There’ across India to widespread acclaim, proving to her family that leaving chartered accounting behind was the right choice.
The Indian showcase is at Arts Centre Melbourne & The Forum | Dates: Fri 19 – Sun 21 April | Time: 7pm (6pm Sundays) | Tickets: $22.50 – $35 | Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au | Kaneez and Naveen will also appear in ‘India’s Improv Dream Team’, Fri 19 and Sat 20, 11pm, Melbourne Town Hall
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