Navin Prabhakar on taking desi comedy to global audiences

Navin Prabhakar talks about how Indian comedy is finding its place on the global stage

Mumbai, Nov 9

Sharing his experience of performing overseas, the comedian said it fills him with pride to see even foreign audiences embracing popular Indian catchphrases like 'Pehchaan Kaun.'

Talking about what audiences can expect from his international show, Navin told IANS, "Expect the whole of Bollywood in one evening, from Amitabh Bachchan to Govinda, Akshay Kumar to Shah Rukh Khan, along with a Marathi tadka, Gujarati garba and Punjabi food punches. This is not just a show; it feels like a desi wedding where everyone will dance, sing and laugh together. On an international stage, the desi heart will beat the loudest."

"Absolutely. Back home, people laugh because they already recognise me. Abroad, people laugh because they get to know me. There, every laugh carries a little nostalgia, actually a memory of home. Our job is simply to turn that memory into laughter. That is the only difference," he added.

For Navin, representing Indian comedy internationally is less about pressure and more about pride. He stated, "I never walk on stage alone; I carry the whole of India with me. When even a foreign audience starts saying 'Pehchaan Kaun', they may not even know what it means, but they laugh along with their desi friends. It feels like I have hoisted the flag of comedy high."

He also opined that pushing boundaries does not necessarily mean crossing them. "A comedian's job is not to break boundaries; it is to join hearts. I make people laugh without limits while staying within limits. Even within the Lakshman Rekha, you can make the whole Ramayan laugh; you just need a clean intention," he explained.

The comedian also shared that while he makes certain adjustments to connect with audiences from different cultural backgrounds, he ensures that the essence and originality of his comedy remain intact.

"Yes, I have adjusted the mimicry masala a little, but the taste is still completely desi. The punch is in Hindi, the emotion is universal Bollywood, and the laughter dhamaka comes with a Gujarati flavour. Whether you understand the language or not, everyone understands laughter. That is my universal language."

Furthermore, reflecting on how comedy has evolved, Navin said, "Earlier, comedy was only about making people laugh. Now, comedy is about winning hearts. Times have changed, and some people convincingly use abuses and gyaan in the name of comedy. No doubt jokes have changed, but one thing has not changed: people still want clean, decent, family comedy. I give them exactly that, just in a new style."

Navin Prabhakar will be performing live in Doha, Qatar from 19th November onwards.

The Comedian is known for his mimicry and popular 'Pehchaan Kaun' act. He rose to fame with his performance as Julie, the bar girl, on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge in 2005. He later hosted the television show "Hello Kaun? Pehchaan Kaun!"

— IANS