The Revival of Stand-Up Comedy in Pakistan

The Revival of Stand-up Comedy in Pakistan

by
Sasha Scheherzade

Entertainment in Pakistan's local and private channels on T.V has literally gone to the dogs, begging the reader’s pardon for my startup jibe at the said media industry, which today, is more focused on minting money. Its sole focus is on generating ratings by promoting glitzy celebrities in spineless dramas and morning shows. The countless television channels that we have today have failed to deliver entertaining and original material, with the result that the viewership has become disenchanted and disinterested. Speaking of yours truly, I switched off my idiot-box in exchange for some real life stand-up comedy shows happening in my mega city Karachi for some time now.
My search for true entertainment landed me with improv comedy shows happening over the weekend at various community spaces, dhabas, coffee houses and at theatres. It has been a relief to note that the comedy scene has caught on, with shows happening with increasing frequency at T2F and the MAD School. Young, educated, energetic boys and girls are performing live shows that are leaving the audience in fits; besides increasing the audience numbers.
One such comedian who made his mark in improvisational comedy is Akbar Chaudry, an engineer turned comedian, now known famously as Akbar-Curly-Haired-Chaudry. Then there is Kumail, another engineer turned comedian. Both laid the foundation for the comedy group LOL Waalay.. The performers initially comprised of three boys Akbar, Aadi and Kumail and two girls Iqra and Sara who left and were replaced by Zubair, Sannan and Osama, thus becoming an all-male comedy troupe.
The LOL Waalay team has been experimenting with performers. and introducing new improv comedians for the past four years. The core teammates, however, have stuck together and delivered some of the best live stand-up comedy shows that Karachi has seen in a very long while,. For the past four years they have spread laughs and entertained their audience in the traumatized mega metropolis with their tongue-in-cheek humor and non-stop banter. The all-men comedy troupe specializes in what they call situational comedy skits that at times also involve members of the audience selected at random in their acts.

Faiza Saleem is another sensational act who made an appearance at T2F cracking censored feminist jokes; and leaving her audience in fits of laughter. Faiza successfully broke stereotypes pertaining to women comedians, and took the Karachi comedy scene by storm with Khawatoons, an all-girls comedy troupe comprising Amfah, Rabiyah, Jay Kay, Sana and Natalia. These girls are priceless with their quick wit and sharp humour. Together they have successfully presented the blockbuster Auratnaak Show, Assan Marna Naahi ( Death Will Not Undo Us) and fortnightly short-form improv shows called Improv Jam, curated by Faiza and Faris Khalid.

(Photo - #TheKhawatoon, Facebook Page)

Regardless to say, the youth in both these all-girls and all-boys troupe is full of vigor and has a good thinking head on its shoulders that speaks boldly of the otherwise hushed-up issues in their satires. Good to see women coming forward and beating the likes of misogynistic cheap comedians who had nothing to offer in their big-bucks quest except sexist jokes on women, further fuelling gender biases by telling rape jokes in not-so-holy a homeland that never once thought of putting them behind bars for spreading hate against a gender in the name of comedy.
It was equally great to see an all-male troupe believing in feminism, showing respect for free speech by fellow women comedians, and paying tribute to the likes of the infamous social media sensation Qandeel Balouch, who was murdered by her very own brother for speaking out her mind. Indeed comedians today in Pakistan have matured beyond their years.

Contrary to the assumption of Pakistan's womenfolk clad in burkas, devoid of available educational facilities, or confined to a domestic married life with suppression of free speech; these newly emerging breed of men and women comedians have successfully broken taboos imposed upon our society, thereby bringing a positive change in the social and cultural scene.

(#LOLWaalay - Picture by the writer.)


Speaking of myself, I have never once regretted switching off my idiot-box in my quest for what I consider true entertainment of the live and funny variety.