Comedian, comedy producer (Kung Pao Kosher Comedy), freelance arts publicist
Comedian, comedy producer (Kung Pao Kosher Comedy), freelance arts publicist
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.
The largest South Asian comedy festival in the US will kick off this Thursday, August 10 and take place from August 10-20, 2017 in 9 Northern California cities (San Francisco, Berkeley, Mill Valley, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Union City, Livermore, Alameda, and Mountain View) and feature 40 South Asian comedians from all over the US, India and South Africa with diverse ethnic (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Afghani, Sri Lankan, Iranian, Filipino, and African American) and religious backgrounds (Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, and Catholic).
Advertisement
Yes, there’s a comedy scene in Pakistan and Bangladesh!
And there are Indian Jewish comedians…or at least there is one.
Samson Koletkar (aka Mahatma Moses) is Jewish and was born and raised in Mumbai, India. He moved to the Silicon Valley to work in tech and after some years in the field decided to explore the world of stand up comedy. Koletkar met fellow Bay Area-based Indian-born comedian, Abhay Nadkarni, who also worked in tech, and the two joined forces in 2014 and founded The Desi Comedy Fest.
The idea for the festival, which is now in its 4th year, was born on August 14 and 15, 2013, Pakistani and Indian Independence Days, respectively, when Koletkar produced a couple of comedy shows featuring Pakistani and Indian comedians. The response to the shows was so positive and planted the seed for something larger.
Last year’s festival boasted attendance of 2100: up from 1200 in 2015 and 700 in 2014.
Koletkar notes, “In the current political climate, it’s important to provide a platform for South Asian voices; breaking stereotypes with humor is an effective way to do so.”
Nadkarni observes, “2017 has been a great year for South Asian comics. Aziz Ansari hosted Saturday Night Live; Hasan Minhaj hosted The White House Correspondents Dinner; Kumail Nanjiani is back with a new season of Silicon Valley; and Aditi Mittal got her own Netflix special, just to name a few.“
Advertisement
[Desi (pronounced “THEY-see”) is a term for the cultures and products of the Indian subcontinent or South Asia and their diaspora, derived from the Ancient Sanskrit (deśá or deshi), meaning Land or Country. Desi countries include India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Maldives.]
Schedule:
*Thursday, August 10 @ 8pm: Cobb’s Comedy Club, 915 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA
*Friday, August 11 @ 8pm: Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave., Alameda, CA
*Saturday, August 12 @ 8pm: Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA
*Sunday, August 13 @ 7pm: Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison St, Berkeley, CA
*Monday, August 14 @ 8pm: Docs Lab, 124 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA
*Tuesday, August 15 @ 8pm: Throckmorton Theater, 142 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley, CA
*Wednesday, August 16 @ 8pm: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View, CA
*Thursday, August 17 @ 8pm: Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA
*Friday, August 18 @ 8pm: James Logan Center, 1800 H St, Union City, CA
*Saturday, August 19 @ 8pm: Bankhead Theater, 2400 1st St, Livermore, CA
*Sunday, August 20 @ 7pm: Marines’ Memorial Theater, 609 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA
Festival trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJkR1_i1tdI&feature=youtu.be
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.