Known to keep audience rolling in laughter throughout his shows, well known stand up artiste, Papa CJ has recently launched an initiative which aims to raise funds for different charities. Called Papa CJ Happiness Project the artiste will perform free in cities including Kolkata, Bengaluru, Pune, Jaipur Bhubaneswar and Vadodara for institutions working for a variety of causes. Stating that he was in the happiness business and not in comedy business, Papa CJ said he “my genuine motivation is seeing the joy on people’s face and through this project I intend do the same.” In Delhi, it was held for Picture Wala, which, through art and culture, reaches out to children with limited access helping them channelise their energy towards fun and meaningful activity and action. Having started in 2004 after watching the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, he has done more than 2000 shows in 20 countries.
In a chat, the artiste talks about his journey and his much talked about show “Naked”.
Edited excerpts:
How do see your journey as an artiste?
More than evolving as an artiste I would put it as evolving as a human being. Operating in a profession where there are no rules, no boundaries, no social norms of what you can say or not has led to an incredible self discovery journey. The growth path is not so much external as it is internal. You are repeatedly forced to question yourself as to what you feel about things, people and situations and what you feel funny about. It is a journey which keeps taking one further inward.
Initially, you want to consciously and confidently make people laugh. Later you reach a point when you do not care about what the audience thinks. The people who like you will stay and those who don’t will find their way out automatically. Your audience always finds you. So you become blatantly an honest human being comfortable with who you are and what you think. It is extremely liberating. This is absolutely visible not just in your art but in your being too.
How has it shaped your life?
For the last couple of years, I have been doing a show called “Naked” in which I remove all the metaphorical walls brick by brick built around me, exposing my vulnerabilities and pains which is terrifying but exhilarating. I not only remove the metaphorical walls but also physical layers too. Some find it funny; some serious while many break down and cry. It has affected people deeply many of whom are suicidal, depressed and divorced or afflicted by pain. They now see their life differently after seeing what I have gone through and finding positives in that.
What is the Happiness Project about?
The impetus for the project was when a month-long tour in March got cancelled halfway . On its cancellation it struck me that since loss of income was not bothering me at all I should do shows for whom it does. What I did was to announce on my social media platform that till May 31, I will happily perform for any charity in India free to enable them raise funds. About 30 got in touch, and I will be doing eight shows which help about 11 charities. In this endeavour, I am being joined by other comedian friends like Niti Palta.
I will repeat this offer later because I can’t be doing free shows all the time. Need to take care of my bread and butter too (laughs).
Your most satisfying performances
The ones that spread joy and smile among those who need it the most. At free show in a Singapore hospital, a man whose son was in coma for 25 days laughed throughout 45 minutes. You could see the pain in his eyes but also the laughter on his face. Likewise in Kolkata recently, a 86-year-old woman came to me and said, ‘Beta, I have not laughed like for the last 30 years.’ All this makes me feel good.
What is the process of the stand up act?
There is no set format for stand up act. For every comedian, it is different. It is essentially not what you want to be perceived as but what you are that guides you. In my case for the opening five minutes,
I have something in my mind and then it just takes off its depending on how the audience reacts. It evolves organically. Like I would see a couple and ask them questions like how long they have been married, etc. In between, I ask the guy if he is happy and his reaction would start a new line of conversation. Mein to audience ke pass jaa ke baith jata hoon. I recall, one instance, when I made a person attend to a call on cell and also spoke to the person on the other end with the speaker on. It went almost for five minutes keeping everybody in splits.
You prefer live shows to TV ones...
Yes. Live shows get me instant gratification as it is spontaneous. TV has a set format. But TV shows too are required as they have a vast audience to cater to. Kapil Sharma’s show is so popular.
How do you view comic situations in Indian films?
I am no one to classify anything bad or good. Films have their own audience with different sensibilities. It is important to remember it is large and varied. As long as people like it, it is fine.
Your favourite comedians...
American comedian Chris Rock and the well known actor and artiste George Carlin.
