The Make Chai Not War team: (From left) Azhar Usman, Hari Kondabolu and Rajiv Satyal

What is Make Chai Not War?

Rajiv Satyal: MCNW is a South Asian comedy showcase started by me and Azhar Usman in 2007.... It’s a play on ‘Make Love Not War’ from the hippie generation. We use chai because it’s enjoyed by Hindus and Muslims alike. If we can sit down and chat over chai and/or laugh at the same jokes, then maybe we can coexist in religious harmony.

Azhar Usman: It is a simple, intentionally corny pun. The concept is simple: to make people laugh. When we laugh together, at ourselves, it’s hard to fight with one another.

How and when did the group come together?

RS: Rajiv and Azhar met in 2005 whilst opening for Russell Peters in Chicago. They instantly became good friends and agreed on pretty much everything... except for the final destination of their souls. Both are huge fans of Hari Kondabolu’s work so he was asked to join on this latest iteration of MCNW.

Hari Kondabolu: This is Rajiv and Azhar’s tour and they graciously asked me to be a part of it.

What do each of you bring to Make Chai Not War?

RS: We all have distinctly different styles so the audiences have been pleasantly surprised to see that three Indian Americans can have such different takes on the world — and still get along so well.

AU: I bring a lot of international touring experience, and some linguistic diversity, as I try my hand at performing in my broken Hindi/Urdu. Rajiv and Hari are actually funny.

HK: We each have different perspectives, comedic styles and are from different parts of India. This shows the great diversity of the Indian-American experience.

What were your first thoughts when the US State department reached out to you to travel across India for Make Chai Not War?

RS: We were pleasantly surprised. It is an honour.

AU: I am delighted to have the support of the government in promoting arts and culture. I am especially grateful to have a platform to share my ideas and ruminations, even if they include some ideas that are critical of US governmental policies.

How much of your comedy comes from your Indian roots?

RS: For this tour, a lot. In the States, it’s much less. For me, it’s around 30 per cent.

AU: 25 per cent, or less.

Stand-up comedy is in its nascent stage in India. What has been your experience in India so far?

RS: That stand-up comedy is in its nascent stage in India. Ha! No, actually, the audiences have hit the ground running. There doesn’t seem to be much incongruity in this global mono-culture in which we all seem to dwell. There are many emerging stand-ups in India and we’re thrilled to be meeting some of the pioneers of the field here.

AU: The experience has been amazing. Super happy to be here.

HK: We met young people in Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad who were both excited to see and perform stand-up comedy. There seemed to be a generational split with younger people being more familiar with the format of stand-up from watching it on television and the Internet. Also, I wonder if what we were doing or saying on stage could be read as public impoliteness by the older generation, while younger people are excited to see people express themselves this freely.

How is it different from performing in the US?

RS: The only slight difference is that we go a bit slower and are more likely to enunciate for those who may not have English as a first language... or a second or third. Gosh, everyone else in the world is so much more cultured!

AU: Firstly, we are on a different continent. Just kidding. Also, it takes a minute for the audience to get used to our American accents.

HK: Performing anywhere is fundamentally the same since you are alone with a microphone in front of an audience that is expecting to laugh. However, I’ve definitely lost jokes and ideas that did not translate as well here.

What are your favourite topics?

RS: Rajiv covers social topics in a logical way. Azhar shares stories and life philosophies. Hari breaks down complex political and racial issues in a relatable way.

Are you using topics more in tune with India?

RS: We tailor our acts as it’s important to know your audience but we were brought over to share our experiences as Indian Americans.

HK: I’ve definitely tried to mix material into my act in India that is more relevant here. For example, I’ll talk about the Indian obsession with ‘fair skin’ and skin lightening creams. Also, since I am Hindu, I’ll mention Ramayana and Mahabharata since I know those stories fairly well. It’s nice to be able to share parts of my personality and life in India that audiences in the States would not be able to understand.

What has been the most difficult issue that you have taken up?

RS: Politics and religion. Those are the two things we’re told not to discuss in polite company in real life in America. But we’ve found a way to make them palatable... and funny.

HK: Talking about sexism can be difficult since I am a man. My goal is to make people laugh and for them to know what I’m saying is genuine.

What are your thoughts about the power of laughter?

RS: Sharing a laugh is a powerful thing. If we can laugh together, we can live together. It’s all about coexistence, which is how most religions have lived in India for centuries.

AU: Humour is universal. Laughter is universal. They are languages of the heart.

HK: During the Hyderabad show, Azhar asked who was in the audience and started listing religions. It was powerful to realise that the room had Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and atheists. The idea that people with so many different beliefs could spend time together in a social setting and enjoy comedy was pretty incredible.

Does comedy really cross cultural and religious boundaries?

RS: Drama is global; comedy is local. But since we’re seeing Indian audiences respond positively to American jokes, the world really is becoming ‘glocal’ — again, it’s a mono-culture, for better or for worse. For better in our case, as it’s made our jobs easier.

Are Indian audiences receptive to jokes about themselves?

RS: You know, every time a journalist asks us this, it makes us more and more nervous. But really, the audiences have responded positively. A crowd can sense whether a stand-up comedian is good-natured or mean-spirited.

AU: In my experience, yes. But the comic must come from a place of love.

Have you been to Calcutta before?

RS: I have. [I don’t know about Azhar and Hari.]

AU: No, I have not.

You will perform to a pretty large crowd here. What kind of response are you looking for?

RS: Laughter. That’s what a comedian is always wanting.

AU: Hoping for laughs — nothing more, nothing less.

HK: I obviously hope the audience in Calcutta laughs and has a good time, but I also hope they leave with an appreciation of an art form I truly do believe in. I can’t imagine a form of expression that is freer.

Your favourite place to perform?

RS: Calcutta. That’s the right answer, right?

HK: Performing in Hyderabad, the capital of my parents’ home state was pretty incredible. My favourite place to perform in the US is Seattle, Washington.

Have you had the chance to see any Indian stand-up comedy act?

RS: Yes, we’ve seen some of the guys here and it’s encouraging to see. It’s not surprising that Indians are producing quality stand-up. India is a magical and spiritual place. Long before we got here, Indians have been exploring the self... Introspective and personal comedy will always trump observational and general comedy.

Who would you say are your favourite stand-up comedians?

RS: These are the names I’ve heard from Azhar and Hari... I’m including mine, too — Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld, Mitch Hedberg, Margaret Cho, Stewart Lee, Paul Mooney, Marc Maron, David Cross, Bill Hicks, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Russell Peters, Kevin Nealon, Tim Allen...

AU: My all-time favourites include Mitch Hedberg, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, and the South Asian legends Umar Shareef, Moin Akhtar, Johnny Lever and Saleem Chabeela.

HK: Watching Korean-American comedian Margaret Cho when I was a teenager was the reason I wanted to do stand-up to begin with. Currently, it’s British comedian Stewart Lee. I’ve also been heavily influenced by Paul Mooney, Marc Maron, Chris Rock, Lenny Bruce, Bill Hicks, David Cross, Dave Chappelle and Richard Pryor.

RS: So, Calcutta, we just have one question for you: are you ready for your next comedy?!

Chandreyee Chatterjee

Make Chai Not War starts at 6.30pm on Saturday at Kala Mandir. Collect invitations from the American Center and Kala Mandir, 10am to 3pm. Entry on first-come-first-served basis.