How Sugar Got Inspired
He may not be as well-known as fellow Indo-Canadian comic Russell Peters, but Sugar Sammy is a rising star on the comedy circuit and has just released his debut CD “Down With the Brown.”
A professional since 2004, the Montreal-born comic, whose real name is Samir Khullar, has performed on TV several times and has caused sides to split in Europe, Asia, Africa and, of course, North America. “The only continent I’m missing is Australia and I’m going there in April,” said Sammy, who performs in English and French, and also throws in a little Punjabi and Hindi for Indian audiences.
For a show in South Africa, he sold 10,000 tickets in just one month. He was particularly popular in Durban, the port city that’s home to the largest Indian community in South Africa. “For the first week, I had to adjust, because they’re conservative and my act is definitely not,” he said.
Indeed, much like his childhood idol Eddie Murphy, Sammy isn’t averse to using colorful language and delving into risqué topics. He was only 8 when he got his first exposure to Murphy’s raunchy act. He had persuaded his parents to rent “Delirious,” one of Murphy’s stand-up comedy specials. But when they heard the language, they tried to stop him from watching it. “Just two more minutes,” he recalls saying to them. As they waited for the two minutes to be over, they started laughing at Murphy’s act. Soon the whole family was watching.
“We’re all watching it together and we’re having such a good time,” he said. “And I was like, wow, this man, in two minutes, got my parents from hating what he was saying to totally loving it and watching his whole set. And I said, ‘I want to do this.’”
ROBERT GUPTA: WORTHY OF CLONING
Robert Vijay Gupta, 20, is the youngest member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, playing the violin for the prestigious orchestra.
Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez recently wrote about the Indian-American prodigy, describing how he earned a pre-med biology degree when he was only 17, then got a master's degree in music from Yale at 19.
What Gupta did in his spare time was even more impressive. The aspiring neuroscientist did laboratory research at Harvard and two other colleges, studying Parkinson's disease, spinal cord regeneration and the effects of pollution on the brain.
Commenting on Gupta’s accomplishments at such a young age, Lopez writes: “I wasn't sure whether I wanted to interview him, clone him or strangle him.”
JOVIAL MATRIMONIAL
(Excerpts from actual matrimonial ads on the Internet)
She demands an honest man: “I am looking for someone loving, caring, trustworthy, who does not lie and I mean it, strictly no lies please.”
Impress her with your credit card: “I’m a simple gal. Homely nature. Enjoy cooking. Love playing TT and long tennis. Shopping!! The best thing I can do?and best way to impress me.”
He’s such a joker: “I am honest, caring, witty, handsome, intelligent, wise, matured, knowledgeable, sincere, polite, presentable, down-to-earth, dependable. I have all positive traits one can think of, except one -- I am a liar.”
He’s dying to chat with you: “Much we may speak over the phone, I can call you at any time of the day, I would love to hear from you, as you will see the love and honesty in my voice. My dearest mum is also available if you need her to call.”
DESI FUN ONLINE
Physics Feedback
www.liveleak.com/view?i=a03_1173750909
A desi teacher reads some funny feedback he has received from students.
30 Days: Outsourcing
Part 1: www.liveleak.com/view?i=4ea_1195705444
Part 2: www.liveleak.com/view?i=de4_1195705936
An American computer programmer who lost his job travels to India to try to get it back. 30 Days is a reality television show on the TV network FX.
Compiled and partly written by Indian humorist MELVIN DURAI.
[Comments? Contributions? We would love to hear from you about Chai Time, our newest column. If you have contributions, please email us at melvin@melvindurai.com. We welcome jokes, quotes, online clips and more]
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