South Asian P.U.P Comedy

June 2, 2012:  Nick’s Comedy Stop

Headlined by Paul Varghese and Paul Singh
Written and Produced by Usha Govindarajulu

South Asian P.U.P Comedy, a charity fundraiser, was held at Nick’s Comedy stop in the heart of downtown Boston’s theatre district on June 2, 2012 with approximately 65 people in attendance. The show was hosted by two top-notch Indian standup comedians who have opened for Russell Peters: Paul Varghese and Paul Singh, along with Usha Govindarajulu, the skit writer. The two-hour long program consisted of stand-up pieces by Paul V and Paul S separately as well as comedic skits and interludes written by Usha. Each Paul has extensive experience in standup comedy. 

The show first opened with introductions by Usha and Indian Medical Association of New England President, Dr. Sucheta Doshi, for the IMANE charitable fundriaser. a skit where Usha made fun of a medical school program based in India, immediately followed by a comic stand-up piece by Paul Singh. After this, there were two dynamic short skits about a college tuition woes and a skit about credit cards. Finally, the program concluded with a hilarious standup piece by Paul Varghese. The audience gave accolades for the production. 

Naina Pathak said, “We enjoyed the skits and Paul Varghese’s standup piece. The venue was also nice and show was well set up.” Sucheta noted, “This was a wonderful opportunity for IMANE to support rising South Asian talent while raising money for our free health clinics and charity health and education fairs in the community which ensure free basic health care to all who need it."

The strength of the show was carried by the headliner, Paul Varghese and the opening act by Paul Singh as well as the interwoven skits to break up the tempo between the two standup pieces.  Paul V has had extensive experience.  He has performed at the HBO Comedy Festival, the Montreal and Toronto's Just For Laughs Festivals and the TBS Comedy Festival. His TV credits include Telemundo 2's Loco Comedy Jam, NBC's Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central's Live At Gotham and he has been seen on Showtime's Russell Peters Presents. Paul S does comedy as a side gig. He had won the “Desi Comedy Idol” in NY in 2009, and he is starring in a newly released Bollywood film, ‘9-Eleven’.

This was the sixth production by Usha. She got her start as a writer, but has been involved with theater work and dance productions on/off since college.  She became more involved with theater after producing the play, Bend It Like Auntie, which she had written, in October 2005.  In 2006, she directed and wrote skits for a theatrical event, NetSAP Comedy Mela, held at the Comedy Connection.  She was an assistant producer for the highly successful play, Indian Ink in collaboration with Small World Big Sky Productions. She was producer for Rape, Regret, and Retribution in conjuction with SETU in 2008. Her last production was just last October of 2011, Two Guys and Some Girl: South Asian Comedy with Paul Varghese and Rajiv Satyal.