Q For Clean Comedy

Talking about his life,the comedian says that his first meeting with ‘funny’ was when he was just a child. “My first experience with comedy was when I would crank call people,” he quips. But he didn’t really think of comedy as a career option. Instead,he worked as senior engineer with Intel Corp. But comedy was supposed to be his destiny. In the late 90s,he took a comedy class to get over his fear of public speaking. Ever since,his profession has been to make people laugh. In 2001,he opted for retirement from his job and pursued stand-up comedy full-time. “I think it’s easier to make people laugh than cry,” says the man,who has performed with noted comedians such as Jerry Seinfield and Russell Peters. “It’s been eight years that I’ve been a stand-up comedian and I’ve done thousands of shows. I never prepare before a show; it’s just all there in my head,” he says.

Nainan has performed for a wide range of audiences. His best show till date,however,is the one he performed for 6,000 doctors in South Asia. “Usually,people think that doctors don’t laugh a lot,but this was different. They were laughing out aloud – one of the best audiences I’ve had. Laughter unites people. It doesn’t matter if one is performing for the president or for a layman,” he adds.

Ask him about his favourite comedians,and he names Jerry Seinfield. “I’m like him – 100 per cent clean,” he says,adding,”And of course,who does not like Russell?” Well,many Bollywood fans actually may not like Russell after he recently stirred up a major controversy owing to his digs at Bollywood. “Something that captures a billion people has some value; 1.2 billion people can’t be 100 per cent wrong. Russell could have said ‘I don’t like Bollywood and don’t find value in it’,and left it there,” Nainan feels.

Nainan didn’t grow up with Bollywood. “I’m just starting to like songs such as Subhan Allah ,Munni Badnam Hui and Main Hoon Dan…Lol,I meant Don,” he says with a laugh . He may not know Salman Khan by name but is all praise for his moves in Munni Badnaam Hui. “The guitar moves are amazing. I would love to do Bollywood films if I get some interesting opportunities,” he quips.