Croydon-born comedian, Nish Kumar, is setting the pulse for progressive stand-up. His first solo act ‘Who is Nish Kumar?’ opened to great critical acclaim, making it to entertainment Channel Dave’s top ‘Ten funniest shows of the (Edinburgh) Fringe’, and the man himself has just been growing/gesticulating since. With razor-sharp observations that touch upon the most nuanced of social ponderings, such as the ‘nature of subjectivity’ and whether truly committed comedy can ever be politically biased, he questions if there is even a box to think outside of (or at least hides it very skilfully): “In London we have things called ‘night-buses” he says in ‘Who is Nish Kumar?’, “which means the trains and tubes have all stopped, and the buses have become floating mental hospitals”. Though we’ve all felt the crowd change in central London at around midnight, Kumar isn’t afraid to say it. In another extract, where he is clearly making use of his joint BA in English and History from the University of Durham, he tells us about the diverse, immigration history of Kerala- his region of ethnic origin - before stating that “that diversity has now landed on my face” making him appear “ethnically ambiguous” and “the target of ‘incorrect racism”. Now at the start of his brand-new tour, the subversively titled ‘Long Word ... Long Word ... Blah Blah Blah ... I’m So Clever’, Kumar is only continuing to head the zeitgeist; one where speaking frankly beats political correctness and having a cracking charisma is the outer quality that counts.
Tell us about the current tour; what can we expect?
It’s a show that I did in Edinburgh this year. I’m currently 4 days in and it’s been good fun so far. It’s got a long-winded title and it’s about politics. My mother called me a left-wing comedian and it’s sort of an exploration of what that means.
Who are some comedians you identify with?
I’m a big fan of Stewart Lee and Chris Rock among others, but I don’t just enjoy left-wing comedy- that’s really the whole point. Humour and stand-up is a lot more varied than people make out. I’m questioning whether comedy is even left-wing in itself.
When did you first suspect that you were funny?
Well, I still have my doubts…but I started doing sketch performances at university and it took off from there. I did a couple of shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, sort of the way everyone does it and just worked my way up to paid spots in comedy clubs etc.
Who were your Favourite Comics growing up?
Chris Rock, Ross Noble, The Simpsons, Goodness Gracious Me—I’m just a massive comedy fan.
How would you describe your comedy style?
Very hilarious; you’ll find that this current show is a political comedy done by a well-brought up, young man! I really advise that you come and see it: I’ll be discussing diversity quotas, what it really means to be a left wing comedian, the political bias of action movies and board games, discussing there being a potentially black James Bond, and some more serious material about climate change and privatisation.
Do you think there’s a secret to being funny?
Oh, it’s definitely a mixture of being both instinctively funny and working hard to create a good set.
What has been a highlight of your career?
It’s all been a highlight – a dream come true in many ways. It was great to work with Sanjeev Bhaskar and Meera Syal and be the warm up for the Goodness Gracious Me Reunion episode. You also never forget your first solo show. That was exhilarating!
Do you think comedy has changed over time?
You’re definitely more open to getting feedback because of social media, but ultimately funny is funny: the same principles always apply.
What helped you keep this up as a career?
It requires certain bloody-mindedness. You’ve got to stick to your guns for the first few years, as with most careers, and eventually just accept the person you find emerging. Some people will like it, others won’t.
What grabs you most about stand-up?
Comedy has always been a hobby for me so I’m being paid to do something I love. It’s more than just being myself. I would be watching comedy, and performing it: basically being able to do it.
What’s your favourite British comedy?
The office
Finally, what’s your advice to other stand-ups who want to keep doing this?
Give it a go if you think it’ll be something that interests you. You’ll find out very quickly whether it is for you or not. In terms of being a British Asian, the landscape is changing. When generation Y were growing up there may have been less diversity on TV, and it was a more isolating experience, but now it is much more welcoming environment for non-whites. The most important thing though is just to get up and do it: you’ll soon realise if it’s where you want to be.