‘Papa CJ: Naked’ has been invited to represent India at the Shared History Festival in South Africa in September 2015. Shared History, which has become a regular feature on the South African cultural scene, is an annual festival that showcases the best of contemporary arts and culture from the Indian subcontinent in South Africa. The festival aims to explore the shared artistic bond and cultural history of the two countries and their recent pasts. Begun in 2007, the festival is brought to the country in collaboration with the High Commission of India in South Africa.
Earlier this year ‘Naked’ received the rare honour of becoming the first ever solo show from India that was invited to showcase at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Amongst the 550 plus shows at Australia’s largest cultural event, it was the only solo English show that was invited from all of Asia.
Such international recognition is unprecedented for Indian stand-up comedy. In November 2014 Papa CJ was also invited to Malaysia to receive the award for Asia’s Best Stand-up Comedian. His show ‘Naked’ is also the only solo comedy show from India that will be showcasing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2015. The Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival with over 3000 shows across various genres.
Papa CJ’s past international performances include over 2000 shows in more than 18 countries. He has taped a Showtime USA Stand-up Comedy Special with Russell Peters in Amsterdam and in the American TV show Last Comic Standing, he was placed in the top ten from over 3000 contestants across the world. His work has been broadcast on NBC, BBC, Comedy Central, Showtime, MTV, Paramount, The Comedy Channel, ITV and a host of other international networks. Papa CJ was also the first ever comedian from India to be invited to perform at the Just for Laughs Festival in Canada in 2009. Little wonder that Forbes Magazine has called Papa CJ ‘the global face of Indian stand-up’ and Toastmaster International called him one of the most influential comedians around the world.
