Growing up in Karachi, Pakistan, then relocating to Iowa (of all places), comedian Kumail Nanjiani now finds himself living in Chicago where he has been the star of the one-man show Unpronounceable directed by Paul Provenza, director of The Aristocrats. For Kumail the transition from the Middle East to the Midwest was a strange one. But what else could it be? “Iowa is very rural and I grew up in Karachi, which is very urban. I believe it’s about 6 million people in a pretty small area, geographically,” said Kumail. “A lot of concrete and buildings. It was smoky and loud...And in Iowa, you could see stars. I couldn’t see stars in Karachi. It was green, serene...But after four years I was ready to go back to a big city.”
Kumail describes the two as completely different planets as far as values, religion, culture, people, and entertainment. Unlike American teens, Kumail was deprived from the influence or amusement of music.
“We didn’t listen to music, “Kumail said referring to his days in Karachi. “We were told that if you listen to music you would have molten lead poured into your ears.”
Woody Allen and Jerry Seinfeld became favorites/influences of Kumail once he arrived to the States, but he was able to watch some American TV in Pakistan.
“We used to watch bootleg movies all the time. You could tell it was from a guy in the theater with a camcorder pointed at the screen. You’d see people walking in front of the screen or getting up and down from their seats,” laughed Kumail.
Asked what his favorite thing is about living in America as opposed to Pakistan, Kumail explained that he appreciates the fact that it we are much more focused on individuality and the ability to follow your heart and go after your dreams. And that’s exactly what the up and coming funnyman is doing.
Normally focusing on current events, observations of daily life, and post-modern living, Unpronounceable has Kumail, for the first time, discussing his roots as far as growing up in a very religious Shite Muslim family, coming to America then abandoning creed, faith and God altogether. Kumail has consciously avoided his upbringing as a show topic, and any other homeland references, for fear of being lumped in, or stereotyped, with other Middle East comedians.
“Unpronounceable is a story I wanted to tell for a couple years,” elucidated Kumail. “I’ve been doing stand up and I didn’t want to talk about all the ethnic stuff. I was afraid of being put in that category of ethnic comedians. But I wanted to tell the more personal stuff, the cultural shock, all that, but I was a little scared of doing it. Then the Lakeshore [Theater] approached me to put on a show and I sort of picked this idea because I had it for a while. They liked it and I started writing it last fall. Provenza was in town and I met with him and he really liked it. He was flying back every week to work with me on the show.”
The Lakeshore Theater discovered Kumail after seeing him do stand up at the Empty Bottle. Seeing something special in the young comedian in just two ten minute sets, the Lakeshore quickly gave him his own hour and a half spot for him to perform a show.
Kumail will be performing in Unpronounceable August 24th at Lakeshore Theater and is excited about returning after having a stellar debut of the show in July.
“It was fun – it was good! We had a big audience and they were very supportive,” explained Kumail. “It was probably about the best atmosphere you can have for a first show. They seemed very excited about it. I couldn’t have asked for a better audience.”
Nanjiani was nominated for “The Best Comedian Award” at the 2007 Chicago Comedy Awards and was a finalist at HBO’s Aspen Comedy Festival and the “Just For Laughs” Montreal Comedy Festival. He’s also the co-creator of the hit monthly Chicago variety show “A Demon Who Never Appeared!” and writer for the popular comedy website blerds.com.
