Arts
Having a good laugh with Nazeem
For Nazeem Hussain, performing a stand-up act in his motherland was something which he never anticipated.
Born and raised in Australia ( his parents migrated from Sri Lanka before he was born), he was a tad apprehensive that his style may not be something which Sri Lankans could relate to.
But from the time he arrived on stage in a tuk tuk (with a papare band leading the way), to perform his one-off show, at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre on Sunday, January 19 he had everyone laughing till their sides ached.
Telling his approving audience he had been waiting his entire life to perform to a predominantly ‘brown’ audience, the ‘Legally Brown’ star showed he could successfully entertain not only Australians but also Sri Lankans.
His jokes were born out of experiences which any Sri Lankan could relate to.
Having studied hard to become a lawyer, Nazeem Hussain gave up a successful career to follow his dream of becoming a stand-up comic.
He took the plunge gradually, first performing for free at any venue he could and sometimes travelling for hours to reach a venue where he would perform for only a short time, until his career took off and he decided to give up law and pursue his dream full time.
As a strong believer in humour which serves a purpose, Nazeem’s jokes had an undercurrent of truth which no one could deny.
Focused mainly on racism and cultural differences, the palpable response from the audience proved his prowess as a comedian who can make people laugh while addressing issues close to his heart.
Apart from a 45 minute delay in starting, ‘Nazeem Hussain is Legally Brown in Sri Lanka’ was an evening of sheer entertainment. Nazeem Hussain proved in no uncertain terms that comedy is his true calling.