Most comedy shows are meant to make you laugh at someone else’s expense. But in Portuguese Saala, Omkar Rege is hellbent on cracking jokes about his identity crisis. Born in Belgaum (a disputed territory), raised in Goa (a Portuguese Colony), Rege lives in Pune (a British colony) and belongs nowhere. He speaks four languages and comes across as an outsider in all four of them. Portugese Saala is his take on the arbitrariness of identities.
“The show to be presented this evening is a one-hour work in progress comedy special,” says Rege, who works in an advertising firm by the day, and moonlights as a comedian.
When asked what it means to be a ‘Portuguese’ especially in Pune, the 29-year-old replies, “It primarily means that our colonial mannerisms and approach to life are different. While Pune has been a historic power centre, there are peculiarities in this city’s psyche that make it distinct. Portuguese Saala attempts at identifying these differences between a Goan with a Portuguese colonial hangover in a city with multiple historic hangovers.”
And what happens when the Goan moves to Pune and then goes back home on a vacation? Does he become too Puneri for Goenkars? Rege is quick with his repartee, “This is literally what I talk about in the show. It is an inward look at myself. Of how I try to and fail at adjusting to things around me. I talk about home, about moving away, adjusting away from home, the cultural misunderstandings and stereotypes.”
Stereotypes – the mainstay of any comic event, generalises the traits and grabs the laughs. Those who have lived outside Pune chuckle about a Punekar’s eccentricities about his vaamkukshi or siesta between 1 and 4 pm. The comic-writer agrees and says, “I don’t mind the stereotypes. Everyone knows alien cultures by a few keywords associated with them. Most Indians have narrowed down Goa’s keywords to the logo of West Indies cricket with an additional bottle of beer. People on the other side of the Sahyadri, who have never visited the shore have this romantic idea of what a beach is. In their heads, Calangute is some sort of paradise!”
His inability to be comfortable in his skin either as a Goan, Puneri or a Portuguese is what the one hour show all about. “I haven’t felt comfortable in a long long time. It’s just awkwardness no matter what I identify as. And, therefore I want to take this show to as many places as possible. To as many people as possible. There are two selfish reasons for doing this. The first is that I sleep better if I know I made people laugh. And secondly, especially with this show, I just want to take it everywhere and find assurance in the fact that I am not alone in this. That the feeling of alienation, of being an outsider resonates with everyone.”
Comedy, says Rege, is his way of expressing intriguing stories. And he hopes that his home state Goa too adopts it. “I live in Pune full time now. But from what I know, nothing much has changed for the standup scene there. I hope it does though. I am sure there are a lot of intriguing stories that can come from Goa. And what better way to express them than through comedy?,” he concludes.
ST Reader Service
Catch Portuguese Saala, a Marathi standup comedy show this evening at Hippie at Heart, Bhandarkar Road, 8 pm onwards. Tickets available on bookmyshow.com
