Papa CJ on roasts, becoming a leadership coach, and comedy scene in India : ‘If there is anyone to be blamed for vulgarity, it is the audience'

Indian Express

5 days ago

After realising he couldn't sustain a living solely through stand-up in 2007, Papa CJ turned to leadership coaching. His love for the stage never waned, though. Now, after years of staying 'under the radar,' the comedian is back with his India tour, Still Standing Up, produced and promoted by TribeVibe Entertainment, a BookMyShow Enterprise. Ahead of his return, he speaks to us about his journey, roast comedy, favourite cities to perform in, and more. Read the edited excerpts below:
Papa CJ: I've published an autobiography titled Naked, which chronicles my journey. Some headlines: Oxford MBA, management consultant, executive coach pre-2008. Coaching began in 2007 in London because I couldn't make ends meet doing only stand-up. Between 2005–07, I performed 700 gigs across the United Kingdom, then moved to Delhi, did two national tours in 2008, and helped set up India's English-language comedy circuit in 2009.
In the early years, I focused more on public shows; later, I shifted to corporate gigs. My love has always been for live performance, which is why I never prioritised online content or building a social media following. Odd as it may sound for someone in my field, I'm quite private and not drawn to fame. I'm curious to see how many people will show up now that I've been off the grid for so long.
After Covid, with gigs drying up, I returned to coaching. But even that draws heavily on my comedy background. One of my most popular global modules is 'A Comedian's Guide to Communication and Storytelling Strategy,' where I help leaders apply techniques used by stand-up comedians.
Papa CJ: I'm a curious person. I don't believe in being boxed in by a title. Steve Jobs said creativity is connecting the dots; I say curiosity is connecting the dots. The more dots you collect, the more connections you can make. And when you dive deeper into each dot, it becomes a circle. Your unique expertise lies where those circles overlap.
Papa CJ: I do stand-up because I love it, and I'm happy for anyone who finds success doing what they enjoy. I didn't leave a corporate job to join a creative field just to be in another rat race. Eleanor Roosevelt said, Comparison is the thief of joy. Why would I rob myself of joy when I've got so much to be grateful for?
I built platforms to help others grow in this space. It would be foolish to begrudge their success. There's enough room for all of us. To live any other way would be bitter and miserable.
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Papa CJ: The digital boom has given comedians a platform to showcase their work, gain recognition, and build careers. What's been particularly heartening is the rise of comedy in Indian languages. Artists now feel free to be authentically themselves, and our country is rich enough to have audiences for everyone.
Papa CJ: I'm not fond of performing roasts. I enjoy watching them, sure, but they often rely on mean-spirited humour, and personally, I'd rather not say those things.
Papa CJ: I don't mind teasing or embarrassing people, but I'm not a hurtful person. I do a lot of crowd interaction and leg-pulling, but if I feel someone might genuinely be upset, I steer clear.
There's also a big difference between public shows and corporate or private gigs. At a public show, the audience knows what they've come for, so I can push the boundaries. But at a corporate event, my job is to respect the client's brief.
Papa CJ: Laughter is the only guarantee. Beyond that, I don't know what I'll do. Unlike my last tour, Naked, which followed a structured narrative, this one is completely open. Each show might vary wildly in terms of material and crowd interaction, from 0 to 100 per cent!
Papa CJ: I disagree with the criticism. A comic says something to get a laugh. If the audience laughs, that's why the comic keeps saying it. So if there's anyone to blame for vulgarity, it's the audience.
Both comedians and audiences evolve. Once the shock value of a risqué word wears off, you actually need to be funny. No one keeps rewarding crude humour unless the content underneath it is genuinely strong.
Papa CJ: Of course. We've all had jokes fall flat. If my best joke doesn't land, I remind the audience I've been doing this for over 20 years, so if they aren't laughing, it's they who've failed. Jokes aside, they're paying to have fun and I'm getting paid to be there. It's in their interest to let loose and enjoy.
Papa CJ: I don't watch much online comedy, so I'm not sure who qualifies as 'current crop'. But Vipul Goyal has been bulletproof onstage for 15 years. I'm also biased towards friends, and there are too many of them to name here.
Papa CJ: I love understanding what makes different audiences tick. I don't have a specific preference, but there are two caveats. First, I prefer performing for local audiences wherever I go. In Cambodia, for instance, my crowd was all expats –– I felt silly flying all the way there just to perform for Australians and Brits.
Second, I love performing in India. Having grown up here, I'm fluent in the cultural nuances. That gives me the freedom to play much more onstage.
Papa CJ: Absolutely. I wouldn't have survived 17 years doing stand-up in this country if that weren't true. Also, India is too diverse to describe with a single label. That richness is reflected in our comedy audiences too.
Shweta Sharma leads the lifestyle section at IndianExpress.com. Over the years, she has written about culture, music, art, books, health, fashion, and food. She can be reached at [e-mail]. ... Read More