“They are really testing Delhi’s patience now,” somebody on my left joked, as the same announcement boomed over the speakers for the third time, announcing that the show would begin in five minutes. Torrential rains earlier in the day hadn’t dampened the capital’s spirit and the packed Weightlifting Auditorium of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was buzzing with excited energy. Finally, the spotlights turned on and a man dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans with a yellow beanie trotted on to stage, to cheering and thunderous applause. But the noise died down abruptly when everyone realized that this wasn’t the man we were all waiting for.
“Yeah yeah, I’m not him. I’m just another Black man, who also happens to be the one making the backstage announcements earlier, coz low budgets, you know,” New York-based stand-up comedian Wilner Sylvince began, eliciting the first laughs of the evening from the audience. His short and largely engaging opening act set the tone for the rest of the night. When Trevor Noah finally walked on to the stage, dressed similarly in a casual pair of black jeans and T-shirt, the stadium reverberated once again with applause and chants of “Trevor, Trevor, Trevor”. The Emmy Award-winning comedian and political commentator, former host of The Daily Show, and this reviewer's favourite pandemic-era entertainment had arrived!
The act
Over the next 90 minutes, Trevor Noah took Delhi on a laughter carousel as part of his debut ‘Off the Record’ tour in India, an initiative by Black Dog soda and produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live. Flawlessly delivered with his trademark nonchalance, the unscripted routine saw Noah effortlessly flit from topic to topic—most of which were Delhi or India centric and based on his astute observations during his short time here—and layering it all with his spot-on mimicry skills.
“‘Why can’t you be more friendly?’ I asked the immigration officer,” narrated Noah, recounting his frustrating experience at the Delhi airport immigration desk, where he was apparently asked endless questions by the grouchy officer. “It’s not my job to be friendly. My job is to ensure that you go back where you came from,” he imitated the immigration officer’s reply in an Indian accent. “If only you had said that when the British came,” Noah guffawed. And so did the audience!
His hilarious deliberations on colonialism saw him talk about how it affected India and his home country South Africa alike for so long, while America got out of its clutches sooner by throwing tea parties (referring to the Boston Tea Party). He also talked about the new wave of decolonization that is on around the world. “We want to change the names of our cities and maybe even our country (a blink-and-miss reference to the whole India-Bharat debate), but we don’t want to get rid of cricket. Oh no, no, no, not cricket! Not everything that the Britishers did was all that bad, after all.”
Just as you thought you had a moment of respite from the side-splitting laughter, Noah had seamlessly moved on to the next topics and anecdotes. “Yesterday, after my first show here, an important-looking man came up to me and introduced himself. Then he asked me, ‘Do you know who I am and what I do?’ Is that something you guys do a lot here in Delhi, ask random strangers if they know who you are?” Noah asked the audience, as we doubled over with laughter at this joke cracked at our own expense. After all, Delhi is famously infamous for powerplays asserted by self-important people in every conversation.
There were accounts of his visit to the Taj Mahal that morning and how its magnificence can make even the most self-aware person do silly things (the popular ‘lifting the Taj by your fingertips’ photo-op). He talked about how traffic rules in India mean no rules at all, the intense fears he didn’t know existed within him when he faced the woes of no-lane driving, and how there’s no concept of space—whether personal or on the road. Noah roasted the emoji-texting generation of today and reminisced of a life without phones.
He asked an elderly couple in the audience how long they had been married and if theirs was an arranged marriage, before going on to say that he would prefer an arranged marriage, for “love is just a byproduct of time and presence”. Noah wrapped up the act with his imitations of US Presidents, ending with Donald Trump and how he was so blindly in love with India that he thought he could be president here too! “Namaste India, mujhse dosti karoge? Because kuch kuch hota hai,” he ended, mimicking Trump’s voice, to a standing ovation.
A departure from his rehearsed routines, the show was pacy, interactive and outright fun. Nothing seemed too over the top, there was the just the right proportion of anecdotes and audience interactions, and in a twist to his set precedents, no controversial political statements were made—the last of which, many would argue, perhaps made the act a little ‘too safe’. And yet, it was a laugh riot all along, which left the audience in high spirits at the end of the evening.
A career in standup
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, 39-year-old Noah first gained fame in his native country through stand-up comedy and TV hosting before breaking onto the international scene. Notably, he took over as the host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central in 2015, succeeding Jon Stewart. His upbringing during apartheid era deeply influences his humour and perspective. Noah’s memoir, Born a Crime, was published in 2016 and became a bestseller, offering insight into his life in apartheid-era South Africa. He has won several Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on The Daily Show and is celebrated for his sharp wit and social commentary.
Trevor Noah’s popularity surged during the COVID-19 pandemic when The Daily Show transformed into The Daily Social Distancing Show, where he addressed pandemic-related issues with humour and insight from his living room. Noah’s engaging commentary on government responses, healthcare and lockdown life resonated with viewers. Personal stories made him relatable, and virtual interviews with celebrities and experts allowed for important discussions. Noah’s philanthropic efforts and advocacy for COVID-19 relief further endeared him to the public, making him a comforting and entertaining presence during challenging times.
Beyond comedy, Noah uses his platform for advocacy, addressing issues like race and injustice. He has also released stand-up comedy specials, such as Son of Patricia and Afraid of the Dark. His global perspective, shaped by his diverse experiences, makes him a prominent figure in the worlds of comedy and political commentary—one who is worth watching live at least once in your life.
The ‘Off the Record’ Tour by Trevor Noah will travel to Bengaluru (September 27-28) and Mumbai (September 30-October 1) next.
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