STAND UP, STAND STRONG

As comedy powerhouse Kumar takes the world by storm with his Kumarsutra Greatest Hits World Tour, Augustman steals a moment with the standup comic for an exclusive heart-to-heart and uncovers an inspiring story of true mettle, forged in the fire of rape and rough upbringing, and the positive attitude to turn pain into power, wisdom and an outstanding career in spreading laughter

- KC YAP

Defined by its jocular style, comedy remains the least likely genre to be taken seriously, and yet it has been a subject of scholarly analysis since the time of Aristotle with comedians being categorically distinguished as amongst the most intelligent people throughout history. Endowed with a deep insight into human nature and public affairs, they wield the virtue of humour to break boundaries and effect positive change and new perspectives, all while inspiring laughter with their unique, amusing outlooks on life.

In Southeast Asia, Kumar stands out a mile as one of the most esteemed standup comedy artists of our generation. Hailing from Singapore, the comedian fondly known to all by just the mononym Kumar (like Madonna) has spent the last 30 years tickling our funny bones all the way into our hearts, breaking nearly every imaginable type of boundary along the way with his unique brand of witty, caustic and largely observational comedy, making him a bona-fide household name and cultural icon from the city-state to Malaysia, and beyond.

Taking the stage at the turn of the 1990s, Kumar quickly became a driving force that helped propel standup comedy from the underground/alternative to the mainstream despite scrutiny from authorities and the conservative environment surrounding his cross-dressing and provocative jokes on politics, sex and race, paving the way for the next generation of standup comics along with a more progressive mindset across society.