“Soul Sikher”

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Previously profiled Sikh comic Sody Singh Kahlon is at it again. Kahlon first made waves in the UK with a well received one-man act titled “Sikh in the City” (get it?) and stage/screen performances with his comedy group, the Funjabi’s –

Sody Kahlon first came to prominence as co-founder of The Funjabis, making their name in west London by selling out performances at Watermans theatre.

The group was behind hit comedy plays such as ‘The Funjabi Show’, ‘This Is Your Life, Mr Funjab’ and ‘Don’t Worry Be Funjabi’ at venues around the UK.

…his one-man play ‘Sikhs in the City’ toured internationally to almost 6,000 fans, featured on BBC2, Radio4, BBC World Service and is being released on DVD; he co-wrote the short film ‘We Are One’ with Sarbjit Bakshi, which formed part of a Channel 4 film scheme; and has done various acting stints on BBC and ITV.

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p>Kahlon’s back with a new show titled “Soul Sikher”. Reports from across the pond indicate that Kahlon is using the tried and true country-bumpkin –> big city –> country-bumpkin / clash of cultures plot –

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FOLLOWING the international success of his sell-out solo show “Sikhs in the City”, Britain’s only Sikh comedian, Sody Singh Kahlon is back with a new multi-media comedy show about a man who has lost touch with his roots.

…Paul’s only pleasures come in the form of his plasma TV, Playstation and surround sound gadget lifestyle, which the high flying IT Londoner loves more than anything else, much to the despair of his wife and parents.

However, after some divine intervention Paul receives a one-way ticket to the Punjab!

There, he begins his reluctant re-acquaintance with his roots and meets some extraordinary, eccentric characters including; the driving destructor, the unbearable sister, a bugger of a beggar and the sub-continent’s craziest sucker; Chippore the mosquito.

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p>Some may bemoan the choice but for me, there’s more than enough material here to keep the Russell Peters, the Ali’s, and the like well fed. One part of the act is particularly hard for your author to envision – a 6 foot tall bearded Sikh in drag –

Kahlon is a lively character actor and he’s at his best as Tiffany, Paul’s gobby sister, who is unable to decide if she’s a devout Sikh or Brummie slapper.

Oh my. Soul Sikher opened in October and tours the UK through February 2006.

10 thoughts on ““Soul Sikher””

  1. Err he is not “BritainÂ’s only Sikh comedian”. There is also Inder Manocha for example and others I can’t recall off the top of my head. Soul Sikher is funny in many parts, but is a bit preachy I thought.

  2. I dont think he’s that funny. He seems like a bit of a preachy uncle telling you off for not being a good respectable Sikh/Desi boy or girl. Puhleasssse.

  6. Russel Peters is okay, but if you take race out of his act and he has nothing. Just makes jokes with accents. And this guy, Sody, is horrible maybe I just couldnt understamd him or what but he needs to go.

  7. but I have heard of Russel Peters, another Indian standup guy here in the US who is making waves.

    I thought Russell Peters was Canadian.

  8. I haven’t seen any solo stuff of this Sody fellow – but I’ve seen the Funjabis’ stuff… wasn’t too impressed.

    Russell Peters is Canadian. He’s started blowing up here in the U.S. over the past year or so.

    Re: race in Russell’s act – well, every comedian has their “thing”. It’s based on his observations and experiences. He views the world through certain colored glasses and expresses that through his comedy. What if Carlos Mencia took race out of his act? Or what if Steven Wright took the one-liners out of his act? They all have their own favorite subject/style – whatever works for them. Innit.

  10. Hi everyone, Sody Singh Kahlon here. Just stumbled across this thread and would like to say my thanks for all your comments. To clarify a couple of things, Inder Manocha is Bahai and not Sikh and Russell Peters is Catholic and Canadian. My label as the only identifiable Sikh comedian in Britain is not out of choice but from a lack of Sikh representation in British theatre. Consequently, I perform plays about things that I know; Britain, Sikhism and India with the sole intention of informing as well as entertaining my audiences. This is a very different style and conviction than The Funjabis and my deviance from them was so that I could be more of myself on stage. If my audiences and community did not enjoy what I did then I would have given it up many years ago but their support keeps me going until one day a fellow brother or sister can take the “seva” from me – and I do hope it is soon, my aching joints can’t take much more. Regardless, each to their own and it is always interesting to hear what others have to say about my work – whether it be good or bad. Stay inspired and warmest regards, Sody