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Sunil Thakkar of Masala Radio, one of the leading entertainment figures in desi radio shows, has been selected to take part in the Great Indian Laughter Challenge hosted by Star One television channel.
Sunil T is one of the 20 contestants chosen from applicants from all over the world. He is the only contestant selected from North America.
Masala Radio 1480 AM will postpone its celebration of its 15th anniversary on May 22 until Sunil Thakkar returns from the Laughter Challenge…and maybe
it will turn in a victory party as well… The other 19 contestants are from India and Pakistan.
“I am honored to be representing Houston in the show,” Sunil told Indo-American News. “To reach where I am representing the city in something back home can come with the help and support of the family and Houston is truly a family.”
This will be the fourth season of the Great Laughter Challenge by Star One Indian television channel. The previous seasons of the show, launched in 2005, have pioneered humor on Indian television and discovered new comic talent.
The jury of season 4 constitutes of veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha and wit wizard Navjot Singh Sidhu with a new host and anchor. The jury will select top 10 finalists from the contestants and begin recording later this month for the shows expected to be telecast next month.
Sunil T will be adding an international dimension to the humor show dominated so far by the talent in the subcontinent. His selection was based on the comedy routines he submitted last month.
Sunil left Monday for Mumbai to take part in a 10-day camp and shootings scheduled to begin May 25. He is optimistic that he will do well.
“I was not trained in India, I was trained in Houston,” he said. “Everything I have learnt and have, I owe it to the city.”
Sunil said that he came to Houston to study engineering and make a living. It was in Houston that he took the mike for the first time. “My abilities
in this field have kind of grown with the city. When I came to the city, I was quite new to all this.”
Sunil’s Music Masala show on 1480 AM is a major source of entertainment for the desi community in Houston. He and his Masala team operates Masala Cruises to various destination round the year. He has also produced and co-written the script of Where’s the Party Yaar, a film based on his own experiences with the “fresh off-the-boat” Indians and more fashionable Americanized Indians.
Sunil Thakkar will be the first NRI contestant featured in The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Season IV, with his debut on Saturday, July 5, 2008, 7pm on STAR ONE. The show that canvassed the greatest talent, the show that resurrected laughter on television, the show that instituted the humour genre, the show that gave a new meaning to the concept of laughter… The Great Indian Laughter Challenge is back with a smashing new season that began on June 06 2008.
“While I thought my American-style comedy would not be appreciated by the masses in India, the directors of Star One’s Great Indian Laughter Challenge thought quite the opposite, especially after my debut episode which I shot end of May,” says Thakkar who is still in Mumbai shooting the top 13 Finals. “The direction team really sees me as a unique contestant - only NRI and only Gujarati contender - they have my hopes up that I’ll be around for at least a few more of the finals’ episodes. I have spent the last one month isolated in a flat in Andheri, solely concentrating on the comedy in everyday people’s lives.
Instead of the usual Indian humor of mimicry or one-liners, I try to buildup stories and situations that everyone can relate to. When everyone from the Bhelpuri wala to my fellow contestants was impressed with my rehearsal, I knew I could win the hearts of the masses.”
Thakkar is familiar to NRIs as the face of Masala Cruises, appearing as different characters on Indian Satellite Channel commercials year-round. Thakkar has refined his comedy routines as Entertainment Director and Emcee of Masala Cruises since 1999, as well as Radio Jockey for Masala Radio 1480 AM in Houston for the past 15 years.
The Great Indian Laughter Challenge brought Sunil Thakkar to Mumbai to compete with 49 other contenders for the crown, introduced by past champions Sunil Pal, Ehsaan Quereshi, Irfan –Ali, Dr. Tushar Shah, Kapil Sharma, Chandan Prabhakar and Guarav Sharma. Adding to the action and excitement will be the smashing performances by electrifying Hard Kaur, the evergreen Sudesh Bhonsle and inimitable Rajpal Yadav!
The triumphant show goes on air with a new jury, a new anchor and brand new sets! Style and wit personified… veteran actor Mr. Shatrughan Sinha along with the wizard of wit Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu will don the judges hat for Season 4 with the sexy Shenaz Treasurywala as the host of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 4!
Stay tuned to Star ONE for the TGILC, where Thakkar will share the stage with celebrity hosts Vidya Balan, Malika Sherawat & Akshay Kumar. “Even if I don’t win, the experience and exposure on all major Indian media is phenomenal. I would like to thank STAR ONE, Endemol, and Violet Pictures.”
Thakkar welcomes joke ideas and comments at sunilmasala@gmail.com