Burma's top standup comic: 'We sacrifice our lives for jokes'

Zarganar spent years in isolation for standup routines that made fun of the authorities. Now the most famous comedian in Burma is free - and still laugh

As for dance rehearsals secret police take place on stage, Zarganar and I are sitting in the Gods of the Radio City Music Hall, speaking of the performance offered by this afternoon - a speech at the Amnesty worship and freedom of expression. "I'm very excited," he said, so softly that appears to come from his boots. "I am delighted to be here."

Zarganar is Burma's most famous comedian comedy, amused by his jokes, of course, but also for the suffering they endured in other words, not only prohibits the performance many times has also spent a total of 11 years in prison for daring to mock government corruption. Born Maung Thura, Zarganar is his stage name, and translates as "tweezers", a reference to the sharp precision of his sense of humor.

comedy scene in Burma is, he says, very different from the UK or the U.S.. He looks at the rows of seats in front of us. "This is my first time in a big theater," he says. "When I saw the scene of the theater could not believe the size of it. In Burma, the theaters are small, and sometimes temporary or outside, homeless. There are two national theaters, and the owner is the government so the government shows what you want, we can not play there "

The style of comedy is also different - a fact necessitated by the authorities appears imminent. "I watched television programs in the United States," he says, "my friend showed me Stephen Colbert, and made many jokes about the government - and it may do so because the Constitution protects and allows freedom of expression. If I did this kind of jokes in my country would surely be sent to prison. "

This does not mean it is a satire in Burma - rather it is perhaps a little more subtle. "Of course, the players are very willing to make jokes about corruption," he said, "This is our style. But sacrifice our lives for jokes. "His favorite comedian is Godzilla, who has never been imprisoned, but was sometimes allowed to do." He always jokes with double meaning, "says Zarganar. "They are satirical and critical of the government, but sometimes are not much fun in tact immediately - .. Sometimes I go home and only then, the joke"

Zarganar was arrested and imprisoned on four occasions: in 1988, 1990, 2007 and again in 2008. He was sentenced to 59 years, once in prison for "undermining public order", although he was freed in an amnesty of political prisoners in October last year. ¿I can ask him how he felt on hearing this sentence, and he smiled. "Every time I put in the hold of my thought is that all the doors open two roads in and out, and will be published one day, for sure."

• However, we imagine to be optimistic in a cell that have proven to be a struggle. He shakes his head. "Every time I kept my sense of humor, and that helped me survive in isolation for four or five years," he said. "I had a friend, no neighbor, if my sense of humor had to help me survive. In any case, I also saw the funny side of situations. "

says his work has helped to overcome. "I always tried writing songs when I was in prison," he said. "I had no paper or pencil, so I wrote in my head and my heart. I wrote poems and screenplays, and sometimes I used a rubber band as a string and play to make music. No, not really have experience with musical instruments, but when I left prison I could not read music, because the rubber band. I used this time to train my mind and I was me and my sense of humor goes along with this work. "

aa

Zarganar is 51, but his comedy routine began in childhood. His parents were writers, and claims to have inherited a great sense of humor his mother. In high school, in fifth grade, he earned a reputation as a great imitator, taking off his classmates and teachers, and the voices of famous actors. In college, where he studied dentistry, jokes followed, but authorities did not like. "I made jokes for teachers and ministers, and were angry, and I refuse to participate in the final six months," he said. "And then, when I passed my exams, refused to issue my degree certificate for another year. But despite all these difficulties, I do not regret making these jokes."

It is a thrill, he says, to complete. "I'm on stage and do a show and tell these jokes ... and when people laugh, I would like the face," he says. "I like the face of laughter. I am a qualified dentist, and I always say that if the dentist can open a single outlet at any time, so the actor can open many mouths simultaneously and make people laugh. "
aa Zarganar parents died during his imprisonment, his wife and children fled to Los Angeles. "They worry about me," he said quietly. "They want me to live and be with them. But I have a duty to my country, I have to go back. "

Find best price for : --Music----City----Radio----Zarganar--