Desi Comedy Fest | Boston | Thu Mar 19 7:30pm
Desi Comedy Fest is the Biggest South Asian Comedy Festival in America. Our mission is to showcase the funniest South Asian comedians from around the world & create a unique live comedy experience for the South Asian diaspora.
Desi Comedy Fest is proud to take the stage at The Comedy Studio, one of Boston’s most revered comedy institutions and a launching ground for some of the most influential voices in stand-up. For decades, this iconic venue has championed intelligent, boundary-pushing comedy in an intimate, artist-first setting.
Bringing Desi Comedy Fest to The Comedy Studio represents a natural pairing — a nationally recognized festival known for spotlighting bold South Asian voices, meeting a room synonymous with smart, fearless stand-up. In this close-knit space where every word matters and every laugh resonates, audiences will experience comedy the way it was meant to be: sharp, personal, and unforgettable.
The evening’s lineup includes...
- SAMSON KOLETKAR: Samson’s comedy is a unique fusion of his Indian upbringing, Jewish roots, and American life—delivered with wit, warmth, and quick, engaging humor. Known for his cerebral and refreshing clean style, he’s performed across the U.S., Canada, and India, and has been featured on NPR, NBC, CBS, NDTV, The Times of India, Ha’aretz, and more. He’s the co-creator of Desi Comedy Fest, founder of Comedy Oakland—winner of East Bay Express’s Best Comedy Night (2016–2025), and headliner of the Mahatma Moses Comedy Tour. Statistically improbable, culturally conflicted, and hilariously consistent, Samson brings smart laughs to every stage he hits.
- ABHAY NADKARNI: Abhay Nadkarni is a third culture comic, born in Delhi, raised in Doha and Bangalore, now navigating American absurdity with a global point of view. He was featured as a New Face at Just For Laughs in Montreal, has performed at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and co-founded Desi Comedy Fest and The Setup, a speakeasy style comedy show in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Over 100,000 fans follow him online for silly jokes and sharp takes. His debut comedy special Brown Jesus is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
- NEEL GHOSH: A Bengali-American and native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Neel Ghosh's artistic work has embodied many forms within the comedic, musical and improvisational space. As a stand up comedian, Neel has performed at The Comedy Store, UCB, The Hollywood Improv, The Stand, New York Comedy Club and regularly tours internationally and nationally as a stand up.
- SHIVANI DAVE: Shivani Dave is an Indian-American stand-up comedian and writer based in New York City, originally from Boston. A staple of top NYC clubs and national festivals, she’s been featured in the New York Comedy Festival and Boston Comedy Festival and was a 2024 Ladies of Laughter finalist. Shivani hosts and produces the popular Top 5 Comedy show and has opened for comics like Dave Attell, Gary Gulman, and Bonnie McFarlane.
- Shyam Subramanian is a New York–based stand-up comedian known for his quirky, culturally tuned comedy that blends Indian and American perspectives. Originally from the suburbs of Massachusetts, Shyam brings eccentric, sharp observations about identity, race, and everyday life to stages across NYC, including shows at Grisly Pear and The Stand. He’s appeared on Good Morning America and is a regular in the city’s comedy circuit.
- AWAIS HUSSEIN: Awais Hussain is a Boston-area stand-up comedian known for unfiltered, high-energy storytelling and razor-sharp observations about life, relationships, and the everyday absurdities we all live through. A regular on the New England comedy scene, he brings zero-filter humor and fresh perspectives to clubs and showcases across Boston and beyond.
Event Links
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