Short Imaan long in comic act

MANILA, Philippines — Imaan Hadchiti, an Australian of Lebanese descent, stands only 3 feet and 6 inches tall and is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the shortest full-time comedian in history. He routinely jokes about his height, a genetic condition caused by what is called the Rima Syndrome where a person retains normal proportions despite a dwarfish size.

Hadchiti, 28, will be in town to bring out the laughs in Prime I Events’ latest show called Two and a Half Men in The Tent at Enderun College, McKinley Hill, Taguig on June 22. It’s a two-hour, stand-up comedy special which Prime I Events owners Dilip and Saira Budhrani personally curated.

Hadchiti is hosting the event featuring equally outrageous comedians Deepak Chandran and Sorabh Pant. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with food stations and bar in full service. The show will start at 8:30 p.m.  Collabera is the presenting sponsor with the Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences, the hotel partner, and David’s Salon and Davao Cavaliers Security Agency as other major sponsors.

“Imaan is a very unique talent not only because he’s a little person but his stage presence is really amazing and his performance is phenomenal,” said Dilip Budhrani. “There are only two people with the Rima Syndrome — Imaan and his sister Rima, who tours with Cirque de Soleil. This promises to be an incredible show, surely something different from what we’ve produced in the past. We’re excited to deliver another stand-up comedy show that’s one for the books.”

Hadchiti started his comic career at 15. “My inspiration in crafting my material is usually life,” he said. “This is my second time in the Philippines and I’m excited to see the crowds. I promise a lot of honestly wild stories and a lot of energy.”

Chandran, 35, once performed on a Valentine’s Day show in Manila, is thrilled to be back. “Filipinos are a delight to perform for because they’re so light-hearted, so casual and just want to have a good time,” he said. “I do jokes which make people think a bit. I always try to leave a mark not in terms of the laughs but in terms of creating a real human connect. The best jokes are which you can think about when you’re in trouble and still have a laugh. I do bits which are highly relateable and sometimes complex. I don’t have favorite bits.  I just love experimenting.”

Chandran said his material is mainly structured around society and how it influences his life. “It could be anything from religion, politics, office culture, relationships,” he said. “I write jokes about programming, yoga, my wife who’s a yogi, poverty, parents, capitalism and math problems.  I’m actually an IT professional. I love to code, understand technology to a lot of depth and enjoy it a lot. I’m pretty talkative and can make people laugh all the time.”

Pant, 37, is the first Indian-born comedian to headline shows in Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Nepal, Australia and Oman. “It’s my first-ever show in the Philippines,” he said. “I’m very, very excited. I’ve never been to the country and I’m looking forward to people just handing me cash on the road to prove their hospitality.”

Pant said his type of comedy was once described by a fan as “intelligent buffoonery.” “I’m loud and energetic, sometimes annoying,” he said.  “The material can veer from anything — my kids, my weight, global politics to history. My aim is to try and make everyone laugh.”

A comedian since 2008, Pant was previously a writer for Indian TV and has three published novels. “Stand-up comedy pays my bills and writing novels nobody reads makes those bills longer,” he said. “My main source of inspiration used to be other comedians, my friends, my wife but now everyone is busy being successful or pretending to be so I just craft my material with the crowd.”

Pant said he does a lot of self-deprecating. “I don’t care who the target of the joke is as long as it’s funny,” he said. “There’s jokes about Indian culture, traveling, whatever. All of it is tailored to appeal to everyone — Filipinos, Indians and everyone in between and beyond.”

As for his private life, Pant said he has a long-term relationship with his wife and a very long-term relationship with their children. “I think it’s pretty serious,” he said. “I mean the reason I do 80 percent of shows is for them. Two kids, one wife, in that order.”

Tickets for the show are VIP at P2,000 and standard at P1,500. For inquiries and reservations, call 0917-5703057 and 0920-9717055.