Dynamic comedy duo
VERYONE has to start somewhere, and for Mervyn Pillay it was listening to Eddie Murphy comedy tapes that inspired him.
“After listening to Eddie Murphy’s Delirious, I was hooked. I was 15,” he says.
“I listened to that show so many times, it was embedded in my brain. I would perform those sets for my pals in my neighbourhood and at school. After that I was convinced I wanted to be a comedian.”
Since then, Pillay has performed at many comedy events and hosted several of his own shows.
“I think I have grown as an artist, as clichéd as it may sound. But I am still learning as a performer. I try to learn something new all the time.
“Trying to evolve in the everchanging world of the performing arts is a challenge on its own.
“When I started comedy in the early ’90s, you could count the number of comedians in KwaZuluNatal on one hand, and obviously we were restricted with regards to content.
“You couldn’t joke about politics, religion and other risqué topics. But we were afforded the freedom of expression thanks to our newfound democracy in 1994.
“I remember at the time when Nelson Mandela was released, it was such a euphoric time to be alive.
“There was so much respect for this great icon that I started imitating his voice, and many other comedians around the country were doing the same. For me, this associated my foray into the world of comedy as a new beginning.”
One of Pillay’s trademarks is his ability to impersonate and mimic famous people.
Over the years, he has perfected the art. I asked him how it all started. “From a very early age I was a huge fan of Bollywood screen legend Amitabh Bachchan, so I imitated his dance routines, sang his songs and performed his voice impressions,” says Pillay.
“I soon added some other actors to the list. Recently I introduced some Hollywood actors to my repertoire – the likes of Morgan Freeman and a few others. Some of the voice impressions take time to perfect and some come easy.
“I put in a lot of practice to perfect them. The impersonations that go down well with the audiences are Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Rajnikanth, Freeman, Liam Neeson, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger.”
For his upcoming show, Pillay has joined forces with another comedian, who happens to share his last name.
“Neville and I have known each other for many years. He is truly multi-talented. As a comedian, he kills it whenever he performs.
“People love him for his variety, comedy, MC-ing, funny parodies and voice-overs. We have done many comedy shows (where we have both appeared in the line-up), but this is our first as a duo.
“Ensemble shows ground you as a performer. They teach you that you are not the only comedian in the world and that there are many others out there who are as good as you, if not better. It’s humbling. Solo shows reaffirm your confidence to present your brand of comedy. They also give you an opportunity to grow and establish your brand.”
With a name like Don’t Pillay with Us, I asked him whether the show was tailor-made for the Indian community.
“Not at all. (The new) South Africa is 23 years old. The dynamics of the audiences have changed. We all understand each other’s culture. All are welcome, just go to Computicket.”
He added: “Not everyone is going to like what you do. Some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry have been criticised heavily, so it comes with the job.
“I don’t take anything to heart. If it is constructive, I run with it. Someone came up to me and told me I should swear in my routines.”
After three decades in the business, Pillay has learnt some important lessons.
“People want you to be the same person they see on stage. I often get people asking me why I am so intense or serious.
“When you are (a celebrity) people go crazy and want a piece of you. It seems like people are attracted to your success more than the person you really are.
“That is why actors are everything else but themselves, because they have to play up for their fans.
“There are also people who genuinely respect and appreciate your work.”