Indian comedian collapses on stage in Dubai and dies
Tributes have been paid to a popular Indian comedian who died in Dubai on Friday.
Manjunath Naidu, 36, has been a fixture on the UAE’s stand-up scene for years.
Naidu collapsed on stage minutes into his routine.
Some members of the 80-strong crowd at first believed it was part of the act.
When Naidu did not rise, his friends went on stage, still believing he was playacting for the audience. When they realised he was in distress, they called paramedics.
Hotel staff administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation and he was taken to a hospital in Al Barsha, where he died.
His partner, Grace Chng, said he had suffered a cardiac arrest during the show.
“Manjunath Naidu, my partner, one of the most amazing stand-up comedians, incredible improviser, and a great person with a big heart, has passed away on stage, doing what he loves best, making people laugh,” she said in a post on Facebook.
“Right up to his last moment, I and many others thought it was an act.”
Naidu was from Chennai and had been performing in Dubai for five years.
An integral part of the South Asian comedy scene in the UAE, he was described as an inspiration and a “brother” by fellow comedians and friends.
Minutes before his death, friends said Naidu mentioned he had experienced anxiety.
Naidu told the crowd of about 80 people how he thought he would be the next Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood’s biggest star, after spending Dh2,500 on an acting course but instead landed a role as a blonde woman in a play.
“Manju was making people laugh as usual. But when I look back I think his energy was low as he began speaking of his anxiety issues,” said Salman Qureshi, a fellow comedian and friend.
“When he fell down, I thought he was adding a physical element to the comedy.
“You don’t expect to see your friend drop dead in front of you. He was a young guy with big dreams. This has traumatised all of us.”
Naidu grew up in Abu Dhabi with his parents, who died several years ago.
A certified psychotherapist and clinical hypnotherapist, he was also passionate about the stage and signed up for Mr Qureshi’s stand-up comedy workshops eight years ago.
“From someone to whom comedy did not come naturally when he started out, he went on to closing shows,” Mr Qureshi said
“There was a refreshing open-heartedness about him.
“He spoke his mind about life, health, physicality, stuff people would think but not say out loud.”
Naidu headlined shows and performed with a group of friends in Racy Desi, a standup comedy at the Courtyard Playhouse and other venues.
“He thought of comedy as a painkiller and wanted to do something more,” said Rushdi Rafeek, a close friend and fellow comedian, who launched a weekly podcast with Mr Naidu.
“As a comic, people think of you as a clown and listen to you to forget their problems.
“As a professional psychotherapist Manju wanted to also help people.”