Indian comedian dies on stage in Dubai

Dubai: Manjunath Naidu, a rising Indian comedy star, died whereas performing his stand-up act in Dubai.

The incident passed off on Friday, July 19 at Clavichord, Signature Lodge, Dubai. 

The performer, initially from Chennai, handed away from a reported cardiac arrest. An eye fixed witness who was current on the Racy Desis present informed Gulf Information they had been shocked by the incident.

“I used to be sitting within the entrance row on the present and Manjunath was the final performer of the night time,” PR supervisor Sana Topiwala informed Gulf Information. “The present kicked off round 9.30pm and Manjunath got here on round 11.20pm.”

In accordance with Topiwala, quarter-hour into his act, Naidu began complaining about rising anxiousness.

“He abruptly began to pant and sat down on the bench to catch his breath,” Topiwala continued. “Couple of minutes in, he abruptly collapsed and fell to the bottom in entrance of an viewers of 80 individuals.”

In accordance with the attention witness, everybody assumed this was a part of the act. Nevertheless, after three minutes of no motion among the comics and resort employees members rushed on stage to manage CPR.

“We referred to as the paramedics and adopted him to Al Zahra Hospital Barsha. They tried CPR, injected him with adrenaline however it was too late. We had been knowledgeable he died of a cardiac arrest,” she added.

Naidu, 36, was a nicely revered comic on the UAE circuit, having carried out stand-up for 5 years.

Humorist Salman Z Qureshi, who thought of Naidu a ‘brother’ was acting on the night time forward of the late comic’s set.

“I had virtually skipped out acting on Friday, however Manju insisted I hang around and I assume perhaps he had some premonition, or it was destiny,” Qureshi informed Gulf Information.

“I had already carried out my set and was watching Manju, who was in all probability quarter-hour into his act earlier than we seen a dip in his vitality.”

Qureshi additionally recalled listening to Naidu complain about feeling anxious earlier than collapsing on stage.

“At first, all of us thought it was a part of the act. I nonetheless can’t consider it’s occurred,” he added.

Previous to the present, Naidu seemed to be in excessive spirits and Qureshi harassed the comic had no earlier medical subject that will throw up a purple flag. “Manju did undergo from submit efficiency stress however nothing severe.

“He was all the time a contented man. He dreamt huge, all the time taught us to indicate gratitude for what now we have, particularly since he misplaced his dad and mom at a younger age,” Qureshi mentioned.

Naidu was planning to marry quickly and Qureshi added that his pals and fiance Grace had been the one household he wanted.

“I’ve identified him for eight years. Manju was a brother and my finest good friend. All I can say now’s that he died doing what made him glad.”

Tributes have been pouring in from pals and acquaintances who’ve labored with Naidu over time.

“Manju, or Mango Manju as some knew him as, will smile on in our reminiscence for an extended, very long time to come back,” Rashmi Kotriwala, founding father of The Junction group theatre.

“He was a superb actor and comic, a expertise that Dubai has misplaced without end. He was a good friend and colleague to many and he died too younger. Might his household acquire energy from the truth that he handed whereas making individuals snort,” Kotriwala added.

“An absolute light large, inquisitive and filled with expertise. I used to be on my approach to Nasik, which is a four-hour drive, from Mumbai to peform within the afternoon and I noticed the information early morning. That taxi journey was so robust,” mentioned Nitin Mirani, a former Dubai-based comic now dwelling in Mumbai.

Mirani mentioned Naidu was scheduled to carry out on his subsequent present.

“Since I moved to Mumbai, he turned a really sturdy performer and a superb improviser … A type of artists who was simply hungry for stage time,” Mirani added.

In an emotional submit, Dubai-based Filipina comic Imah Dumagay wrote about her instances with Naidu.

“However Manjunath Naidu, my brother, we didn’t do our second session but, I nonetheless didn’t reconcile with my points!… Fantastic, will do all these on the opposite aspect then!

“We glance as much as you. You encourage us. You make us snort effortlessly. All of us don’t have anything however good issues to say about you. You probably did dwell proper brother!”

Final rites for Naidu are scheduled on Monday.