The Comedians of Bhutanese Cinema

Knowing Phurpa Thinley better

If humor could be found in an inexhaustible package, it should be him. He is funny and witty. The moment he opens his mouth, everybody breaks into a laughter.

Born in Talo in Punakha, Phurpa Thinley, 42, is the most popular comedian in the country. He has been in the film industry for almost two decades.

He was a monk till the age of 22 before joining the Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA). His acting career took off when he was in RAPA where he stayed for 10 years.

His typical Bhutanese jokes were appreciated by many people in RAPA and he was made the atsara there.

While still in RAPA, he along with Gyem Tshering, another Bhutanese comedian who was also in RAPA, started a company called Comedy Musical Live Show. The company produces music albums and films.

Phurpa Thinley has a huge fan following. When he is in town, people stop to have a look at him. “There are times when people ask me to crack jokes on the street, and if I am not in a hurry, I do that,” he said. He also gets calls from his fans asking him to tell a joke over the phone.

The comedian is also a singer. He has sung in 16 albums. Some of his songs that are meant to be humorous contain refreshingly funny lyrics. One of them is his version of a popular boedra, ‘Lungpa chhung chhung’. He has produced several joke albums, which have been hugely successful among people of all walks of life. Phurpa believes that he is a better co remedian than a singer.

Until now, he has acted in 35 films. He has recently signed for a film in which Kelly Dorji will be acting.

He claims that most of the jokes in his films are made by himself. “The director just explains the theme of the story, and I add the dialogue,” he said. Phurpa Thinley also helps new comers with their dialogue and dzongkha language.

He got two awards for best comedy. He says that jokes should be funny as well as meaningful.

According to him, acting over the years has become competitive and the quality of movies has improved but he does not see much competition for the role of a comedian.

When talent meets opportunity

He can sing in six different Bhutanese singers’ voices, both male and female. He can speak in almost all the local dialects of Bhutan. He can make sounds of a flute without using one.

Commonly known as Jalap Lakey he is an entertainer, actor and a singer.

He was six when he could imitate the sounds of chirping birds, ape barking dogs and meow like cats. He was very interested in singing that he would record his own voice in a tape recorder and listen to it over and over again. Today the 27-year-old is not only a stand up comedian and mimics voices of people but also a singer.

He made his first public singing debut in 2004. He took part in a singing competition held at Mila and won the first prize out of around 80 contestants. He sang a song in both male and female voice.

His rendezvous with the camera happened in 2005 when he shot for an MTV and instantly fell in love with it. His romance with the lenses blossomed three years later when he got his first acting break in 2008. Within a span of less than a year he has five films under his belt.

In most films, his roles are entertaining. It is filled with laughter and mirth but he has acted in a more serious role in a recent film. He likes being a comedian and making people laugh but at the same time wanted to act in more serious roles to give people variety.

In most of his movies he acts as lhotshampa gup, Sharchop gup, Parop gup and old men. He talks in a different accent dzongkha, one must see his truly remarkable performance.

In his earlier days he served in the armed force for four years and resigned in 2004 under medical grounds. He is satisfied that he was able to do something for the country when the country was in need. Before joining the armed force he was a monk for five years. He did his primary schooling in Wangdue.

Originally from Wangdue, Lakey was always interested in entertaining people and even when he was in the army he would always take active part in the programmes. He always dreamt of becoming a performer and an entertainer.

His father has a sweet voice and of his 10 siblings two others also have melodious voice. One participated in the Bhutanese star while the other is too shy to sing on stage.

He has released two music albums but has never tried playback singing though he is thinking of doing it.

He has his own set of fans calling him up and appreciating his singing and acting. One of his fans is his mother who calls him up and asks him to sing on the phone.

Off the sets he is a completely different man. No jokes and pranks like on stage or on screen. Although Lakey has talent to ape noise of animals and birds he has never got a role where he could use these talents. He just hopes that it would get some day.