By Telesha Ramnarine

THE way he danced to “Sundar Popo” when the jukebox came on in his street often evoked laughter in his neighbours, and whenever he performed in plays at his Mandir, everyone told him how great he did. In short, “Katahar” has always been the jovial person that makes everyone laugh.And it comes naturally to him because he loves doing it. Although he spent many years in a technical field at Guysuco, Rajan Persaud Tiwari has managed to find balance that with comedy.
He is also well-known as “Kalu” or “Zapper Man” due to the hilarious advertisements that he has written and performed in over the years including the Mosquito Zapper Ad, the Metro Ad, and the one he did with Henry Rodney for Quick Cash Jewellery and Pawn Shop in which he asked Rodney how he had his face looking like a constipated duck. Rodney wrote that one.
“When I was around 6 years old, I was loved by the street. When the hot tracks came on the jukebox, it caught everyone’s attention when I started to dance. I went to the ‘Dig Dutty’ night and danced away. My grandmother used to take me to wedding house and I would dance to tassa drum. Now I can’t dance; I’ve put on too much weight!”
It was while he was working on the Enmore Estate that he was introduced to drama. He worked for 18 years with the Guyana Sugar Corporation until his resignation as a supervisor in the mechanical department. He also held a job for a few years at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
“Other than being that technical person, I started to do drama. I was brought on the scene by Zaheer Abbas and John Phillips, two prominent entertainment persons back then.”
Tiwari’s first play was called Visa Fraud after which he went on to do Awe Society, Link Shows, and Welcome to our Life, Love and Laughter, Gana Bajana, among many others.
Tiwari, the current host of “Payless Power Hour” and “Rajan Relief Hour,” went on to tour North America and Canada. He won the best supporting actor for the play Mango Tree.

Laugh till you faff
Tiwari got into drama around the year 2000. “I started at Mandir. Every little thing I did there, people used to like it. People often came to me and said I have talent. They told me they wanted to take me to do a show at Cultural Center,” Tiwari recalled.
Today, he has his own comedy show called “Laugh till you faff” which he has taken to several parts of Guyana. The cast includes Jumbie Jones, Michal Ignatius, Sonia Yarde, Mark Kazim, and Chris Gopaul. “It’s all about destiny and where it takes you. Acting is probably the only thing I got an award for,” he said.
But he is still not contented with what’s happening in the entertainment industry today, and feels that the government can do a lot more to assist the industry. “The acting fraternity in Guyana doesn’t have an acting guild that could represent actors. There is not much being done for actors in terms of marketing skills. The Culture Ministry has to come on board and play a part. You cannot earn a lot from it but if they help, it will become so beautiful.”
But despite the negatives, Tiwari said he chooses to continue in the field because of his love for it. “I really love acting. And I believe you have to love what you do. Don’t do a job that you hate. Stay focused and know that life is a gift. Set yourself goals early in life and work to achieve them.”
Tiwari is married to Davina and together, they have a daughter, Pratima, and a son, Chandrika.