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Aamer RahmanAustralian comedian of Bangladeshi descent
Date of Birth: 17.10.1982
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Content:
- Bangladeshi-Australian Comedian
- Early Life and Education
- Stand-up Career
- 2010–Present
- Comedy Style
- Television and Radio Career
- Other Pursuits
- Awards
- Personal Life
Bangladeshi-Australian Comedian
Bangladeshi-Australian comedian Zohair Zahid Rahman is best known for being one-half of the comedy duo Fear of a Brown Planet alongside Nazeem Hussain.
Early Life and Education
Rahman's parents, Rezina Rahman and Mushfiq Rahman, were born and raised in Bangladesh. His father is an engineer. After his parents married in Bangladesh, they moved to the Middle East. Rahman was born in Saudi Arabia, though his family often visited Bangladesh. He lived in Saudi Arabia until he was six, when his family moved to Australia. They then moved to Oman when he was 10 and finally back to Australia when he was 13. He grew up in Melbourne's western and eastern suburbs. He has a younger sister, Rasha Rahman.
Rahman attended Monash University, where he became involved in political activism on issues such as mandatory detention, refugees, and higher education cuts. He served as editor of the student newspaper, Lot's Wife, in 2002. Although he completed a law degree, he did not pursue a legal career.
Stand-up Career
2004–2008In 2004, Rahman met Nazeem Hussain at an Islamic awards ceremony through their support of asylum seekers and anti-racism activism. They became friends and worked together with youth in Melbourne. In 2007, Hussain entered Triple J's Raw Comedy Award open mic competition at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Inspired by Hussain's performance, Rahman also decided to enter. They beat out hundreds of other entrants and advanced to the Victorian state finals together. Hussain went on to the Victorian finals. Rahman won his state final and advanced to the national final, where he placed second in a performance that was televised on ABC.
Following their success in Raw Comedy, they decided to turn their five-minute sets into a one-hour show together. Over the next five years, they developed their critically acclaimed show "Fear of a Brown Planet," which sold out shows around Australia. Their name plays on Public Enemy's record "Fear of a Black Planet." Rahman and Hussain premiered their first show in 2007 and took a second show on the road in 2008. They were then given a one-and-a-half year network development deal.
In 2008, Rahman performed in the "Allah Made Me Funny" tour. In April 2008, Rahman and Hussain performed "Fear of a Brown Planet" for the first time at the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Prior to this, Rahman had only performed on stage three times. In 2009, Rahman and Hussain were among ten writers chosen to participate in an exclusive screenwriting workshop hosted by British independent film company Warp X, Screen Australia, and Madman Entertainment.
2010–Present
In 2010, Rahman and Hussain took their next show, "Fear of a Brown Planet Returns," on tour to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the Sydney Comedy Festival, and the Adelaide Fringe. That same year, Rahman performed at the Oxfam Comedy Gala, which was televised on Channel Ten, and Hussain performed at the Sydney Comedy Festival's Cracker Night gala, which was televised on the Comedy Channel. In October 2010, they performed with Azhar Usman, Preacher Moss, and Mo Amer ("Allah Made Me Funny") at a one-off show at the Théâtre de l'Athénée in Paris.
In 2011, Rahman and Hussain debuted their new live show, "Fear of a Brown Planet Attacks." In August 2011, they performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. On their way home from Edinburgh, they performed an impromptu show in London after their friend organized a gig in Brixton with two days' notice. That same year, Rahman performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
On 31 August 2011, the DVD and Blu-ray of "Fear of a Brown Planet Returns" were released, which was recorded at the Chapel Off Chapel in Melbourne. It featured "the best of" material from their 2010 sell-out festival show, also titled "Fear of a Brown Planet Returns," as well as content from their debut shows. In September 2011, Rahman began working on a new solo comedy show. In December 2011 and December 2012, they performed stand-up on ABC2.
In April 2012, Hussain and Rahman performed at a second Melbourne International Comedy Festival show. In September 2012, they toured the UK, performing in cities including Manchester, Bradford, London, Birmingham, and Cardiff.
In April 2013, he performed his debut solo show, "The Truth Hurts," at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
In 2013, Rahman and Hussain performed in Darwin, Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. In October 2013, they performed at the Sydney Opera House.
From 10–21 June 2014, he performed "The Truth Hurts" at the Soho Theatre in London.
Rahman is a regular performer at "Asylum Seeker Stand-up," a monthly evening of stand-up comedy in Melbourne.
Comedy Style
Rahman and Hussain perform individually, before handing over to their comedy partner. Rahman's comedy has been described as wry and subversive.
Television and Radio Career
Rahman has written for and performed on television. Rahman worked on the program "Cafe Salam" on Channel 31. He has made regular appearances on ABC National Radio and Triple J, the Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala on Channel Ten, "You Have Been Watching The Comedy Channel," ABC1's "The Tractor Monkeys," and wrote for the first season of "Balls of Steel Australia." and is currently developing projects for television.
In 2011, the documentary Australian Story broadcast on ABC a documentary on Rahman and Hussain's lives in Australia as well as their debut performances in Edinburgh and London.
In 2017, he featured in an ABC and Chemical Media film called "You See Monsters" about Australian Muslim artists who confront Islamophobia through art, satire, and irreverence.
Other Pursuits
Rahman also works part-time as a youth worker for the Islamic Council of Victoria and as a graphic designer.
In November 2010, Rahman appeared in an advertisement for Oxfam Australia.
Awards
In 2008, Rahman and Hussain won the Melbourne International Comedy Festival's Best Newcomer Award for their debut show, "Fear of a Brown Planet."
Personal Life
Rahman is a Muslim. He moved out of his family's house in October 2011. He currently lives in Glen Waverley, Victoria. On 9 November 2012, Rahman married Kay Ali.
Since its inception in 2009, Rahman has been involved with RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees – Australia's only refugee-led and refugee-governed organisation. He has been an active visitor to RISE members in detention and is a vocal supporter of migrant workers' rights. He has designed artwork for RISE Music & Arts portfolio. He has also participated in RISE youth development projects, including the RISE Music and Arts Festival (2010 & 2011) and RISE's Cypher Hip Hop Project (2011). He continues to be involved in activism, particularly around refugees and immigration in Australia.
