Almost all of us have tasted the recent humor presented via Osman Khalid Butt’s YouTube videos, in which he’s bowled the Veena Malik issue, the Humsafar craze, and so on. There has been this whole wave of sharing of Osman Khalid’s work. I, too, didn’t know of this talent before these videos, and so thanks to the social media, I got a chance to tap into a hard core Islamabadi talent. Here’s presenting to ye beloved readers the first ever detailed interview of THE Osman Khalid Butt! Woohoo!

Amna: Tell us about yourself (I know the typical Q but anyway)…

Osman: I’m a 25-year-old theatre director and struggling-actor stereotype – have acted in 18 theatrical productions held in the Capital, and have directed 8 – have also acted in two feature films [‘Zibahkhana’ and ‘Slackistan’]; I also work at Kuch Khaas – an Islamabad-based centre for arts and culture as a Publications Manager, freelance for Instep andEncore, The News, and pen poetry and short stories when in a Neil Gaiman/Stephen King funk. So add starving writer to that list.

[Note: For a more detailed breakdown, click here:

https://www.facebook.com/osmankhalidbutt?sk=info]

Amna: So when, where and how did you start?

Osman: I started theatre in 2005, playing the lead, Christian, in Shah Sharahbeel’s ‘Moulin Rouge!’ The moment I stepped onstage in a packed auditorium on our first performance, I knew this was going to be [hopefully] a lifelong thing. Performing.

Amna: tell us about the company/houses that you are associated with.

Osman: Five plays and almost two years later, I decided to form my own company, The Living Picture Productions, and step into theatre direction. Under that banner, I’ve directed, produced, choreographed and acted in four productions, ‘Some Like It Hot’, ‘The Good Doctor’ [both in 2007], ‘Superstar Avatar’ [2008] and ‘Let Me In’ [2010]. I have also directed three plays for Lahore Grammar School, Islamabad, one for the British Council, one for Gosha-e-Mashal, and have performed for the United Nations as part of a now defunct improve troupe called ‘The Lost Cause’ [featuring Danish Ali and Natasha Ejaz]. I have also been part of two extensive theatre workshops, one in Islamabad by the American Voices Association [called ‘Broadway Bridges’] in 2010, and the second at YES Academy whilst representing Pakistan in Bangkok, Thailand. As for video-blogging, I stepped into that completely by accident: the first video, regarding the list of banned words PTA [Pakistan Telecommunication Authority] released, happened partly at some of batshit content on said list, partly me venting because my last name was to be ‘banned’ as well. It was only when I got the encouragement and positive feedback of complete strangers on YouTube when I decided I should continue with this gig.

Amna: What’s your niche, genre and future?

Osman: Regarding my future, I’m strongly leaning towards writing/directing a feature film that’s total paisa vasool. I wouldn’t exactly call comedy a ‘niche’, but I feel it’s my strongest genre – both in writing and acting.

Amna: Why do you refer to your YouTube work as “vlogs” (certain people think they aren’t vlogs since you’re just satirizing a particular issue and not really giving your opinions)?

Osman: The video-blogs are called what they are because, contrary to what certain people might think, I do in fact give my opinion on whatever issue I tackle; people need only see the Veena Malik/Paris Hilton vlog to know that. As an aside note, many bloggers out there do exactly that: give their opinions in the form of satire or parodying a topic/personality. Of course, I’m experimenting with my style of humor, what I can or cannot get away with saying, visual representation etc, but that’s why I chose YouTube as the medium to do that: it gives you the freedom to experiment, to see what is or isn’t working. And neither am I confining myself to the standard format of vlogs – which is why you saw the Humsafar parody/song spoofs in my later videos.

Amna: A lot of people find your work predictable and “over;” “it’s mostly about making fun of celebs/plays/issues/etc,” “just another one of those ridiculing videos there are online,” “we need to stop plaguing the already dumb society with such satires which don’t really contribute to the welfare of people in any way” etc (feel free to add whatever you want, any issue or criticism that you’ve faced.) What do you have to say about that?

Osman: As for people finding my material ‘predictable’ and ‘over’: they are entitled to their opinion. My point is not to ‘contribute to the welfare of people or society’; it is to make people laugh. Period. I read a tweet by a dear friend a little while ago which completely struck home: we as a nation are clinically depressed. If I’m able to make a single person laugh at the crazy shit I produce, I consider my job done. And if I’m irking others with what they consider ‘predictable’, well, that’s what that tiny x at the top-right corner of your browser’s for. It’s just a YouTube video. Stop taking it so seriously. Though I will mention that for every hater out there, there are several times that many people who have appreciated – and laughed out loud at – the work I’ve done.

Amna: Some people think they’re similar to what Zero Talent did a few years back? Is there any sort of association with them or their work?

Osman: No, there is no association to Zero Talent, to Naked Tyrant Productions [though I’m a huge fan of the latter] or any other local YouTube group. I think my work is vastly different from that of Zero Talent. I mean, I couldn’t find any local vloggers when I came out with my first video. I have also been told I am ‘inspired’ or try and copy Shane Dawson or Ray William Johnson. I could deny it all I want but people will believe what they want to believe.

Amna: What inspires you to work on a certain topic, and not on others? And How much of the commercialism element is there in your work?

Osman: As far as the content or inspiration for my vlogs is concerned, I pick up on whatever seems to affect us most; whatever’s ‘trending’, so to speak, on social networking sites or whatever people are talking about at the time. I don’t consciously try and keep my content ‘commercial’; in fact there’s a moment of severe doubt seconds before I’m about to upload my video where I wonder exactly how many people will subscribe to this particular brand of humor; but the formula, as they say, seems to be working for now.

We wish Osman the best of luck for all the work he will be doing. Cheers mate!

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