The Funjabis are back in the North West this month with a one off show in Oldham.

The only live Asian comedy group in the UK, their "fun-nomenal" success has propelled them across the country with sketches, "Singh-songs" and visual gags.

Since the launch of their live shows in November 1997, Funjabi performances have included theatre, TV, radio and festivals such as the Leicester Comedy Festival, The BBC Mega Mela and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

They are also the only practising Sikhs also "practising comedy" in the UK and were finalists of the "Hackney Empire New Acts Awards 2000" and "Gimme The Mic 1999" stand-up competitions.

Sody Singh Kahlon fronts the Funjabis alongside Shelley Chopra, Tony Singh and David Capstick.

Speaking to Asian Image, Sody Singh Kahlon said, "It's the first time we've done Oldham and I think it should go down well. Sometimes I think audiences in the north are slightly shy especially with some of the naughty jokes."

The group then head to Hong Kong of all places in March.

"We are getting a lot of interest from other countries now. We performed in Sweden recently and the reaction was amazing. They understood a lot of the Asian jokes and it was the same in Holland and New York.

"When we do other countries we tend to throw in jokes with a local reference. In Sweden we had to learn a bit of Swedish and it all adds to the fun."

"We'd like to do India but we can't find any reliable promoters!"

Newcomers to the show are sure to be surprised with the range of characters like Auntie Bumaree, the hypochodriac auntie and the desi drunks.

"The characters tend to come to us because they are everywhere in life. The show is based a character called Chalie Funjabi and his family...like drunken uncles. I also had a childhood dream to become a super-hero...so we created one...'Pindoo Man'"

"Fortunately we've not had any complaints and we tend to make every show different.

Sody feels by using comedy they can help get the message across to people from different backgrounds that they can all enjoy a laugh and joke together.

"A lot of non-asians come to the performances and that's thanks to shows like Goodness Gracious Me and films like Bend it Like Beckham. We don't go out to make a social comment and just want everyone to have some fun. It's good to show everyone that Asian people do have a great sense of humour.

"For instance in one of the shows being planned "Loving a Sona Gora' we have story about a tight-fisted father who doesn't want to pay for his daughters arranged marriage so tells her to go find herself a prospective husband. She brings home a non-Asian!"

In Oldham "This Is Your Life, Mr Funjabi" takes you on a journey through the weird and wonderful life of Charlie Funjabi. A messed up kid caught between two cultures - curry and lager. And as the Funjabis themselves say, find out if curry satisfy his hunger for inner peace? Or will the lager drown his identity?

The Funjabis in "THIS IS YOUR LIFE MR FUNJABI' can be seen at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre on Friday February 28th. Show starts at 7.30pm and tickets are priced at £8. BOX OFFICE: 0161 624 2829.