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Straits Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Singaporean stand-up comic Deepak Chandran finds success on Netflix
SINGAPORE – Deepak Chandran never dreamed he would become a stand-up comedian, let alone have his comedy show Deepak Chandran: Technically Funny streamed on Netflix Singapore. The 65-minute stand-up show, released on April 18, earned the 10th spot on Netflix's Top 10 Shows In Singapore list a week after its premiere . Deepak Chandran: Technically Funny was recorded from the 40-year-old comedian's sell-out show at KC Arts Centre in River Valley on June 28 and 29, 2024 . The show celebrated everyday life in Singapore, from the quirks of taxi uncles to the pride Singaporeans take in Changi Airport, offering a heartfelt and humorous take on local culture. 'I feel very grateful to have my show picked up by Netflix,' Chandran tells The Straits Times. 'How many people will have the opportunity I had?' He is the second Singaporean comedian with a show on Netflix. Home-grown comedian Fakkah Fuzz, whose real name is Muhammad Fadzri Abdul Rashid, had his stand-up comedy special Almost Banned listed on Netflix in 2018. Fuzz's second comedy special, Too Real, was released on the streaming platform in 2023. Getting Technically Funny on Netflix was a shot in the dark. A producer acquaintance helped pitch Chandran's show to Netflix Singapore. 'I was surprised they picked it up immediately,' he says. He credits his growing presence on social media, which helped create awareness of his comedy. Chandran regularly posts clips of his comedy routines for his more than 300,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram combined. He will be taking the stage at Drama Centre Theatre on June 26 with Time Traveller. The 75-minute show will feature him sharing his experiences of living and travelling in different countries. From lonely guy to funnyman For India-born Chandran, who has always been the 'tech guy', becoming a stand-up comic was never part of his career plan. Armed with a master's in computer science from India's Sikkim Manipal University, he worked as a software consultant, and travelled for work to countries such as Sweden, Australia and Germany. He arrived in Singapore in 2013 to work as a consultant at an American technology company. Being new to the country , he initially spent his days at a Starbucks cafe in Clarke Quay, watching movies and feeling directionless. 'I used to sit there watching movies on my phone. I was lonely, and I didn't know what to do with life,' he says. During that period, he discovered comedy clubs, such as The Lemon Stand Comedy Club, East Coast Comedy and Comedy Masala, initially attending as a spectator. Loneliness drove him to reach for the microphone, but his first attempts at comedy in 2016 were brutal. 'I did one open-mic session at Talk Cock Comedy at Blujaz . I failed horribly at it. I went home and cried,' he admits. None of his jokes landed and the audience was unresponsive. He gradually found his comedic voice a year later at an open-mic session at Comedy Masala, when he finally received genuine laughter. He thought: 'This is not too bad.' Being a stand-up comedian is hard work and one needs a lot of perseverance to come up with new jokes, he says, adding that he could not have done it without the support of his Singaporean wife of eight years. They have no children. 'Imagine sacrificing every Friday and Saturday all these years,' says Chandran. He has been a regular headliner since 2022 at The Lemon Stand in Queen Street, the largest full-time comedy club in Asia. He performs twice a week each month. He says his 35-year-old wife, who is in financial compliance, is shy and does not like being in the spotlight, and attends his shows discreetly. But she is a sounding board for his routines and offers feedback. Good, clean fun 'I used to do political jokes, but I quickly realised it's not my style,' he says, adding that racial jokes and swearing are off-limits for him. Technically Funny received a PG13 rating on Netflix. Chandran, who became a Singapore citizen in 2022, describes his comedy style as good, clean fun with self-deprecating, relatable jokes that draw from his middle-class everyday experiences like work, relationships, travel and personal observations. He cites American comedians Louis C.K., Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld as inspirations, adding that Seinfeld's philosophy of being 'funny without having to say anything' influences his comedic approach. Over the years, the techie by day and comic by night has headlined at several comedy clubs in Asia, such as the TakeOut Comedy Club in Hong Kong. He was also a runner-up at the Bangkok Comedy Festival and a finalist at the Hong Kong Comedy Competition, both in 2017. He does not get paid at open-mic sessions at comedy clubs, calling them 'testing grounds for jokes'. Money from comedy comes from sales of ticketed shows such as Some Technical Jokes at The Projector in 2023, or when he is invited to perform at overseas comedy festivals. Making his mark in the comedy world has not been easy. Creating a good joke is a trial-and-error process, and not every idea becomes a successful comedy bit. It can take about six months to develop a good five -minute set, and developing a 30-minute headline set is equivalent to 'climbing Mount Everest'. 'Making people laugh is so difficult,' says Chandran, adding that comedy is a brutal industry. Having his show on Netflix was great validation. His next goal is a solo show at the Esplanade Concert Hall in 2026. He says: 'I'm very happy and grateful to be where I am now. You can't get to this place without having gone through many mistakes and troubles.' Book It/Deepak Chandran: Time Traveller Where: Drama Centre Theatre, 03-01 National Library, 100 Victoria Street When: June 26, 8pm Admission: $50 Info: Deepak Chandran: Technically Funny is showing on Netflix. Joanne Soh is a lifestyle correspondent at The Straits Times, with a special interest in entertainment and pop culture. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Al Bawaba
14-04-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Emirates NBD becomes the first bank in the UAE to launch Visa+ Simplifying International Money Transfers
Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT) region, has partnered with Visa, a global leader in digital payments, to become the first bank in the UAE to launch Visa+ (Visa Direct Alias Directory) for its customers. This innovative service offers Emirates NBD's customers a more convenient, secure and faster way to send money to Visa cardholders within the GCC, reshaping the remittance and money transfer landscape in the UAE. With Visa+, Emirates NBD customers can transfer funds easily to Visa cardholders in other GCC countries using an alias – either their mobile number or their 16-digit debit card number – eliminating the need to input the account or beneficiary bank details. According to Visa's annual Money Travels: 2024 Digital Remittances Adoption study, 50% of remittance users surveyed in the UAE reported encountering hidden fees when sending cash, checks, or money orders. Visa+ also addresses this pain point by offering a more transparent and cost-effective solution. The initial phase of the partnership will focus on enabling seamless cross border transfers from customers of Emirates NBD in the UAE, QIB in Qatar, and from Bahrain Islamic Bank and Khaleeji Bank customers (through BenefitPay) in Bahrain. This strategic move marks the first step in building a broader ecosystem that will soon connect multiple banks across GCC markets, and eventually in Pakistan and EU countries, facilitating cross-border remittances for more senders and receivers globally. The partnership comes as digital methods are rising in popularity among remittance senders in the UAE. In line with this trend, Visa+ is designed to meet the growing demand for digital remittances, with more than half (56%) of UAE users surveyed by Visa's Money Travels study indicating that they expect to use digital money transfers more often in the future. The study also revealed that 73% of remittance users in the UAE plan to send more money abroad, presenting a strong opportunity for digital remittances. Deepak Chandran, Group Head of Retail Products at Emirates NBD, commented: 'As a leading local bank committed to innovation and shaping the future of the UAE's digital economy, Emirates NBD is proud to strengthen our longstanding partnership with Visa. We are excited to be at the forefront of bringing Visa+ to the UAE, offering our customers a seamless and secure way to send money across the GCC. This launch reaffirms our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance convenience, security, and flexibility for our customers. By continuously evolving our offerings, we reinforce our leadership position in the UAE banking sector and set new benchmarks in digital payments.' "At Visa, we are committed to enhancing the remittance experience for senders in the UAE. The launch of Visa+ with Emirates NBD will transform the way people send money and help reshape the entire remittance landscape in the region. This innovative service benefits not only the senders, but also the families, communities, and economies worldwide that rely on these vital funds," said Salima Gutieva, Visa's VP and Country Manager for UAE. For financial institutions, enabling Visa+ can help create a better money movement experience—and improve protection of privacy—for both the sender and the receiver for a variety of use cases, including P2P (peer-to-peer payments), loan disbursements, and cross border remittances. Visa+ offers Visa's financial institution partners capabilities to expand their reach by connecting to an ever-evolving ecosystem of secure networks for an improved money movement experience for both financial institutions and their customers.
Zawya
14-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Emirates NBD becomes the first bank in the UAE to launch Visa+ Simplifying International Money Transfers
Emirates NBD first bank in the UAE to launch Visa+ (Visa Direct Alias Directory) for its customers Visa study: 73% of expats in UAE plan to send more money abroad, presenting a strong opportunity for digital remittances Dubai, UAE: Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT) region, has partnered with Visa, a global leader in digital payments, to become the first bank in the UAE to launch Visa+ (Visa Direct Alias Directory) for its customers. This innovative service offers Emirates NBD's customers a more convenient, secure and faster way to send money to Visa cardholders within the GCC, reshaping the remittance and money transfer landscape in the UAE. With Visa+, Emirates NBD customers can transfer funds easily to Visa cardholders in other GCC countries using an alias – either their mobile number or their 16-digit debit card number – eliminating the need to input the account or beneficiary bank details. According to Visa's annual Money Travels: 2024 Digital Remittances Adoption study, 50% of remittance users surveyed in the UAE reported encountering hidden fees when sending cash, checks, or money orders. Visa+ also addresses this pain point by offering a more transparent and cost-effective solution. The initial phase of the partnership will focus on enabling seamless cross border transfers from customers of Emirates NBD in the UAE, QIB in Qatar, and from Bahrain Islamic Bank and Khaleeji Bank customers (through BenefitPay) in Bahrain. This strategic move marks the first step in building a broader ecosystem that will soon connect multiple banks across GCC markets, and eventually in Pakistan and EU countries, facilitating cross-border remittances for more senders and receivers globally. The partnership comes as digital methods are rising in popularity among remittance senders in the UAE. In line with this trend, Visa+ is designed to meet the growing demand for digital remittances, with more than half (56%) of UAE users surveyed by Visa's Money Travels study indicating that they expect to use digital money transfers more often in the future. The study also revealed that 73% of remittance users in the UAE plan to send more money abroad, presenting a strong opportunity for digital remittances. Deepak Chandran, Group Head of Retail Products at Emirates NBD, commented: 'As a leading local bank committed to innovation and shaping the future of the UAE's digital economy, Emirates NBD is proud to strengthen our longstanding partnership with Visa. We are excited to be at the forefront of bringing Visa+ to the UAE, offering our customers a seamless and secure way to send money across the GCC. This launch reaffirms our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance convenience, security, and flexibility for our customers. By continuously evolving our offerings, we reinforce our leadership position in the UAE banking sector and set new benchmarks in digital payments.' "At Visa, we are committed to enhancing the remittance experience for senders in the UAE. The launch of Visa+ with Emirates NBD will transform the way people send money and help reshape the entire remittance landscape in the region. This innovative service benefits not only the senders, but also the families, communities, and economies worldwide that rely on these vital funds," said Salima Gutieva, Visa's VP and Country Manager for UAE. For financial institutions, enabling Visa+ can help create a better money movement experience—and improve protection of privacy—for both the sender and the receiver for a variety of use cases, including P2P (peer-to-peer payments), loan disbursements, and cross border remittances. Visa+ offers Visa's financial institution partners capabilities to expand their reach by connecting to an ever-evolving ecosystem of secure networks for an improved money movement experience for both financial institutions and their customers. About Visa Inc. Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at About Emirates NBD Emirates NBD (DFM: Emirates NBD) is a leading banking group in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye) region with a presence in 13 countries, serving over 9 million active customers. As at 31st December 2024, total assets were AED 997 billion, (equivalent to approx. USD 271 billion). The Group has operations in the UAE, Egypt, India, Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Russia and Bahrain and representative offices in China and Indonesia with a total of 848 branches and 4,601 ATMs / SDMs. Emirates NBD is the leading financial services brand in the UAE with a Brand value of USD 3.87 billion. Emirates NBD Group serves its customers (individuals, businesses, governments, and institutions) and helps them realise their financial objectives through a range of banking products and services including retail banking, corporate and institutional banking, Islamic banking, investment banking, private banking, asset management, global markets and treasury, and brokerage operations. The Group is a key participant in the global digital banking industry with 97% of all financial transactions and requests conducted outside of its branches. The Group also operates Liv, the lifestyle digital bank by Emirates NBD, with close to half a million users, it continues to be the fastest-growing bank in the region. Emirates NBD contributes to the construction of a sustainable future as an active participant and supporter of the UAE's main development and sustainability initiatives, including financial wellness and the inclusion of people of determination. Emirates NBD is committed to supporting the UAE's Year of Sustainability as Principal Banking Partner of COP28 and an early supporter to the Dubai Can sustainability initiative, a city-wide initiative aimed to reduce use of single-use plastic bottled water. For further information on Emirates NBD, please contact: Ibrahim Sowaidan Senior Vice President Head - Group Corporate Affairs Emirates NBD e-mail: ibrahims@ Burson Dubai, UAE Email: emiratesnbd@
Web Release
06-03-2025
- Business
- Web Release
Emirates NBD and Visa partner to launch Visa Commercial Pay – Mobile in the UAE
Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT) region, is set to be the first bank in the UAE to introduce the Visa Commercial Pay-Mobile Module for its SME and Corporate clients, in collaboration with Visa. This initiative aligns with the UAE Government's vision of digitalising payments while at the same time providing a distinctive and unique proposition to Emirates NBD's clients to enhance payment efficiencies enabling security, automation and reconciliation through tokenized credentials. Visa Commercial Pay Mobile is tailored for Corporates and SMEs providing an easy and secure way to manage expenses and enables employees to make payments using Visa virtual cards on their mobile devices through digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay. The solution extends the current Virtual Card capability of deploying tokenized virtual credentials providing enhanced security, real-time controls and expense management to the digital wallets, enabling the use of Virtual Cards to make POS machine (card present) payments. Commenting on this partnership, Deepak Chandran, Group Head of Retail Products at Emirates NBD, said: 'We are proud to partner with Visa to launch the Visa Commercial Pay–Mobile solution, extending our suite of innovative payment solutions for our SME and Corporate clients. This collaboration underscores our continued commitment to empower businesses with cutting-edge financial tools. We are confident that our new value proposition will provide our customers with increased flexibility and control for their online and offline corporate payments.' Salima Gutieva, Visa's Vice President and UAE Country Manager, added: 'Our partnership with Emirates NBD reflects our commitment to fostering innovation in the payments and financial sector. The introduction of Visa Commercial Pay-Mobile with Emirates NBD – a first in the UAE, offers businesses a more efficient and secure way to manage their payments and expenses. As we progress, we remain dedicated to working closely with Emirates NBD to further tailor our solutions to support the digital transformation of local businesses and growing needs of the UAE's digital economy.' With the current challenges automation and digitisation for B2B Payments, Emirates NBD and Visa's virtual card capabilities are aimed at revolutionising payments on card rails. These capabilities drive working capital benefits and tokenized solutions through secure channels. Additionally, they provide key insights for real-time decision making, business planning, and enable mobile payments.
Mid East Info
05-03-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Emirates NBD and Visa partner to launch Visa Commercial Pay – Mobile in the UAE - Middle East Business News and Information
Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT) region, is set to be the first bank in the UAE to introduce the Visa Commercial Pay-Mobile Module for its SME and Corporate clients, in collaboration with Visa. This initiative aligns with the UAE Government's vision of digitalising payments while at the same time providing a distinctive and unique proposition to Emirates NBD's clients to enhance payment efficiencies enabling security, automation and reconciliation through tokenized credentials. Visa Commercial Pay Mobile is tailored for Corporates and SMEs providing an easy and secure way to manage expenses and enables employees to make payments using Visa virtual cards on their mobile devices through digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay. The solution extends the current Virtual Card capability of deploying tokenized virtual credentials providing enhanced security, real-time controls and expense management to the digital wallets, enabling the use of Virtual Cards to make POS machine (card present) payments. Commenting on this partnership, Deepak Chandran, Group Head of Retail Products at Emirates NBD, said: 'We are proud to partner with Visa to launch the Visa Commercial Pay–Mobile solution, extending our suite of innovative payment solutions for our SME and Corporate clients. This collaboration underscores our continued commitment to empower businesses with cutting-edge financial tools. We are confident that our new value proposition will provide our customers with increased flexibility and control for their online and offline corporate payments.' Salima Gutieva, Visa's Vice President and UAE Country Manager, added: 'Our partnership with Emirates NBD reflects our commitment to fostering innovation in the payments and financial sector. The introduction of Visa Commercial Pay-Mobile with Emirates NBD – a first in the UAE, offers businesses a more efficient and secure way to manage their payments and expenses. As we progress, we remain dedicated to working closely with Emirates NBD to further tailor our solutions to support the digital transformation of local businesses and growing needs of the UAE's digital economy.' With the current challenges automation and digitisation for B2B Payments, Emirates NBD and Visa's virtual card capabilities are aimed at revolutionising payments on card rails. These capabilities drive working capital benefits and tokenized solutions through secure channels. Additionally, they provide key insights for real-time decision making, business planning, and enable mobile payments. About Emirates NBD: Emirates NBD (DFM: Emirates NBD) is a leading banking group in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye) region with a presence in 13 countries, serving over 9 million active customers. As at 31st December 2024, total assets were AED 997 billion, (equivalent to approx. USD 271 billion). The Group has operations in the UAE, Egypt, India, Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Russia and Bahrain and representative offices in China and Indonesia with a total of 848 branches and 4,601 ATMs / SDMs. Emirates NBD is the leading financial services brand in the UAE with a Brand value of USD 3.87 billion. Emirates NBD Group serves its customers (individuals, businesses, governments, and institutions) and helps them realise their financial objectives through a range of banking products and services including retail banking, corporate and institutional banking, Islamic banking, investment banking, private banking, asset management, global markets and treasury, and brokerage operations. The Group is a key participant in the global digital banking industry with 97% of all financial transactions and requests conducted outside of its branches. The Group also operates Liv, the lifestyle digital bank by Emirates NBD, with close to half a million users, it continues to be the fastest-growing bank in the region. Emirates NBD contributes to the construction of a sustainable future as an active participant and supporter of the UAE's main development and sustainability initiatives, including financial wellness and the inclusion of people of determination. Emirates NBD is committed to supporting the UAE's Year of Sustainability as Principal Banking Partner of COP28 and an early supporter to the Dubai Can sustainability initiative, a city-wide initiative aimed to reduce use of single-use plastic bottled water. About Visa: Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at
