• Home
  Samson Koletkar AKA Mahatma Moses World's Only Indian Jewish Stand-Up Comedian

Mahatma Moses

​World's Only Indian Jewish Stand-Up Comedian.

​Cerebral. Witty. 
Clean.
"10 Best Indian-Origin Comedians of the Last Decade"
- BookMyShow.com
"10 Indian Comedians Who Found Success in the U.S."
- Silicon India
​"The show was stolen by an Indian-Jewish comedian"
- Omar Schubert, Haaretz
"Samson Koletkar is a find"
- Steven Alan Green, Jewish Journal

Upcoming shows


Picture
Catch me at one of my weekly shows in downtown Oakland, where I bring together some of the best comedians from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. There are no drink minimums, and free street parking is available around the venue. Comedy Oakland is a 6-time winner of "Best Comedy Night" (2016-2022) in East Bay Express Reader's Poll. Founded in May 2009, Comedy Oakland has featured in SF Chronicle (India-born stand-up builds comedy utopia in Oakland), ABC7, KPFA 94.1FM, SF Examiner & East Bay Express. Come and experience live standup comedy at its finest!
Click here for show details & tickets

About

Samson Koletkar (aka Mahatma Moses) was born in Mumbai and raised Jewish. Growing up in the world's most crowded city, he spent most of his childhood years burning the midnight candles for earning a Masters Degree in Computer Software, thereby fulfilling his parent's dreams. He then moved half-way across the world, to the technology headquarters and a hotbed for emerging comics - San Francisco. 

In his very first year he finished a Finalist in Rooster T Feathers Amateur Comedy Competition. He has won the International Society of Humor Studies Comedy Competition and the Asian American Theater Company Comedy Competition, and was a Semi-Finalist in 36th Annual Seattle International Comedy Competition. He has toured all over USA, Canada & India with Mahatma Moses Comedy Tour, Desi Comedy Fest, Pundits With Punchlines, Funatical Comedy Tour, Sultans of Satire, & You're Funny But You Don't Look Jewish Tour.

He is the founder of Comedy Oakland, voted "Best Place for Comedy" in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, & 2022 East Bay Express Reader's Poll. SF Chronicle published a cover article on him ​"India-born stand-up builds comedy utopia in Oakland".  With 250+ shows featuring 500+ comedians entertaining 13,000+ audiences for 400+ hours every year, Comedy Oakland is a live stand-up comedy experience you don't want to miss!

He is the Co-Founder & the brains behind Desi Comedy Fest - the biggest South Asian Comedy Festival in America. The SF Bay Area based Fest has showcased 100+ comedians from 6 continents and has entertained 10,000+ audiences. The Fest has also run a 20-show tour of India, and satellite events in Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland, Seattle & New Jersey.

Featured On

CBS 5 KPIX Logo
NPR Logo
NBC Bay Area Logo
KGO 810 Logo
India West Logo
The Times of India Logo
jWeekly Logo
Bolly 92.3FM Logo

Videos

Image Gallery

Mahatma Moses on a Billboard in Memphis Tennessee
Mahatma Moses performing at Crushers of Comedy Show in Santa Rosa California
Mahatma Moses Performance Ariel View at James Logan Performing Arts Center  in Fremont California
Mahatma Moses Performance Side View at Rhythmix Cultural Works in Alameda California
Mahatma Moses Performance Long Shot at Bankhead Theater in Livermore California
Mahatma Moses Hosting A Desi Comedy Fest Show in Seattle Washington
Spotlight on Mahatma Moses at Firehouse Arts Center in Pleasanton California
Mahatma Moses Performing at Weirdass Pajama Fest at Taj Lands End in Mumbai
Mahatma Moses Performance Through A Camera Lens
Mahatma Moses Performance at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley California
Mahatma Moses Performing At Comedy Oakland in Oakland California
Mahatma Moses Performing At Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley California

Headshots

Credit: Mohita Bhatnagar

​(Right click on headshot to download low res image for online use. Click the "Download Hi-Res" link below the headshot for print.)
Mahatma Moses Headshot Red
Download Hi-Res
Mahatma Moses Headshot Blue
Download Hi-Res

Bookings & Inquiries

Looking to hire Samson for your event. Send a message below and you might just get a funny response.

​Here are some past clients: Amazon, Cisco, Contemporary Jewish Museum, Engineers Without Borders, Hewlett Packard, IIT, ImmigrationVoice, Intel, MuslimFest Toronto, Pratham USA, Shankara Eye Foundation, Singapore Airlines, TieCon, Twin Cities Jewish Humor Festival, Wells Fargo.
Mahatma Moses Logo
  • Home