Kumarason Chinnadurai (born 10 August 1968, in Singapore), popularly
known as Kumar, is a Singaporean Indian comedian and television host,
actor, and drag queen. He made his name at the Boom Boom Room and was,
for a time, synonymous with the cabaret nightclub as its resident
performer. Having spent nearly two decades as an entertainer, he has
amassed a string of television, stage, and film credits. Currently, he
is a regular performer at Hard Rock Café. He released his
biographical book, Kumar: From Rags To Drag, in September 2011. In his
book, he publicly came out as gay, making him the first entertainer in
Singapore to come out. He is one of the few openly-gay public figures
in Singapore.Kumar was born on 10 August 1968 in a South Indian
Mudaliar family from Madras and a Singaporean mother. His father,
Chinna Dorai, arrived in Singapore in the mid-1960s and worked as a
caretaker for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(SPCA). When Kumar was four, his parents divorced; he was raised by
his mother’s younger sister, Rani Vyarakannoo, a policewoman, who
eventually became his step-mother.Kumar grew up in a terrace house on
Paterson Road with his parents, three siblings â€" three older
sisters, and six dogs. He went to Cairnhill and Selegie Primary
schools and later attended Monk’s Hill Secondary School. As a child,
he aspired to be a classical Bharathanatyam dancer and joined the
Indian Dance Society in his secondary school. After his O levels,
Kumar worked for six months as a cashier at a convenience store before
enlisting for National Service, where he served as a combat signaler
in the army and held the record for one of the fastest times in his
cohort for the completion of the 2.4 km run.In 1987, after serving his
conscription, Kumar had his first exposure to the entertainment
industry at 22 years old as a singing waiter at Cheers! The Fun Pub at
the Novotel Orchid. Two years later, he began a stint as an
entertainer at Haw Par Villa. In 1991, Kumar landed a gig at the now
defunct Laughs Comedy Club in Tanglin Shopping Centre playing the role
of an Indian drag queen. It was then when he realized comedy was his
calling.
known as Kumar, is a Singaporean Indian comedian and television host,
actor, and drag queen. He made his name at the Boom Boom Room and was,
for a time, synonymous with the cabaret nightclub as its resident
performer. Having spent nearly two decades as an entertainer, he has
amassed a string of television, stage, and film credits. Currently, he
is a regular performer at Hard Rock Café. He released his
biographical book, Kumar: From Rags To Drag, in September 2011. In his
book, he publicly came out as gay, making him the first entertainer in
Singapore to come out. He is one of the few openly-gay public figures
in Singapore.Kumar was born on 10 August 1968 in a South Indian
Mudaliar family from Madras and a Singaporean mother. His father,
Chinna Dorai, arrived in Singapore in the mid-1960s and worked as a
caretaker for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(SPCA). When Kumar was four, his parents divorced; he was raised by
his mother’s younger sister, Rani Vyarakannoo, a policewoman, who
eventually became his step-mother.Kumar grew up in a terrace house on
Paterson Road with his parents, three siblings â€" three older
sisters, and six dogs. He went to Cairnhill and Selegie Primary
schools and later attended Monk’s Hill Secondary School. As a child,
he aspired to be a classical Bharathanatyam dancer and joined the
Indian Dance Society in his secondary school. After his O levels,
Kumar worked for six months as a cashier at a convenience store before
enlisting for National Service, where he served as a combat signaler
in the army and held the record for one of the fastest times in his
cohort for the completion of the 2.4 km run.In 1987, after serving his
conscription, Kumar had his first exposure to the entertainment
industry at 22 years old as a singing waiter at Cheers! The Fun Pub at
the Novotel Orchid. Two years later, he began a stint as an
entertainer at Haw Par Villa. In 1991, Kumar landed a gig at the now
defunct Laughs Comedy Club in Tanglin Shopping Centre playing the role
of an Indian drag queen. It was then when he realized comedy was his
calling.
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