Asian Provocateur

{{short description|British television series}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox television | image = | image_upright = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | alt_name = | genre = [[Travel documentary]], [[comedy]] | creator = | based_on = | developer = | writer = | screenplay = | story = | director = | creative_director = | starring = [[Romesh Ranganathan]] | narrator = | theme_music_composer = | open_theme = | end_theme = | composer = | country = United Kingdom | language = English | num_series = 2 | num_episodes = 12 | list_episodes = | executive_producer = | producer = | location = {{Plainlist| * [[Canada]] * [[Mexico]] * [[Sri Lanka]] * [[United Kingdom]] * [[United States]] }} | cinematography = | editor =  | camera =  | runtime =  | company =  | budget = | network = [[BBC Three]] | first_aired = {{Start date|2015|09|30|df=y}} | last_aired = {{End date|2016|11|16|df=y}} | related = }}

'''''Asian Provocateur''''' is a [[Television in the United Kingdom|British]] comedy travel documentary television series shown on the [[BBC]]. In 2015, comedian [[Romesh Ranganathan]] reluctantly travels to [[Sri Lanka]] after his mother, Shanthi, tells him that he is a "[[List of ethnic slurs#C|coconut]]"{{efn|A brown person of South Asian descent that is perceived as fully assimilated into Western culture. May be offensive or used for comedic effect. See [[List of ethnic slurs#C|list of ethnic slurs]].}} and that he should meet his relatives who live there and learn about his parents' country—including its culture, religion, and language.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hale |first1=Mike |title=Review: In 'Asian Provocateur,' There's No Place as Scary as Home |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/23/arts/television/review-asian-provocateur-sundancenow.html |work=The New York Times |date=2017-08-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bains |first1=Raj |title=Asian Provocateur: Romesh Ranganathan avoids travel TV cliches in his Sri Lankan journey |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2015/oct/21/asian-provocateur-romesh-ranganathan-travel-tv-sri-lanka |work=the Guardian |date=2015-10-21 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2016, a second series, ''Mum's American Dream'', was broadcast on BBC one.<ref>[https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a785277/romesh-ranganathan-lands-another-series-of-asian-provocateur/ Romesh Ranganathan lands another series of Asian Provocateur]</ref>

== Series 1 (2015) == === Episode 1: Uncle Thiru === *Air date 30 September Romesh is sent to receive a traditional blessing in [[Kegalle]], which involves a chicken being rubbed on his head in a ceremony which is [[black magic]] rather than [[Hindu]]. Romesh meets a distant relative, Thiru, who wants Romesh to invest in his business making paper out of elephant dung. Romesh performs [[rap]] in [[Colombo]] with local group MBZ, and is badly received by the group, who insult him.

=== Episode 2: Uncle Ragu === *Air date 7 October Romesh visits his Uncle Ragu, in [[Batticaloa]], and go to a village where many of their relatives live. They travel to [[Kataragama]] to attend a religious festival.

=== Episode 3: Uncle Rubaharan === *Air date 14 October Romesh meets Shanthi's cousin Rubaharan. He introduces Romesh to the ancient martial art of [[angapora]]; Romesh loses a fight against a 14-year-old boy. Romesh has an [[Ayurvedic]] [[enema]]. He then visits a house which his mother owns and rents out to a religious sect. The tenants encourage him to carry out repairs on the house. He collects honey with [[Vedda]]s.

=== Episode 4: Cousin Krishna === *Air date 21 October Romesh meets his 12 year old cousin, Krishna, who is more intelligent, honest and mature than him. They teach at a school, work at a hotel and perform a [[Kandyan dance]]. Romesh drives an [[auto rickshaw]].

=== Episode 5: King Kong === *Air date 28 October Romesh is tasked with fulfilling a lifelong dream of his mother by performing in a Tamil [[soap opera]]. He does not manage to be hired to act, so he makes a film himself with Ragu, having hired the cast (including [[King Kong (actor)|King Kong]]) themselves.

=== Episode 6: Shanthi's Return === *Air date 4 November Shanthi heads out to Sri Lanka so see what Romesh has learnt and becomes furious when she realises he has been lying a lot. They go to his aunt's [[matchmaking]] service and try to find a date for an actor whom the agency have been unable to find a date for. They appear in a [[music video]] with MBZ.

== Series 2 (2016) == === Episode 1: Cousin Pratheep === *Air date 12 October Romesh and Shanthi meet cousin Pratheep in [[Tampa]], [[Florida]]. He fails in his attempt to put her into a retirement community for the week, before letting her share his hotel room. Romesh competes in an [[eating contest]], before quitting. He joins a group of locals who are into [[monster truck]]s and firing guns. He then takes part in a frat party initiation, before joining a [[gospel choir]].

=== Episode 2: The Family Reunion === *Air date 19 October Romesh and Shanthi go to [[Toronto]], Canada for a family reunion. He and his seven-year-old cousin Shaun perform [[breakdancing]] at Shaun's primary school. Romesh invites Ragu, who arranges for him to be interviewed by online TV station, [[Naked News]]. They go a survival trip, in which Ragu surprises Romesh by having him [[kidnap]]ped. Romesh takes Shanthi to a [[glacier]] to see the [[Aurora|Northern Lights]], despite the fact that he knows there is no chance of seeing them due to cloud cover.

=== Episode 3: Brother Dinesh === *Air date 26 October Romesh and Shanthi tour the [[Deep South]] with Romesh's younger brother, Dinesh and their uncle Guru. The brothers [[wrestling|wrestle]] in [[New Orleans]] and travel in an [[RV]] to [[Mississippi]], where Dinesh fishes for [[catfish]]. Romesh joins a group of male [[cheerleader]]s in [[Alabama]]. Dinesh does a [[sky dive]].

=== Episode 4: Cousin Krishna Returns === *Air date 2 November Romesh hangs out with his cousin Krishna at a cowboy ranch in [[Colorado]], where Romesh does badly. Romesh helps administer medical treatment to an [[alligator]]. They meet a vigilante who patrols a park alone in a [[superhero]] costume. They go a bowling alley where with Romesh's encouragement, Krishna approaches and talks to a girl. Krishna's mother Saroja disapproves, thinking it inappropriate.

=== Episode 5: Uncle Ragu Returns === *Air date 9 November Romesh tours Mexico with his uncle Ragu. They take part in a simulated illegal Mexico-US border crossing. They go to a 1980s-themed [[nightclub]] in [[Mexico City]]. They go to a [[shaman]] for a blessing ceremony.

=== Episode 6: The De Silva Cousins === *Air date 16 November In their final week, Romesh and Shanthi visit the De Silva cousins. Romesh is disappointed when a trip in a [[lowrider]] turns into Shanthi's shopping trip. Romesh and Shanthi become [[private detective]]s and meet a [[drug dealer]]; Romesh is disappointed when he finds out afterwards that it was faked and that Shanthi was aware of that all along. Romesh and Shanthi go to [[San Diego Comic-Con]]. Romesh and Shanthi star in a [[trailer (promotion)|trailer]] for a non-existent [[superhero film]].

== See also == *''[[The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan]]''

== Notes == {{Notelist}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *{{BBC programme}} *{{IMDb title|5060048}}

[[Category:2015 British television series debuts]] [[Category:2016 British television series endings]] [[Category:2010s British comedy television series]] [[Category:2010s British travel television series]] [[Category:BBC television comedy]] [[Category:BBC travel television series]] [[Category:English-language British television shows]] [[Category:Television series about families]] [[Category:Television shows set in Canada]] [[Category:Television shows set in Mexico]] [[Category:Television shows set in Sri Lanka]] [[Category:Television shows set in Sussex]] [[Category:Television shows set in the United States]]