2005_01_01_archive

Kerala Mix-II

Series-II

This is the second in the series on growing social obsessions in

Kerala. Gold and Alcohol are the late entrants into the mallu psyche.

If all others are vices of materialistic nature, there is one virtue

easily to a malayalee. How and why? read on

Comedy: Mallu comedy actors take a bow!. Over 50% of malayalam movie

actors are comedians.

This blog is going to make the Innocents [a funny name for a naughty

comedian], Jayarams [one time mimicry artist turned super star],

Dilip, and Lals [again a mimic turned director] proud. Every malayalee

loves a hearty laugh, whether it comes from the slapstick comic movie

scenes, or double entendre "skits" and "mimics parades". Make no

mistake; mallu's are very particular about good comedy. Ask the all

time favorite comedian of Malayalam cinema "Jagathi Sreekumar"[ His

actual name is Sreekumar, Jagathi is the name of his home town, mallus

have a special affection for place names, but all that in a later

blog]. If you say this is common to all Indian cinemas, Kerala comedy

has more to offer. Keralites love mimicking any TDH, including

themselves. Mimicry artists have a special penchant to mock actors and

politicians. Some superstar actors and politicians admit that some

artists who mimic their mannerisms are better than themselves. A

"mimics parade" [there is no march past, this parade is just a two

hour program when various artists parade before the audience

showcasing their vocal magic and funny histrionics] is a hit be it in

birthday parties to Gulf entertainment shows. There was even a call to

ban mimicing leaders and personalities which never found any takers in

Kerala [Gulf Today, January 14 2004]. Some "mimics videos" [of

Kalabhavan, Cochin variety] will find place with many a blockbuster

Malayalam movie. The Malayalam film industry owes a lot to this comedy

factory, though of late mimicry is loosing the spontaneity and

situational comedy, made a cult classic by Jayaram, Late Sainudeen,

and Harisri Asokan. Probe further, you will find numerous television

shows that rake in TRP ratings by just showing a collage of comedy

scenes from malaylam movies [Asianet Cinemala, Comedy time, Jagapoga].

These shows have TRP ratings at par with the weepy feminine soaps.

Now, to beat the TV soaps loaded with sentiments is no mean

achievement and that shows how popular humor is in mallu land. If you

think director Priyadarsan is a genius, you are wrong. He was one.