My Article on Tamil Cinema Comedy Trends (published in ET Madras Plus (dated April 13 2007))
COMIC CAPERS
All for laughs!
Movies are often remembered for their comedians. ET M + traces the evolution and relevance of comedy in Kollywood…
mds prabu Be it the vazhaipazham joke in Karakattakaran, Nagesh’s funny lament in Thiruvilaiyadal or Vivek and Vadivel’s timing in the movies of recent times, comedy has played an indomitable role in Tamil cinema. Laughter as they say is the best medicine; no wonder then that some films make it big at the box office and are remembered solely for their comic scenes! Writer, actor and director K Bhagyaraj says that comedy was an independent element in movies until very recently, "Comedians did not have a major connection with the story or even the hero or heroine. This did not just apply to Tamil films, but also to Indian cinema in other languages. However, that is no more the case. People like K Balachender and I like to weave comedy along with the main storyline." He says that most often, comedians would appear at the meeting place of the hero and heroine, and gradually occupy a significant place in the story. He also feels that a lot of times, the comic element is added only because it provides relief to the audience. Stressing that slapstick comedy will not stay long in the minds of viewers, he opines that situational comedy has greater impact. He remarks, "Parthiban and I have been able to bring comedy to the forefront, because we happen to write the script as well as direct the movie." Bhagyaraj adds "Comedy should also touch the heart and make judicious use of presence of mind." Present day comedy, he says, hasn’t changed much except for the improvements in technology. Says R Parthiban, actor and director, "The audience plays a major role in helping directors decide what comedy elements to use. When we discuss the storyline with four or five assistants, it becomes possible to understand the reaction of the audience and decide if a particular concept will be received well or not.” Veteran comedy actor YG Mahendran says, "The audience expects wholesome fun from comedians, but they manage to get away with any comments they pass." He also feels that comedy trends change once every 10 years, depending on the type and class of the film-going audience. In the present day comedy scenario, he comments that there are several top-class artistes but viewers are mostly subject to ordinary fare. However, film historian Randor Guy is of an entirely different view. "A lot of the humour in the 30s and 40s had social content but today, it is not the case," he points out. He believes that the best days of comedy in Tamil films are over. He says that the quality of humour has diminished because they have accepted vulgar and repetitive jokes. In reply to that, one of the most popular comedians of recent times, A Vivek says, "Making a comedy is a no joke and one has to work hard towards it. We are always under pressure to produce something new in every scene." He believes that in those days, humorists were trained in both body and mind. "However, today, comedians have a mix of situational and verbal comedy," he tells us. What is the one thing that sets today’s comic sense apart from that of the yesteryears? "Timing is one of the main differences between the old days and the present. We have to deliver everything at a very quick pace to grab the viewer’s attention." He says that a script is very important to the success of a comedy and so are other factors like the situation and performance of the artiste. "There is no magic formula for the success of a comedy. It has never been possible to predict the success or failure of a particular comedy scene," he laughs. The bottom line is that the audiences have an important role to play in deciding the success of a comedian or a comic scene, because they have benchmarks and have seen great comedians come and go over the years. He believes that comedies that point at the obvious will not succeed and if people try to play with only body language or wit, it will not serve any purpose. "Comedy should also touch the heart and make judicious use of presence of mind," he comments. Present day comedy, he says, hasn’t changed much except for the improvements in technology. Says R Parthiban, actor and director, "The audience plays a major role in helping directors decide what comedy elements to use. When we discuss the storyline with four or five assistants, it becomes possible to understand the reaction of the audience and decide if a particular concept will be received well or not. However, we make sure that the humour is subtle and does not spoil the other components of the movie." Humour has indeed occupied a significant place - be it old or new movies. Agrees veteran comedy actor YG Mahendran, "The audience expects wholesome fun from comedians, but they manage to get away with any comments they pass." He also feels that comedy trends change once every 10 years, depending on the type and class of the film-going audience. In the present day comedy scenario, he comments that there are several top-class artistes but viewers are mostly subject to ordinary fare. However, film historian Randor Guy is of an entirely different view. He tells us that comedy was a supreme concern during the 1930s and 40s. "A lot of the humour had social content but today, it is not the case," he points out. He believes that the best days of comedy in Tamil films are over. Blaming the taste of audiences, he says that the quality of humour has diminished because they have accepted vulgar and repetitive jokes. In reply to that, one of the most popular comedians of recent times, A Vivek says, "Making a comedy is a no joke and one has to work hard towards it. We are always under pressure to produce something new in every scene." He believes that even with modern technology, we cannot replicate the comedy of legends like Charlie Chaplin, because in those days humorists were trained in both body and mind. "However, today comedians perform because of inspiration, and it turns out to be their style once it succeeds. Present cinemas have a mix of situational and verbal comedy," he tells us. What is the one thing that sets today’s comic sense apart from that of the yesteryears? "Timing is one of the main differences between the old days and the present. We have to deliver everything at a very quick pace to grab the viewer’s attention." He says that a script is very important to the success of a comedy and so are other factors like the situation and performance of the artiste. "There is no magic formula for the success of a comedy. Every time I perform, I keep my fingers crossed because it has never been possible to predict the success or failure of a particular comedy scene," he laughs. The bottom line is that the audiences have an important role to play in deciding the success of a comedian or a comic scene, because they have benchmarks and have seen great comedians come and go over the years.
All for laughs!
Movies are often remembered for their comedians. ET M + traces the evolution and relevance of comedy in Kollywood…
mds prabu Be it the vazhaipazham joke in Karakattakaran, Nagesh’s funny lament in Thiruvilaiyadal or Vivek and Vadivel’s timing in the movies of recent times, comedy has played an indomitable role in Tamil cinema. Laughter as they say is the best medicine; no wonder then that some films make it big at the box office and are remembered solely for their comic scenes! Writer, actor and director K Bhagyaraj says that comedy was an independent element in movies until very recently, "Comedians did not have a major connection with the story or even the hero or heroine. This did not just apply to Tamil films, but also to Indian cinema in other languages. However, that is no more the case. People like K Balachender and I like to weave comedy along with the main storyline." He says that most often, comedians would appear at the meeting place of the hero and heroine, and gradually occupy a significant place in the story. He also feels that a lot of times, the comic element is added only because it provides relief to the audience. Stressing that slapstick comedy will not stay long in the minds of viewers, he opines that situational comedy has greater impact. He remarks, "Parthiban and I have been able to bring comedy to the forefront, because we happen to write the script as well as direct the movie." Bhagyaraj adds "Comedy should also touch the heart and make judicious use of presence of mind." Present day comedy, he says, hasn’t changed much except for the improvements in technology. Says R Parthiban, actor and director, "The audience plays a major role in helping directors decide what comedy elements to use. When we discuss the storyline with four or five assistants, it becomes possible to understand the reaction of the audience and decide if a particular concept will be received well or not.” Veteran comedy actor YG Mahendran says, "The audience expects wholesome fun from comedians, but they manage to get away with any comments they pass." He also feels that comedy trends change once every 10 years, depending on the type and class of the film-going audience. In the present day comedy scenario, he comments that there are several top-class artistes but viewers are mostly subject to ordinary fare. However, film historian Randor Guy is of an entirely different view. "A lot of the humour in the 30s and 40s had social content but today, it is not the case," he points out. He believes that the best days of comedy in Tamil films are over. He says that the quality of humour has diminished because they have accepted vulgar and repetitive jokes. In reply to that, one of the most popular comedians of recent times, A Vivek says, "Making a comedy is a no joke and one has to work hard towards it. We are always under pressure to produce something new in every scene." He believes that in those days, humorists were trained in both body and mind. "However, today, comedians have a mix of situational and verbal comedy," he tells us. What is the one thing that sets today’s comic sense apart from that of the yesteryears? "Timing is one of the main differences between the old days and the present. We have to deliver everything at a very quick pace to grab the viewer’s attention." He says that a script is very important to the success of a comedy and so are other factors like the situation and performance of the artiste. "There is no magic formula for the success of a comedy. It has never been possible to predict the success or failure of a particular comedy scene," he laughs. The bottom line is that the audiences have an important role to play in deciding the success of a comedian or a comic scene, because they have benchmarks and have seen great comedians come and go over the years. He believes that comedies that point at the obvious will not succeed and if people try to play with only body language or wit, it will not serve any purpose. "Comedy should also touch the heart and make judicious use of presence of mind," he comments. Present day comedy, he says, hasn’t changed much except for the improvements in technology. Says R Parthiban, actor and director, "The audience plays a major role in helping directors decide what comedy elements to use. When we discuss the storyline with four or five assistants, it becomes possible to understand the reaction of the audience and decide if a particular concept will be received well or not. However, we make sure that the humour is subtle and does not spoil the other components of the movie." Humour has indeed occupied a significant place - be it old or new movies. Agrees veteran comedy actor YG Mahendran, "The audience expects wholesome fun from comedians, but they manage to get away with any comments they pass." He also feels that comedy trends change once every 10 years, depending on the type and class of the film-going audience. In the present day comedy scenario, he comments that there are several top-class artistes but viewers are mostly subject to ordinary fare. However, film historian Randor Guy is of an entirely different view. He tells us that comedy was a supreme concern during the 1930s and 40s. "A lot of the humour had social content but today, it is not the case," he points out. He believes that the best days of comedy in Tamil films are over. Blaming the taste of audiences, he says that the quality of humour has diminished because they have accepted vulgar and repetitive jokes. In reply to that, one of the most popular comedians of recent times, A Vivek says, "Making a comedy is a no joke and one has to work hard towards it. We are always under pressure to produce something new in every scene." He believes that even with modern technology, we cannot replicate the comedy of legends like Charlie Chaplin, because in those days humorists were trained in both body and mind. "However, today comedians perform because of inspiration, and it turns out to be their style once it succeeds. Present cinemas have a mix of situational and verbal comedy," he tells us. What is the one thing that sets today’s comic sense apart from that of the yesteryears? "Timing is one of the main differences between the old days and the present. We have to deliver everything at a very quick pace to grab the viewer’s attention." He says that a script is very important to the success of a comedy and so are other factors like the situation and performance of the artiste. "There is no magic formula for the success of a comedy. Every time I perform, I keep my fingers crossed because it has never been possible to predict the success or failure of a particular comedy scene," he laughs. The bottom line is that the audiences have an important role to play in deciding the success of a comedian or a comic scene, because they have benchmarks and have seen great comedians come and go over the years.
posted by M.D.S.PRABU at 10:07 AM
1 Comments:
Interesting to know.
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