LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK!
Comedy films rule the roost in 2017; Experts and filmmakers explain why they clicked
Remember Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Padosan (1968), Chupke Chupke (1975), Gol Maal (1979), Angoor (1982), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983) and Judwaa 2? They have all been box-office hits, but there’s another common connection: all of them are either comedy films or extremely high on laughter quotient. Since time immemorial, comedy movies have worked wonders at the ticket windows and 2017 has been no different.
THE BIG LINEUP
This year, if Golmaal Again and Judwaa 2 have been among the biggest moneyspinners of the year, they have closely been followed by films such as Mubarakan and Fukrey Returns (still in theatres). Also, films such as Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Jolly LLB 2, Hindi Medium, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan and Qarib Qarib Singlle were high on humour.
“Today, when there’s so much stress in the world, if you can make someone laugh, there’s nothing like it. Also, with the songs, dance routines and laughter, comedy films make for a great package. But these films have to be made really well or they can fall flat on their face (at the box office),” says Judwaa 2 director David Dhawan, also known as the ‘king of comedy’.
UNIVERSAL EMOTION
According to experts, Indian audiences “love their share of escapist cinema”. “And what can give you a better escape than comic films,” says exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi, adding: “Comedy films’ appeal cut across social strata and demography since laughter is a universally-loved emotion.” For trade analyst Taran Adarsh, the “logic is simple”. He says, “If you make audiences laugh, they — in turn — will make the makers, distributors and exhibitors laugh all the way to the bank.”
What’s interesting to note is that the last few years have seen a number of hit franchises coming up but a majority of them happen to be films with a high dose of comedy in them. The list includes: Judwaa (1997), Hera Pheri (2000), Munna Bhai MBBS (2003), Masti (2004), Golmaal (2006), Dhamaal (2007), Welcome (2007), Singh is Kinng (2008), Housefull (2010) and Fukrey (2013), among others.
NO RESPECT?
Golmaal series film-maker Rohit Shetty, however, feels comedy films still don’t get the respect that they “richly deserve”. He says, “Comedy films are often looked down upon and they will never be appreciated, and that’s why you can’t get depressed about it and take it seriously. But you come to know how much the film has been loved from the audiences’ reaction and box-office collections.”
Akshay, who has been a part of several comedies, concurs. “I honestly believe that the world cannot survive without laughter. Laughter is the essence of life, and that’s why comedians should be heroes and not extras [in a film]. It takes great intelligence and guts to hold a crowd’s attention and entertain them,” says the superstar.
PAST PERFECT
Turn back the clock and you will find that almost every decade has seen a landmark nd Hindiin com d film. The ’50s had Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), the ’60s had Padosan (1968) being released, and the ’70s saw Bombay to Goa (1972), Seeta Aur GeGeeta (191972), Chupke upke (1975) and l Maal (1979). e next decade o had hit medies such as ashme ddoor (1981), tte Pe Satta 982) and ngoor (1982) d Jaane Bhi Yaaro (1983). Then, T the s saw a slew laughter ots such as ndaz Apna pna (1994) and a number of David Dhawan-Govinda hits such as Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995) and Hero No. 1 (1997). Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says, “There are two factors to keep in mind when it comes to comedy films. One, it’s the toughest genre of film-making, so the film has to be made well. Secondly, its appeal cuts through age and social demography. Comedies make for wholesome entertainers that can be enjoyed by one and all.”
AUDIENCES’ LOVE
History is proof that audiences lap up comedy flicks. As Ajay Devgn explains, “Ever since the last Golmaal film released (in 2010), fans kept asking, ‘What’s next? Bring something again’,” he says. At the same time, Ajay maintains that an actor shouldn’t be fond of any particular genre. “An actor is not supposed to enjoy roles in any particular genre. It’s a difficult question (for any actor) to answer,” says the actor.
When it comes to universality, comedy as a genre tops the list, say experts. Exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi explains, “Of all the genres, comedy is the most universal of them all. For instance, a thriller might not be liked by the youth, but it could be a favourite with adults. Similarly, youngsters are likely to lap up rom-coms, but the elderly may not. But when it comes to comic films, they appeal to everyone.”