ankit
24-08-05, 04:24 AM
It is a lot harder to make people laugh than to make them cry. But after years of success at the latter - thanks to the saas bahu series of soap sagas - Indian television is finally attempting to tickle our funny bones.
Ironically, the first memorable show on Indian TV way back in 1983 was a sitcom - Kundan Shah's Yeh jo hai zindagi. It is an all time classic. But nothing quite lived upto that for the next two decades.
Indian television comedies were pretty much 'lowest common denominator' - loud and slapstick. 'Hum Paanch' was maybe, slightly tolerable, only because characters like Kaajal bhai and the dead wife on the wall (Priya Tendulkar) were imaginative (relatively speaking).
Then came 'Zabaan Sambhalke' and 'Dekh Bhai Dekh'. Two shows that re-defined comedy. Its been a decade and Star One has finally managed to come up with one serial that has managed to grab audience attention, a show that will provide a platform for all newcomers to prove their talent across all genres of humour. With the 'Badshahs' of humour, Shekhar Suman and Navjot Singh Sidhu donning the judges' hats, the eventual winner is sure to be put through some serious testing of his / her comic ability. The name of the show is - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge and it airs every Friday at 10:30 om.
The show is definitely worth a watch. Last night I was struck by the originality and style of the two finalists who were both so good that the judges and audience declared a tie.
Ironically, the first memorable show on Indian TV way back in 1983 was a sitcom - Kundan Shah's Yeh jo hai zindagi. It is an all time classic. But nothing quite lived upto that for the next two decades.
Indian television comedies were pretty much 'lowest common denominator' - loud and slapstick. 'Hum Paanch' was maybe, slightly tolerable, only because characters like Kaajal bhai and the dead wife on the wall (Priya Tendulkar) were imaginative (relatively speaking).
Then came 'Zabaan Sambhalke' and 'Dekh Bhai Dekh'. Two shows that re-defined comedy. Its been a decade and Star One has finally managed to come up with one serial that has managed to grab audience attention, a show that will provide a platform for all newcomers to prove their talent across all genres of humour. With the 'Badshahs' of humour, Shekhar Suman and Navjot Singh Sidhu donning the judges' hats, the eventual winner is sure to be put through some serious testing of his / her comic ability. The name of the show is - The Great Indian Laughter Challenge and it airs every Friday at 10:30 om.
The show is definitely worth a watch. Last night I was struck by the originality and style of the two finalists who were both so good that the judges and audience declared a tie.