From the Panchayat era to here, at what time, who and how led the humor? How far did it spread? Has Nepali comedy retained the power to make a sharp satire on politics as before? From Mahjodi to Santosh Pant, from Deepak-Deepa to Dhurmus-Suntali, what are they doing in the comedy world?
What you should know
Bhairav Aryal, the pinnacle of satirical writing, has said regarding what humor should be, 'The aim of today's humorist should be to raise satire from the light level of farce to carry and nourish serious and profound feelings of life and the world.' Aryal's question is equally relevant today. Because Nepali humor is still surrounded by such questions. Nepali humor is being accused of making fun of those who are at the bottom of the society, making jokes about marginalized communities, language pronunciation or lifestyle. What is the strength, limits and future of Nepali humor? In this issue of 'Koseli', we have tried to discuss these dimensions of humor.
In a football match, when the scorer scores a goal by tricking the ball, the thrill of the spectators touches the sky . Actor Harivansh Acharya, who has been scoring endlessly in the field of comedy for five decades, says, 'Comedy is like a scorer who scores a trick.'
is one of the popular genres among the audience. Madankrishna Shrestha and Harivansh Acharya are among those who drove its chariot and brought it here. In the world of comedy, their close relationship is also revered in the name of 'Mah Jodi'. Mah Jodi is such a talent, who broadened the possibility of comedy from farce, drama and television .
The history of comedy in Nepal is not far away. Looking back, one reaches the pages of Bhairav Aryal's collection of essays. In the memory of Harivamsa, the professional pillar of comedy was buried only in 038. From the Panchayat period to here, at what time and how did humor lead? How far did it spread? Let's discuss:
Harivansh says that Dhruva Hada, Rajpal Thapa and Gopalraj Mainali were among those who performed witty farces before their arrival. "On the birthday of the king, the police used to show a program . They used to show it as a job, not a professional,'' he remembers.
Today's comedians are not limited to the number that can be counted on the fingers like in the past. The interest and attraction towards this area is also increasing . New talents are being born. Santosh Pant is another character who leads the Harivansh and Madankrishna used to perform farces separately. They collaborated for 37 years . After that, their comedy journey took off. At a time when the panchayat system prohibited freedom of speech, making humor was very challenging . Mah Jodi rose from that shabby situation. When Surya Bahadur Thapa was the Prime Minister, they performed a farce titled 'Yamlok' in Gaijatra. Where was it easy to satirize the king, the prime minister? The sense of humor also hit home with their farce-filled cassettes .
comedy. Pant started a comedy tour during the Panchayat period . Later, Pant's telefilm 'Hijoaajko Kura', broadcast from 053, kept the audience laughing for more than a decade through the screens of Nepal Television. It also spawned comedian dreams . Even now, the days when Jitu Nepal, Kedar Ghimires rushed to audition for the set of 'Hijoaazka Kura' are remembered .
Pant used to keep a line of those who wanted to be an artist in front of his house. He used to take auditions and call them whenever needed . Deepakraj Giri, Deepashree Niraula, Kedar, Jeetu, Daman Rupakheti, Rama Thapalia, Vijay Giri and Dinesh DC Pant followed in the art world.
humor with a strong political and social consciousness. Since 046, Manoj has been striking the character of the common man to the powerful through caricature, power through satire . "I am a product of 046 years". That's why I got an easy opportunity to flourish and flourish,'' he says. At that time, even though Nepal Television and Radio Nepal were dominant, political satire did not find a place in those mediums . "That's why I used to make jokes between politicians and student organizations," Manoj remembers. At that time, the audience liked the caricature of Madan Bhandari done by Manoj. The 60s in
comedy were started by those following Santosh Pant's path . They ruled the small screen for that decade . Around 2060, Deepakaraj Giri and Deepashree Niraula started a comedy teleserial called 'Tito Satya'. 'Tito Satya' was the most awaited teleserial in every home . At the same time Jitu Nepal, Shivahari Paudels started 'Jire Khursani' . Kiran KC, Daman Rupakheti, Kedar Ghimire and Sitaram Kattel have appeared in the episodes of 'Jere Khursani'.
3 years after the airing of 'Tito Satya' and 'Jire Khursani', a new comedy teleserial has started on Nepal Television. Daman Rupakheti, Sitaram Kattel, Kedar Ghimire started shining on the screen of 'Meri Bassai'. Kedar's 'Magne Budha' and Sitaram's 'Dhurmus' character became so popular that even now they are known by the audience more by their character names . The reason why these satires with social and political consciousness were preferred was that they were close to the stories of common people.
This talent that is frozen on the small screen appeared on the big screen together in 070 . Along with Deepak-Deepa, Jeetu, Kedar, Sitaram, the film 'Chh Ekan Chh' was a hit at the box office. After that, 'Wada No. 6', 'Chha Maya Chhapakkai' and 'Chhakka Panja' series were born from the alliance of Deepak-Deepa, Kedar and Jeetu. In the 60s, they made a strong presence on the small screen in the 70s. Each of their films broke each other's records . Even now, Deepak, Deepa, Jeetu, Kedar are counted among the most popular characters in the film world. On
television, Arjun Ghimire and Kumar Kattel, who recently produced 'Sakkigoni' through 'Bhadargol', remained popular. Comedians who have recently appeared on the small screen have made a strong presence in movies.
6 years ago reality show Comedy Champion gave birth to new talents . Himesh Pant, Bharatmani Paudyal, Suman Karki, Suman Koirala, Maxam Gaudel, Biki Aggarwal, who have made reality shows a platform, are now doing comedy shows and stand-up comedy . This is the generation that grew up watching Deepakraj, Jeetu, Sitaram and Kedar through the Harivansh .
Suman Karki feels that the more platforms there are in his generation, the more challenges are added. We have also continued the previous generation. But that's all, what's the difference? We have a challenge to find difference, make a difference and attract a new generation of viewers,'' he says . Along with the rise of
comedy, actors have also been criticized at various times. In the name of comedy, comedians continue to get into controversy by using misogynist, racist and racist words, making fun of people's physical appearance. Today's comedians are not limited to the number that can be counted on the fingers like in the past. There is also interest and attraction towards this area . New talents are being born. Quality is as important as quantity. Yesterday, even during the prohibition of expression, the Harivamshas could shoot moving arrows of satire, moving around power and authority. Today, humor (with exceptions) has risen far above that wall of prohibition. But the latest generation isn't throwing a sharp arrow . A comedian can easily take a leader's name, a leader can easily digest it . But as powerful as the satire should be, it seems that it needs to be refined. Harivansh, the same scorer, connects the incident of cheating with the current sarcasm and says, "It's a broad society that can be talked about now". But comedy has become like a penalty to hit dangdang without deceiving.'
Now the responsibility of the new generation is on the shoulders of the new generation to understand the humor in the penalty or to raise it above that.
