November 3, 2015

'Onnu chirichhu, paththu divasam (laughed 10 days).' Sethumadhavan after a trip to Kavipuram. No TV, no Jagathi, no Innocent and their loudness; chaikkada (chai shop), samsaram (talk), paruppu wada, old times ...of an aged couple with grandkids in clocks ago regularly making it to the chaikada;promising payments; they lived in a ghost house; male ghost friend of grandpa and female ghost of grandma; the ghosts loved each other, had no time for others; of a Brahmin mistaking his keep in darkness. 'Inggane, anggane (this way, that way),' said Sethumadhavan. Chai and coffee no difference; some chaikadas are demanding payment in rials and dirhams. 'Oru sukham (a pleasure)'. No ambalangal (temples) and sin of sins no Guruvayurappan. Sethumadhavan is a bit of the Sakha, a gone tribe in Kerala. Sethumadhavan cannot be vulgar which is what Malayalam laugh today is. TV channels bulge with it; me has not had a laugh for long from Jagathi and Innocent; Tamil humour damages ears. Thinking of it, did Draupadi joke with her five husbands; did Arjuna share a laugh with Bhima; did Sita tickle Rama; why are they so grim with dharma, adharma, atman, paramatman; did anyone share a food joke with Bhima, the ultimate foodie; or thought of promoting Bhima a gymming machine short on brains; did Sita koel or croak; did Arjuna ever try to be a Kamadevan; or me as usual may be wrong; anything improper; no sex jokes; subtle versions; in a private chat R.K. Laxman dubbed Hanuman as the first arsonist. Why are religions grim as cement blocs. Perhaps ...a very perhaps, Malluland can take the credit of publishing humour collections. Friend Narayana Karunakara Kurup in February 2013 presented a book to Rama: Namboodiri Phalithangal (Namboodiri humour) by Kunjunni; published by Current Books; cost Rs.40. Humour should be read more than told, intros Kunjunni. Namboodiri humour in Malayalam is tops, followed by Chakyar sayings; then Mappila fun. ..writes the author and adds: 'The collection is not complete; is unartistic; impure; readers please forgive; help to bring out another unlike edition. Me book stumbles but laughs when Rama reads it out. Am not aware whether Malluland laughs or smiles or grins anymore for a publisher to print a fresh collection. Me makes a clannish claim: Mallu was delightful laughter. Today, he needs a Mohanlal video to smile. Chirikkan marannupoyo, sakhave?