HYDERABAD: Who said Hyderabadis are short on humour?

When it comes to laughing at themselves, they come second to none. In their inbuilt merriment armoury, they have a big heart that throbs with cutting-edge deprecation, the unique lingo to boot and yes, tongues that come laced with the gift of the gab.

"Hyderabadi humour is distinct and earthy. The quintessential accent makes it all the more lovable. For an outsider, it can be a side-splitting experience," insists Kuntaa Nikkil.

No wonder, the city-born filmmaker with stints in some Hollywood films in Los Angeles decided to fill his first celluloid venture `The Angrez' with loads of Hyderabadi humour.

Rap number

What more, there is even a rap number on the city and the famous biryani. The song belted out by a Nigerian rapper is on all the major television music channels now.

Can't ignore call centre

"People have made films earlier featuring Hyderabadi humour, but not mush justice has been done to its distinct characteristic. All we got was exaggerated attempts in Mehmood's and Govinda films. Even in crossover films like Hyderabad Blues, we just had a glimpse of its famous humour and accent," he points out.

The film captures the funny romp of two NRIs who reach Hyderabad to work in a call centre, but get caught between typical old city gangsters spewing paan and jargon, a real estate dealer who insists `land ek dhum killear hai, paperaa dekhlo' and two girls! All this, for their `dollaraan... dollaraan $$$!'

Nikkil says he had spent two full years doing the rounds of the old city gallies in search of the unique Hyderabadi humour.

"Film's dialogues took shape during these trips — in an Irani hotel, at the bus station, in the sabzi mandi. Even those who acted in the film are true blue Hyderabadis and never forayed into films before."

Play it natural

"I wanted them to be themselves and not enact. All I wanted was the scene to be communicated in its own way without disturbing its essence," he says.

"Check out a Telugu movie to see the heroine, figure out a pub where I can zero in, DJ cold rocks the joint and everybody's hearty... but cops already at the door and wanna stop the party... " as the rap song blares, Nikkil pins his hopes on the typical Hyderabadi humour to sail him through.

The films will be released on December 16 all over the country.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail