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The serious business of laughter

`Crazy' Mohan released a book on medical humour

What do you get when you bring together a doctor who keeps his patients in splits and a writer who finds humour in the most inane of situations? A perfect recipe for a laugh-a-thon.

That is exactly what happened at the launch of Dr. G. Lakshmipathi's collection of essays about every possible malady, called Delights of Dementia.

Humour at home

`Crazy' Mohan was the chief guest who was making his first stage appearance after being awarded the `Kalaimaamani' title. While he took some time to have the audience rolling in laughter the wait was worth it.

The laughs started coming in when Mohan spoke of his octogenarian uncle, who routinely confused a cat for a bus to the mirth of a joint family. "A joint family is an amazing place for humour," he said. It is difficult to survive in one without that.

"Where else are you driven to wear your middle-aged uncle's faded jubba because he has appropriated your trendy T-shirt? Or are forced to wear different-sized slippers to an evening out?"

ALL SMILES Dr G. Lakshmipathi and `Crazy' Mohan PHOTO: K. ANANTHAN

Times have changed, though. "From a family living together being called a joint family, we have reached a stage where even a husband and wife staying together is being called joint family," the humourist quipped.

Don't look for meaning in humour, says Mohan. "Humour is like watching a baby. Don't analyse it." And he does not approve of laughter therapy either. "I believe an exchange of jokes and anecdotes is a healthier form of humour."

Sadly worry management has been perfected to a fine art, says Mohan and adds that all we need to do is consolidate problems and see them as one unit. "Except death and taxes, nothing is more serious. And, humour provides the sedation we all need," declares Mohan.

Talking about his foray into drama with "Crazy thieves in Palavakkam," he said he dared to focus on comedy at a time when seriousness was in. "Luckily people appreciated jokes like `What is 2x2x2?' (tutudoo)."

His writing for movies (Michael Madhana Kaama Rajan, Magalir mattum, Sathi Leelavathy, Vasool Raja MBBS) has also won him critical and mass acclaim. How different are the media of stage and movies? "As different as cooking at home and at a wedding," is his rejoinder.

And, getting people to roll over in laughter is serious business. "All humour writers are serious readers. I read a lot of philosophy and keep improvising on the sets."

Tickling the funny bone

Dr Lakshmipathi, too, said thinking of writing a book was "like delivering a baby. Both are conceived in a minute of reckless passion."

Thanking the audience for laughing in a venue (IMA Hall) where usually funereal atmosphere prevails (barring a seminar where there was an accidental leak of laughing gas), he ended on a funny note when he told the audience that, many people had only one question to ask him about Delights of Dementia. "Is it autobiographical?" they wanted to know.

SUBHA J RAO

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