For the past sixty years, being based in Chennai, the majority of the movies I’ve watched have been Tamil ones. When we visit the USA, staying with our sons, we get to watch a variety of films across different languages—English, Hindi, Tamil, and even Malayalam—on OTT platforms.

Comedy has always been the crown jewel of Tamil cinema. In Hindi, my exposure was limited to light-hearted comedies featuring Utpal Dutt, Kishore Kumar (who seemed to be everywhere!), and Amol Palekar. But in Tamil, there are countless comedy greats. Even if a film isn’t a full-length comedy, there would always be a parallel comedic track running alongside the main plot. That trend seems to have shifted a bit in recent years. However, some mega stars like Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, and Sathyaraj have successfully ventured into full-length comedies, proving their versatility.

If I had to choose one genre to watch on repeat without getting tired, it would undoubtedly be comedy.

If I were to list my favorite comedy films or scenes, the list would go on for pages. We regularly catch snippets of comedy scenes on various TV channels, and they never fail to entertain. One name that stands out when talking about Tamil comedy is Crazy Mohan. He came from the world of stage drama and became a mastermind of hilarious plays and scripts on both stage and screen. His screenplays for films were packed with rip-roaring laughter and wit. Unforgettable. It’s such a tragedy that he passed away at a relatively young age, leaving a void in the world of Tamil comedy.

Speaking of stage dramas, we can’t overlook the wonderful drama troupes that once thrived. Cho Ramaswamy’s satirical plays, S.Ve. Sekhar’s comedies, K. Balachander’s poignant dramas, and Y.G. Mahendran’s sensitive performances all drew massive crowds. Each brought their own unique flavor to the stage, blending humor, social commentary, and emotion.

Of course, no discussion of film would be complete without mentioning the genius of Alfred Hitchcock. His movies, like Psycho, Dial M for Murder, and The Birds, are still fresh in my mind. He was a master of suspense and created movies that remain iconic to this day.

I realize that I haven’t done justice to all the incredible artists and movies out there. My presentation has been somewhat haphazard, without any logical order. But if I’ve managed to spark some interest in looking back at the rich history of entertainment, or even the present, I’m happy with that.

Continued in 205. Housefull