‘It’s the writing of these films that makes us laugh even today’

Whether it’s the story of two honest photographers trying to do their jobs in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (1983), a young man’s effort to find a job and please his boss in Gol Maal (1979), or the pranks among friends and family in Chupke Chupke (1975), the candid humour of these classics has stood the test of time. Writers attribute this longevity to the relatability and simplicity of plot that characterise these films.

As we celebrate World Laughter Day, we take a closer look at some of these classics.

‘Web of lies led to great situational comedy in Mukherjee’s films’
Badhaai Do writer

Akshat Ghildial

shares that the films had some great situational comedy and says, “Gol Maal and Chupke Chupke are often wrongly cited as being realistic films because they came in an era where films were larger-than-life. They weren’t. In fact, they had some of the most ludicrous/far-fetched plots – ‘Naukri tabhi milegi agar moochein hain’ or ‘jeejaji ke yahan driver ki naukri karunga’. But what they had was a great classical structure. You tell a lie and then to protect the lie, you’ve to lie more, resulting in a situation where you’re caught in your own web of lies. This led to great situational comedy. In fact, the structure of Badhaai Do owes a lot to both these films.”

‘The timelessness comes from their relatability’
Panchayat writer

Chandan Kumar

credits the relatability factor of these films for their timeless appeal. He says, “These films, which are as funny today as they were when they were released, have some kind of timelessness about them. Their plots are embedded in human nature. Now, look at Gol Maal – ek banda hai jo naukri karna chahta hai aur ek boss hai jo kaafi khadoos hai. Ye utni hi relatable aaj hai jitni 45 saal pehle rahi hogi. The situations in the films are just as humorous today. It’s the writing of these films that stands out and makes us laugh even in 2024.”

‘The humour didn’t come from some quirks, which is very common nowadays’
Writer Saurav Dey says, “All these comedies are not larger-than-life. They did not follow the mainstream trope of a hero, heroine, and a villain. In Gol Maal, the employeremployee power dynamic is something everyone could relate to. Relatability of these films made them very easy to consume. Secondly, all these classics have tightly-written scripts. The humour didn’t come from some quirks, which is very common nowadays where we bank on an actor to give comic moments. For example, in Gol Maal when

Amol Palekar

’s character resigns, then

Utpal Dutt

’s character tells him, ‘No one resigns here, people are fired.’ Those things were thought through. The relatability, realistic performances, extremely well-written scenes are some of the reasons why these films are so timeless.”

‘Classics stand the test of time because they capture the essence of human folly’
Film historian Gautam Chintamani says, “Laughter is a timeless emotion, and classics like Gol Maal, Chupke Chupke or Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, have mastered the art of evoking it. These films stand the test of time because they capture the essence of human folly and absurdity in a way that transcends eras. Their wit and social commentary, wrapped in humour, strike a chord with audiences across generations.” He adds, “The relatable characters, clever dialogues, and comical situations ensure that the laughter never grows old, remaining as fresh and infectious as it was upon their initial release. These classics endure as they remind us to find joy in life’s quirks and not take ourselves too seriously.”