CRAZY MOHAN

From Sampath’s Desk:

 


COMEDY CAPTAIN CRAZY MOHAN

 (16 Oct 1952 - 10 June 2019)

 

An engineering-graduate-turned-Tamil-comedy-captain, and screenplay and dialogue writer - the versatile Crazy Mohan (67) - passed away on 10.6.2019. The loud voice of his comedy that was roaring for decades suddenly went silent. In his departure, we have lost a full circle comedian full of satirical substance making the drama/cinema/small-screen world poorer. 


His witty dialogue deliverance, sense of timing, intellectual attractiveness, perennial resourcefulness to crack banters, and application of mind were unmatched and unlimited. Even while staging the same drama at different times, I had observed different dialogues being delivered by him and his troupe members in given scenes and situations to suit emerging developments, trendy things, and changes in current affairs with aesthetic and jovial sense, changing only the letter but retaining the original spirit. He pursued a unique style of attracting and satisfying his audiences. With Crazy Mohan on stage, there would be no dearth of joke-cracking invoking peels of instantaneous and boisterous laughter leaving his audiences with aching bellies. There would be a continuous rain of jokes.


Who can forget his comedy packed films ‘Apoorva Sagodarargal’, ‘Michael Madana Kama Rajan’, ‘Panchathanthiram’, ‘Vasool Raja MBBS’ and ‘Avvai Shanmugi’, to mention a few. His search for the ‘Crazy Thieves in Palavakkam’ not just gave him his (nick) name and fame but also a turning point in his decades-long stage/cinema career, and from then on there was no look-back. Space runs short here to mention the galaxy of his stage-dramas and comedy filled films through which he enthralled and entranced people for decades.

 

Comedy is not a light but serious business which he incredibly and creditably transacted to make people laugh profusely. Comedy is amazingly and exceptionally hard to practice and prove at times. You may have to be loose sometimes. You have to be not afraid even to fumble at times but still manage the situation with tact and deftness. He overcame all negative factors and proved that comedy was simply a funny way of being serious and he lived up to it till his last breath. In our hectic and stress/tension-laden life, a dose of comedy is certainly a must. He had satiated that requirement to a very great extent with his loquacious and voluble prowess.  

 

Crazy Mohan, an actor nonpareil, spared no comedy role to play during his long eventful innings in the celluloid/small screen world spanning for decades. But, more than anything else, he had become synonymous with comedy throughout his cinema-TV-drama career. Only a few would have matched him in that field. Sense of humour was ingrained in him and jesting would burst instantaneously. His timing along with dialogue delivery including body language and nuances of facial expressions was a ‘shot in the arm’ for him to shine as an accomplished star comedian. His histrionic experiences as a stage actor richly contributed to his advancement not only as a cine comedy actor but also story-cum-script writer. He did full justice to all his roles and has left behind a unique, inimitable and indelible imprint on dramas and films. Generations had acknowledged his supremacy as an all-time and all-weather comedian and enjoyed his comedy! 

 

Humour world has lost its sheen with his absence. The vacuum is hard to fill. Charlie Chaplin once said, “Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.”


William Claude Dukenfields (WC Fields) said, “Comedy is a serious business. A serious business with only one purpose - to make people laugh.” Crazy Mohan completely lived up to this quote. 


A funny quote goes thus - to a question, “Did you just fall”, pat came the reply, “No, I was checking if gravity still works!” On a lighter plank – people say ‘nothing’ is impossible, but I do nothing every day. 


To quote Peter Ustinov, “Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious.”

 

“Why do they call it 'rush hour' when nothing moves?” What kind of food is permitted to eat while fasting? Fast Food! What would you do if you won the award for laziness? I would send somebody to pick it up for me. A vexed schoolchild murmured, “Dear Math, please grow up fast and solve your own problems, I am tired of solving them for you.”

  

R.SAMPATH

11.6.2019

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KAVIGNAR (TAMIL POET) VAALI

Image
FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:         KAVIGNAR (TAMIL POET) VAALI ( வாலிப கவிஞர் வாலி) 29 October 1931-18 July 2013       Vaali Sir (T.S.RANGARAJAN) – born in Srirangam, Trichy, Tamil Nadu - was a great legendary Tamil-poet-cum-lyricist with a gift of the gab and pen, who had to his credit more than 15000 film songs and a host of other literary works, He was a contemporary of Kannadasan. His songs were thought-provoking, conscience-stirring, awareness-generating and highly inspiring. Yes, with his departure, a great saga of an eventful career of a distinguished lyricist spanning more than five decades has come to an end. The poetic circles, and the literary and tinsel worlds have become poorer by his passing. Transcending barriers including generations, he had offered something for everyone belonging to both old and new generations to remember and cherish forever. Vaali made his humble beginning, as is the wont with every writer, with a devoti...
Read more

THIRUMURUGA KRIPANANDA VARIYAR - திருமுருக கிருபானந்த வாரியார்

Image
  FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:       THIRUMURUGA KRIPANANDA VARIYAR திருமுருக கிருபானந்த வாரியார் (25 August 1906 - 7 November 1993)   THIRUMURUGA KRIPANANDA VARIYAR was born on 25.8.1906 in Kangeyanallur near Vellore, Tamil Nadu.   He sowed divinity in the minds of the common man and words contemplated upon were humorously conveyed by him so as to grip the minds of his audience. He was affectionately and reverently called VARIYAR SWAMIGAL by people.   He had no formal education. However, he was brought up by his father himself at home giving him core divine knowledge and wisdom. Swamigal learned Tamil literature, grammar, and music, especially playing Veena. At age 8 itself, he had to his credit many poems in ‘Venba’ style. By age 12, he learned by heart at least 10000 hymns, mostly devotional numbers.   During my boyhood days in Triplicane, I used to go to his divine and spiritual discourses. Tamil language and devotional hymns...
Read more

FEATHERS OF POSITIVE PHILOSOPHY!

Image
From Sampath’s Desk :     FEATHERS OF POSITIVE PHILOSOPHY!     The concept of ‘philosophy’ used here is about the empirical aspects of life such as - how to find joy and happiness generally and to keep ourselves cool and unperturbed, clothed with feathers of positive philosophy in the face of ordeals and distress. Again, on the one side, it is about feeling self-joy, and on the other, a solace-seeking exercise during trials and tribulations. Some tips have been attempted here.   If you happen to be rich in wealth and affluent, think that God has given you the extra wealth and money for helping others. The best way to find joy and happiness is to make others happy by charity without expecting anything in return much less gratitude. It is only the possessor of wealth who should be actually grateful to God for providing him/her the opportunity to help the needy. It is of course easier said than done, but the real joy lies in giving and in going to the succo...
Read more