As in any joke telling, now or then, whether elbowing at the local pub, one hand with a pint, the other gesticulating the pun, the mastery is in the timing. Many serious moments in the world, relief comes from mocking political injustice, and philosophical ideas, that in certain countries can land you in jail, yet in others, the freedom to belly laugh, helps any injustice dumped on you.
Much like Vir Das's"Two India's" delivered to a full house at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC in 2021, caused such division in his homeland prior to his return. An angered lawyer wanted him to face legal action by requesting the Mumbai Police Commissioner to file an FIR (First Information Report). His poetic delivery rested on realities of India's society, the results were venomous and inflammatory, yet highly amusing and ended on a note of never to forget the greatness of India.
Vir Das explains to India Times "The satirical duality of two very separate India's that do different things. Like any nation has a light and dark, good and evil within it..."
Before judging others, let us look at the gentle Siamese tradition. The genetic profile, cleverly depicted, in the Hollywood film of Anna and the King of Siam, is of a subservient nature, high value in obedience, soft-spoken in gentle musical tones, an inherent nature of pleasing others. The language itself illustrates the positioning between individuals, observing the hierarchical status, age, even birth order. It is present, even in today's technological world of instant results, the soft nature in competition with a harsh outside world.
But just only look at the limited stand-up comedians available, the conclusion is of an oppressed country, unable to have the liberty to project their thoughts. Of course Note Udom, Thailand's celebrated stand-up comedian, pokes and stabs at soft imperfections and gets the audience laughing or giggling, much like a teenager sneaking out from under the closeted structure in which they reside. The limitation allows Note Udom a few jabs, but intellectual sarcasm, and the duality of humor would not serve well in the land of gentleness, for in the vocabulary of Monopoly board game, Note Udom would have got the "Go to Jail" card if he half tried.
However daunting a situation may be, we need comedy to help us go through such difficult times. The releasing of dopamine brings happiness, enabling a good chuckle from a horrendous week of a deranged, 14 yr old schizophrenic shooter in a busy mall killing two and injuring many. The event de-stablized the tourist industry, that is barely recovering from the pandemic. Realistic fears harbour those aware of the increasing generational divide. The divisional marker of those born before and after the evolution of IT and AI widens as ever.
For those condo living city-dwellers, who need laughter to take away the heavy burdens, do go to Netflix or YouTube, and get your belly laughs from the likes of Fluffy, Trevor Noah, Sindhu Vee or Vir Das. A smile will gather on your cheeks, the mood will change to a happier place, without the need for Ambian, Tibetan sound healing, or even meditative chants.
