The most difficult genre- comedy

It started quite simply in the beginning- this genre game. There were two genres -tragedy and comedy. And all fiction was listed under either of the two headings. Dramas, poetry, literature - everything fell under these two categories. Like everything today it has changed. There are so many genres, sub-genres, and sub-sub- genres that one feels quite dizzy. I've to confess to my shame that till not very long ago I had no idea what chick- lit meant and I had to actually google the meaning. Slightly more enlightened I browsed categories like noir, nocturne, chick lit, suspense-police procedurals, women sleuths, international crime & mystery, detective, new adult, young adult, middle ages, kids- the list is endless. It is gratifying to see how very organized and specialized we've become. But it is also very bewildering.

 Today however I'm going to deal with only one genre- comedy. This is a genre that has invoked my respect over the years  because I've realized just how difficult it is to raise a laugh. You'll say it is the easiest thing in the world. But it is not. Really. Real comedy, the vintage kind, where the humor is situational- arising from the series of events in the story- is very rare these days. Most  literature or films these days rely on sex, physical deformities, or crude vulgarity to raise a few laughs. Humor is a dying art. 

I can't remember the last time I laughed aloud while reading a book or watching a movie. I think the last truly funny movie I saw was Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. It was ages ago but it is still the best comedy I've seen. It was both a satire and comedy which is not an easy feat to achieve. The next movie I sincerely thought was funny was Golmaal. Not the new one but the old one. And so far I haven't seen or read anything that can match these. The comedy serials on TV - both Indian & Phoren - are quite pathetic. One can hardly bear to sit through the crude sex related jokes and the mind sapping humor. Hangover II -or was it III(?)- was one of the worst movies I've had to endure. It is a rare movie that can send me to sleep but this one did. 

We need laughs so desperately that we are becoming rather desperate to raise them. What happened to subtle tongue- in- cheek humor, or situational comedy NOT involving SEX? We are waiting to someone to take the center stage and show us what real comedy is. I'm waiting for someone to replace Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. Any takers? 

That said I still maintain that it is easier to elicit tears than laughter. Real laughter that can bring tears to your eyes and make you hold your stomach. Without crudity. Without vulgarity.