by BG Mohandas
Dubai, May 15: Laughter should be used as a coping mechanism for stress, though it seems to only be used as an outlet for the emotion produced by humor or happiness. Do we laugh because we are happy, or are we happy because we laugh? Both of these are probably true, but we only exercise the former. Laughter is a fascinating phenomenon that works like a medicine. Although most drugs affect everyone differently, laughter is always the same. It exercises your entire body, causing you to feel relaxed and pain free.
The fact that laughter is good for one's health should be quite evident. So why not laugh? When one laughs, it is like taking a drug, yet there is no such thing as an overdose or, "laughter toxicity," as Kataria says. Maybe we can now say "A laugh a day keeps the doctor away."
The recent success of comedy movies, shows and stage presentations can be attributed to this phenomenon.
A welcome over dose of laugh inducing stimuli in the form of ‘Chutuku’, ‘Nage Baraha’, ‘Hasya Bashana’ were administered to discerning audience at an unique event “Nage Suggi’ staged by the members of the ‘Dwani Pratistana’ on Friday 12th May at Indian Association Auditorium Sharjah. This programme is the brain child of Prakash Payyar and presented under the aegis of http://www.kannadadhvani.com.
It was indeed a very exceptional programme which provided a heart full of laugh in a true Kannada way.
The evening began with cool Kannada Bhava Gayana presented by Ranjani Suresh, Rajesh Holla, Raviraj Tantry, Anupama and Shankaranaryana. Dinesh Talithaya provided the Key Board facility. This one hour entertainment lifted the mood of the audience and set a stage for what followed next.
‘Hasya Kavi Gosti’ took off with a brief intro by the coordinator Prakash Rao Payyar who opened the session with quote from Di Vi Gi’s ‘Manku Thimma’.
Rajani Bhat’s ‘miss’ gave a teasing start to the session. Mangala Shetty’s fast paced array of social humour; Arshad’s lifestyle based collections; ‘Hanigavanagalu’ by Ranjani Suresh laced with Seetharamiah’s ‘naga baarade’ took the audience to a new mode of pure entertainment which refreshed the mind and rejuvenated the feelings. Laughing though refreshing is contagious. So was the mood in the audience when Dubai’s ‘Chutuku Raaja’ well known Irshad Moodbidri enteerd the stage. His recital was followed by the new talent Roshan Arthur Pereira whose ‘Kanasina Cheluve’ rendered in fast track was received well. Later Shankaranarayana, Gopinath Rao, Iranna Moolimani provided variety to this session.
The ‘Chutuku’ session was followed by the ‘Haasya Bashana’ enacted by talented performers. Versatile Gopika Mayya donned a new robe and introduced her “Gunda jokes’ with lot of action and voice modulation and was followed by Extra Premium fuelled jokes by Mangala Shetty. Both succeeded in inducing vibrant and witty ambiance to the proceedings.
What followed was rather ‘serious comedy’ presentation by Dr. Sashikala Shetty who recalled the history of ‘Nage Baraha’ and how it is now being appreciated for its literary content. The voice and poise of this well researched presentation was good and added literary value to this function.
K.R Tantri gave a bit of ‘tulu touch’ with ‘Uppadu’ and presented ‘Kiskinda Kaanda’ to take back the audience to what they came for ‘to laugh & relax.’
Kasturi Moolimani with her natural flair added ‘Uppadu’, ‘Kaara’ and ‘Payasa’ with her classic comedy flicks. Later the laugh riot extended as many dignitaries joined the chorus - Sarvotham Shetty, Shanakranarayan, Mani Mohan Rai and Ganesh Rai added diversity.
With so much variety & diversity around, one man provided the vital link by delivering energy boosting anecdotes with well-timed precision. He is as you all guessed was Ananth Rao. To anchor a program like this is challenging and that too to make it lively & humorous calls for a versatile talent. And Ananth suited well and lived up to the expectations. Rajani Bhat gave a good support.
At the beginning of this humorous function the Guests of Honor; Sarvotham Shetty, Ashok Shetty and Suresh Kukkilaya were welcomed with bouquets of gratitude.
At the end, all the participants were presented with a token of remembrance and appreciation.
In all, it can be said that the audience enjoyed as they got what they anticipated. Kudos to the organsiers and sponsors who made it happen for the second consecutive year.