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The Top 25 Funniest Scenes in Hindi Cinema
Sukanya Verma compiles the most LOL-worthy scenes we've seen in Hindi films till date.
Writer Stephen King says, 'Any fool with steady hands and a working set of lungs can build up a house of cards and then blow it down, but it takes a genius to make people laugh.'
The man's absolutely right. Slapstick, sharp, subtle or stupid, the objective of a comedy, in all its forms and facets, is never about making sense but light of everything. To ensure its viewer has a ball, leaves behind his/her worries and soak in the cheerful vibe.
But to formulate such impulsive gaiety requires a paradoxical combination of structure and scatter bound with accuracy and levity.
So here's the good deed of the day, my pick of Bollywood's 25 most memorable comic scenes, in chronological order that never fail to tickle the funny bone.
P:S: Have some more to share? Spread the cheer on the message board, will ya?
Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, 1958
The black and white classic is an exercise in drollness.
Among its many ha-ha moments is the time the famously anti-woman Ashok Kumar stutters to explain the discovery of a girl's picture under his bed, at the hands of a playful Madhubala, in front of his dumbfounded (yet secretly vindicated) brothers -- Anoop and Kishore Kumar.
Half Ticket, 1962
There's unbelievable gratification to be found in Kishore Kumar's adorable transformation from a witty bloke to an overgrown boy lisping his way out of trouble (Read Pran) in the endlessly fun, Half Ticket.
Team Munna Forever!
Bhoot Bangla, 1965
Mehmood and Rahul Dev Burman engage in a ballet of petrified expressions even as they brave their way into a ridiculously haunted mansion.
Trust the ace comedian and filmmaker to produce such epic results with his peculiar blend of horror and comedy.
Pyar Kiye Ja, 1966
'Aa-oh. Aa-oh.' Mehmood's sound effects. Om Prakash's spontaneity. On screen genius.
Laugh. Learn.
Padosan, 1968
Kishore Kumar's prowess rubs off on Sunil Dutt as he delivers the funniest role of his career in the comical gem, Padosan.
Here, Dutt's disastrous attempt to learn singing scoops out sidesplitting laughs out of each and every one of us.
Chupke Chupke, 1975
Even if you're not a Botany buff, there's simply no forgetting 'K-O-R-O-L-A', is there?
That's corolla, in Bachchan speak.
Sholay , 1975
Gaonwalon!
Does a certain Dharmendra's drunken stupor, following a rejected marriage proposal, which leads to a bogus suicide attempt, ring a bell?
Romance, action, tragedy, comedy -- Sholay is the master of all trades.
Amar Akbar Anthony, 1977
Often, reel-life intoxication leads to memorably hilarious moments.
A sneak peek at a sulky Amitabh Bachchan having an 'I-told-you-so' conversation with his mirror reflection.
Moral of the scene: Daru mat pi, mat pi, mat pi.
Golmaal, 1979
Hrishikesh Mukerjee's films always packed in tons of 'nirmal anand' wherein none of the cleverly-penned humour was in-your-face.
One of his most celebrated comedies, Golmaal, too, works on this theory by simply allowing its most delightful virtue, Utpal Dutt to unleash the humour in his tone, timing and physicality.
Chashme Buddoor, 1981
Not every humour feels the need to talk or look silly.
Farookh Shaikh and Deepti Naval's first-ever interaction as they bond over detergent in Sai Paranjape's frothy rom-com underscores that the awkwardness enveloping strangers bears its own brand of wit.
Angoor, 1982
Gulzar's take on A Comedy of Errors showcases the goofy side of Sanjeev Kumar like no other.
Just watch his reactions while reading a racy thriller in one of Angoor's many chuckle-worthy sequences to know what I mean.
Namak Halal, 1982
Even the stiffest of upper lips will give into Big B's charm as he takes on the role of a fly-swatting rescuer of his 'Maalik' in a boardroom full of loony inhabitants.
Outright hilarious, this.
Satte Pe Satta, 1982
With this one, of course, it's AB's turn to become red-faced after Hema Malini discovers his conspiracy to dishonestly woo her and bombards him with insults of the tallest order.
Dream Girl? Yeah right!
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, 1983
Until 1983, no one knew Mahabharata's most dramatic and significant chapter had such outstanding potential to amuse.
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron is a brilliant satire the whole time but the farcical peak it achieves on stage is unprecedented.
Chameli Ki Shaadi, 1986
How to take failure in your stride?
Watch Anil Kapoor and Amrita Singh in action.
It's not just the nature of their discussion but the utter nonchalance and wonderful lack of remorse they conduct it with that makes Chameli Ki Shaadi, all of it, so amusing and awesome.
Baazigar, 1993
'Anarkali ka phone tha. Ice cream khana zaroori hai' -- Johnny Lever. 'Nuff said.
Andaz Apna Apna, 1994
There's not one serious moment, not one I repeat, and that's no mere exaggeration, in the giggle fest called Andaz Apna Apna.
While picking one scene is pointless, here's the current epitome of 'cool' Salman Khan shutting between the lady love and loo.
The side effect of this side splitting joke: Associating oranges with diarrhea since 1994.
Deewana Mastana, 1997
Unapologetically loud and undeniably funny, it's time for Govinda's ishtyle humour as he gets into a war of 'dhinchak' repartees with an equally equipped Satish Kaushik in the David Dhawan comedy, Deewana Mastana.
Chachi 420, 1998
It's not hard to understand what makes Kamal Haasan's super cute Laxmi Godbole such a hit with the guys -- Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal.
'Khareeda kaise usko?' Black mein.
Hera Pheri, 2000
Another comedy high on roll-on-the-floor-laughing vignettes, Priyadarshan's Hera Pheri has plenty to titter about.
But it's their 'Kabeera Speaking' phone call to Kulbushan Kharbanda that plays up Paresh Rawal's loopy antics, Suniel Shetty's lumbering inexperience and Akshay Kumar's crafty brain to its fullest.
Dil Chahta Hai, 2001
Aamir Khan's wicked practical jokes have made life hell (if not a man) of a lot of people on this slide show.
Up next, it's Saif Ali Khan's turn to play bakra for which he faces music (heavy metal, no less) from his dictator girlfriend Suchitra Pillai).
No Entry, 2005
For most part, the Anees Bazmee comedy is on the absurd side but its unabashedly fun climax is a standalone piece.
Salman Khan and Anil Kapoor exhibit some superlative comic timing as they hang on for their dear lives, quite literally at that, to engage in the most uproarious conversation of their existence.
Khosla Ka Ghosla, 2006
Dibakar Banerjee's directorial debut and writer Jaideep Sahni's zingy flavours bring back the era of masterful comedies.
Remember what the wall sign reads?
Jab We Met, 2007
Filmi fundas are incurably impractical.
But they sure make sense on celluloid. Like how abusing the offender to one's heart's content can lead to instant gratification.
And Kareena Kapoor's conviction as she ascends from hesitant monosyllables to a full-blown verbal attack warrantees both -- approval and a big, broad grin.
3 Idiots, 2009
Everybody, on and off the screen, burst into peals of laughter as Chatur makes a complete fool of himself and the subjects of his tribute at a college function, again courtesy Aamir's Ctrl+F prank on the proverbial teacher's pet in Rajkumar Hirani's blockbuster entertainer.
Subsequently, it is Omi Vaidya's Chatur who had the last laugh since the role earned him nationwide recognition even though he hasn't exactly lived up to the initial impact.