From Pappu to Oprah

      The advancing spring has unfurled the leafy Maple buds and revealed their lovely shapes and fresh spring tones. Above you can see (from left to right) samples of Canadian, American and Japanese maples. Pretty global.

      Speaking of global, I think if you have a global mind-set, then comedy can erupt in the most unexpected ways. Here is an anecdote that I would like to share, to illustrate this point. Last December, while in Mumbai, our car was stuck in five mixed lanes of bumper to bumper traffic. It was getting to be dull so the driver turned the radio on. In the words of Pink Floyd it was like taking away the moments that make a dull day! He hooked up to a station called radio mirchi, which airs trendy and popular songs. I was all game to it.

      When the music began, the lyrics totally cracked all of us with smiles and laughter. It was as if the lyricist had globalized Bollywood masala. To the traditional beat of Bharat natyam music, the lyrics had mixed Hindi and English with mention of Gucci, France, MBA etc. It was funny because it sounded more like a matrimonial column for a foreign returned, highly eligible bachelor. The bottom line being that inspite of having great credentials, it didn’t mean much because Pappu (the bachelor) couldn’t dance. Here are the lyrics to this song.

      Well if they haven’t made you laugh yet, then check out its film version and listen to its catchy tune. Anyway after returning to the United States, this song took a funnier twist. One evening I was watching Larry King interview Oprah Winfrey. She was telling Larry that all of her fame, fortune and accomplishments did not mean anything because she could not control her weight. A spark flew in my mind and I began singing:

Tirkit daana tirkit daana…

Hai popular hai muscular

Oprah ki gaddi tez hai

Oprah kudiyon mein craze hai

But Oprah can’t become patla

Tirkit daana tirkit daana…

Talk about creating comedy by global juxtaposition of lyrics

Ratna

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