Indian comedy and humour is associated with fun, joy and pleasure, invoking laughter and jubilance, thus entertaining the audiences to their hearts` content. It provides ample scope for all the Indians to share, to the extent to which an individual will personally find something really humorous and amusing. Content wise is any scene is at all funny or not is quite relative depending on factors like geographical location, culture, maturity, level of education, and context etc. Satirical, Parodies, witty presentations through ridiculing certain persons or any issues as such, provide the amusement of people to an extent. Indian comedy and humour can be traced to the golden era of Akbar , the great Mughal King and his court jester Birbal who was one of the trusted nine advisors, known as navaratna. Birbal`s wit and humorous exchanges with the King later compiled in the form of Birbal stories throwing a glimpse of the eloquent trends of Indian comedy and humour of the ancient era.

The evolution of Indian comedy and humour as an art form has got an interesting history behind it. In the medieval India, a class of the folk entertainers called Nakkal, Bhands, Bahurupi, Bhagatiya had a peculiar style of entertaining people, thereby mingling wonderful performances full of songs and music. The most popular ones of the medieval India, still prevalent in India are the Bhands. They enact with small skits with extempore humour, jokes, criticizing social evils and practices, adding the flavour of their wit and oration. They perform in various social functions like marriages, festivals etc. Their enactment is unique as the content of their performances. Interestingly, there is another interesting skit performed by Bhands. The males enact both in the roles of husband and wife; the wife by her satirical speech and inconsistent behaviour irritates the husband who then starts beating her. This tussle created between the two people highlights the layers of incongruence of married life and also add humour to the programs. Another Bhand performance, which is integrated to the Indian humour and comedy, is the dialogue between the master and his faithful servant. The flamboyant master deputes a servant and provides him strict instructions that he should share with his master information by singing and dancing. If he does any mistake he will be penalized. All the performances of Bhand and other entertainers embellish the arena of Indian comedy and humour of the mediaeval period. Infact the status of Indian comedy and humour can be easily compared to any other art form; it also paved the path of the comedians of the later period in the Indian continent. Film Industry too has produced legends like Mehmood, Mukhri, Asrani, Keshto Mukherjee, Bhanu Bandopadhyay etc and still they are popular in the memories of the people and their works. Johnny Walker is the screens name of Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi a famous Indian comedian, who acted in over 300 movies. Jagdeep, the great comedian is also well remembered for his comic role in Sholay. Moreover the character Soorma Bhopali along with his Bhopal accent earned him to enjoy great success and fame.

In today`s scenario also there is no dearth of Comedians and comedy shows. They all add to the vistas of the jewels of the Indian comedy and humour. Paresh Rawal, Kader Khan, Johnny Lever have provided the audiences the `masti` and laughter in various comedy films like Hera pheri, Hulchul, Hero No 1 etc.

Television too is also productive in ennobling the Indian comedy and humor. Many comedy serials like Dekh Bhai Dekh, Flop Show, Hum Paanch, Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai, Shriman Shrimati, Office Office, Khichdi, Tu Tu Main Main, etc were made just to provide the viewers the enjoyment of pure laughter and entertainment. As recent phenomenon competitions like Great Indian Laughter Show, comedy circus, Mirrakkel etc are organized, thus, proving the future of Indian comedy and humour so hopeful and exuberating.

Indian comedy and humour is rich and boisterous and, thus, becomes an integral part of Indian culture and entertainment which has not transcended the parameters of comic humour to licentiousness.