Comedy has been existent in Indian movies, initially as only an essential part of feature films and today as an independent genre, very significant in commercial cinema. So has the work of Indian film comedians who seek to entertain the audience by making them laugh through their performances and comic timing in pertaining situations, scenes and sequences. This is established through jokes and humorous situations, or acting a fool as in clowning or employing additional comedy or otherwise. In contemporary times, offbeat films or Parallel Cinema also encompass implicit comedy. Indian film industry is privileged with many talented comic actors, working in Bollywood and different regional films.
Hindi Film Comedians
The Hindi film industry has seen some of the most prolific comedians who have made its audience go splits while watching their films. Actors like Johnny Walker, Mehmood, Paintal, Asrani, Kader Khan, Govinda, Paresh Rawal, Anupam Kher, Johnny Lever, Javed Jaffrey, Rajpal Yadav, Keshto Mukherjee, Jagdeep and Shakti Kapoor are some of the most notable film comedians of Bollywood. Asrani featured in films like "Sholay" (1975), `Himmatwala` (1983) and myriad other films playing supporting roles in aid of comic relief. Johnny Walker was one of the earliest comedians in Indian Cinema who acted in myriad Hindi films from "Baazi" (1951) and "Devdas" (1955) to "Hum Dono" (1985) and "Chachi 420" (1997). Mehmood and Paintal are regarded two of the greatest comic actors in the history of Hindi Cinema. Paresh Rawal is regarded one of the most versatile actors on screen, having played multiple sorts of comic roles, most remembered being Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in the 2000 cult classic comedy "Hera Pheri". Govinda has acted in numerous Hindi films, his most remembered comic roles being those in "Aankhen", "Raja Babu", "Hero No. 1" and "Haseena Maan Jayegi". Johnny Lever has portrayed supporting comic characters in countless Hindi films. Veteran actor Anupam Kher has convincingly justified multiple comic roles in films like "Ram Lakhan", "Lamhe", "Darr", "Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin", "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" amongst others. He has won the erstwhile Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role maximum number of times, a total of 5. Keshto Mukherjee acted in multiple Hindi films, specialising in drunkard comic roles.
Bengali Film Comedians
Utpal Dutta, Bhanu Banerjee, Rabi Ghosh, Anup Kumar, Rudranil Ghosh, Chinmoy Roy and Santosh Dutta are actors in Bengali films who are notable comedians. Utpal Dutta was primarily a theatre personality and undoubtedly one of the most versatile actors that the subcontinent had produced. He also played many villainous roles with his characteristic comic tinge. His comic role in the film `Gol Maal` (1979) is well remembered. His most known roles in Bengali films include Mrinal Sen"s "Bhuvan Shome" (1969), Satyajit Ray"s "Agantuk" (1991), Gautam Ghose"s "Padma Nadir Majhi" (1993). Bhanu Banerjee`s roles in films like "Share Chuattar", `Bhrantibilash`, `Pasher Bari` were much acclaimed. Films like `Nanigopaler Biye`, `Basanto Bilap`, `Dhonni Meye` are hilarious Bengali comedy movies.
Tamil Film Comedians
Actors Chandrababu, Ganja Karuppu, Karunas, Goundamani, Santhanam, Thengai Srinivasan, Vadivelu, Senthil and Nagesh are some of the distinguished Tamil Film comedians of the country. Films like `Kadalikka Neramillai`, `Thenali`, `Thillu Mullu`, `Boos Engira Baskaran`, `Kalavani`, `Michael Madana Kamarajan`, `Sathi Leelavathi` and `Pasanga` are some well-known comedy films of Tamil cinema.
Kannada Film Comedians
Narasimha Raju, Komal, Tennis Krishna, Mandeep Roy, Doddanna, Bullet Prakash, Rekha Das, Sadhu Kokila, Dinesh, Lokesh, Dheerendra Gopal, Kunigal Nagabhushan are some of the popular comic performers in the Kannada film industry. Colloquially referred to as Sandalwood, Kannada Cinema has seen significant comedy films like `Bedara Kannapa`, `Makkala Rajya`, `Vaalmiki`, `Ee Hrudaya Ninagaa`, `Jeevana Chaitra`, `Namma Oora Devath`, `Paduvarahalli Pandavaru`, `Nagarahavu` and `Chandu`.
Telugu Film Comedians
Actors Allu Rama Lingaiah, Chalam, Girija, Ali, Kovai Sarala, Babu Mohan, Chandramohan, Allari Naresh, Naresh, Nagesh, Sudhakar, Raghu Babu, Suthivelu, Sunil are few of the distinguished names in comedy in Telugu Cinema, while `Gamyam`, `Allare Allari`, `Donga Ramadu`, `Mundadugu`, `Mooga Manasulu`, `Chanti`, `Mundhanai Mudichu`, `Vasantha Ragam`, `Pellaniki Premalekha Priyuraliki Subhalekha`, `Big Boss`, `Stoovertpuram Police Station`, `Fools`, `Sankranthi`, `Yamudiki Mogudu`, `Appula Appa Rao` and `All The Best` are amongst the most famed comedy films.
