Wholesome entertainment is perhaps the best way to define Comedy Utsavam on Flowers TV. A programme that helped many unsung artistes to showcase their talent, Comedy Utsavam has completed 100 episodes. And Mithilaj, the show’s director, is walking on air. In a chat with Friday Review , he says that the team never expected the show to go this far.
“There was a slot for a comedy on the channel. Initially, we had our apprehensions because mimicry-based shows were losing their audience on Malayalam television. People were fed up with insipid content doled out by the same performers imitating the same personalities. So three months prior to its launch, we conducted auditions for mimicry artistes in three cities. Then we knew that we were on the right track,” he says.
From a weekly show, it evolved into a programme that is telecast five days a week. “Quite an achievement because we never thought that we would get enough artistes to run the show! Many of the participants became scene-stealers and some of them returned with new lines and new themes,” he adds.
Fresh take
The format of the series seems to have clicked with the audience. One of the segments has two mimicry artistes pitted against each other. They have to imitate personalities they haven’t mimicked before. In due course, some of the rounds had to be dropped. “For example, there was a segment for stand-up comedians. We soon realised that there aren’t many good stand-up comedians around and so we dropped that segment. Another segment we discontinued was the recreation of iconic characters in Malayalam cinema,” he explains.
Instead, they introduced a round that featured artistes and groups who had become stars of viral videos on social media.
Turning point
Mithilaj is happy that the show could change the lives of a lot of talented people. “That doesn’t mean we focus on sob stories. The spotlight is on their talent. Nevertheless, many of the artistes we featured in the show got a new lease of life. Some have become celebrities; some have become financially sound; a few were able to get treatment for their ailments,” he points out.
The team is now on a talent hunt across Kerala, from Kasaragod to Kanyakumari. It is specially meant for those artistes who can’t afford to attend auditions. “Either they can’t meet the travel expense or they may not be healthy enough to travel. So we are reaching out to them. They can showcase any skill that they have, not just mimicry. After the auditions in Kasaragod, Kannur and Kozhikode, we identified nearly 400 amazing performers,” he says.
In Kasaragod, they held auditions to identify talents among Endosulfan victims. Later this month, the team will travel to tribal settlements in Wayanad. “We often hear about many talented people who waste away because of the lack of a platform to showcase their skill. So these auditions might prove to be a lifeline for such people,” he adds. The auditions are open to all.
Living a dream
Mithilaj says that mimicry and movies have been a constant in his life since childhood. “I was quite the adventurous kind. I worked as an assistant for a telefilm when I was in class nine, although my job was to use the clapboard before each shot! I was so much into mimicry that I fell behind in studies. So my family packed me off to Tamil Nadu, where I did my diploma in computer engineering. But that couldn’t change me much,” he smiles.
He was a banker for a year in West Asia, but left it to get a chance to assist film directors. He has been an animator, was employed with a company in Chennai and later in Technopark. That eventually opened the doors to the television industry. He worked with a production house that did programmes for Amrita TV and later opened his own production house.
Then came his stint with Mazhavil Manorama where he was among the first recruits. “I was the coordinator for many programmes, a notable one being Katha Ithu Vare . After I left the channel, I worked as coordinator and director of Sreekandan Nair Show on Surya TV,” he says.
On Flowers TV, he has produced the satire Nadodikattu and second season of Comedy Super Nite . “I am proud about Comedy Super Nite because we could bring in many stars from Tollywood on the floor – Vikram, Vishal, Arya, Karthi, Jeeva… The big moment was when Adoor Gopalakrishnan sir became a part of the show!” says the 35-year-old.
Coming back to Comedy Utsavam , Mithilaj gives all credit to his crew, the groomers, the judges — Tini Tom, Bijukuttan, Guiness Pakru and Kalabhavan Prajod, and anchor Mithun. “They all give valuable inputs and bring in new artistes to the show. Each person who is associated with the show, right from the security personnel to the cleaning staff, think of it as their own show. That’s the reason why we felicitated each of them at our 100th episode celebration. This show is my life...”
It is telecast Monday to Friday on Flowers TV at 8.30 pm
