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Fun quotient quite intact
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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The ‘Crazy’ team is at it again. Now it’s laughter time with ‘Chocolate Krishna.’
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HILARIOUS: Chocolate Krishna
Mohan and fun are inseparable — the latest ‘Crazy’ creation proves it yet again. God’s arrival at the devotee’s abode is an age old theme. It is in mixing it with hilarious and highly imaginative incidents that the comed
y writer scores. Who else but Mohan could have thought of the dog in the Hutch commercial as a potential character in a socio-religious drama?
The first best thing about ‘Crazy’s latest stage offering is its tautness — the rib-tickling session goes only for a little longer than an hour and a half. The second is, he hasn’t borrowed generously from his own earlier plays and made matters repetitive. That could have spoilt the charm and freshness of ‘Chocolate Krishna.’ (The title isn’t too relevant, but it’s definitely catchy.) The jokes are original, the characters new (but for the thieving grandma — a watered down version of S.N.Lakshmi’s portrayal in ‘Michael Madhana Kama Rajan’) and the situations refreshing.
None can dismiss this ‘Chocolate Krishna’ as a mere string of gags. The message-oriented story is rather atypical of Mohan because it’s a much more mature line that he toes this time. Of course, within the framework of his characteristic levity!
Unfulfilled desires
Maadhu (Balaji) is a struggling salesman in a chocolate company and an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. He, his father, sister, wife — each lives with unfulfilled desires, when the Lord suddenly decides to descend and solve their problems. But can humans be easily satisfied? It’s God’s turn to learn …
Balaji’s trademark timing, modulation and expressions continue to tickle the funny bone in ‘Chocolate Krishna.’ And Mohan’s ‘Krishna’ complete with a pair of glasses and moustache, keeps the fun machine rolling till the end.
You don’t have any one making a claim to great portrayals here. But vying for the top slot in slapstick is Parthiban as the general manager.
In the television interview where Krishna decides to taunt him, the actor has you in splits. And close on his heels come the ‘dogs!’
Sometimes main characters forgot their lines and at times reactions were given the go-by at the recent Narada Gana Sabha show organised by Round Table India for their charity ventures. But you don’t attach too much importance to gaffes in a ‘Crazy’ play where clean comedy is the mainstay. At many a point, Mohan impresses you with intelligent hilarity.
Don’t expect too strong a story — ‘Krishna’ could disappoint you. Don’t for a moment think that it has no sober undertones. ‘…Krishna’ will surprise you. Engaging for the most part, with the momentum losing out only for a while in the second half, ‘Chocolate Krishna’ will keep you tittering with its witty one-liners and crazy connectivity with the Lord!
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
|
