“What is the secret of your youthfulness?” The question was directed at artist-cum-writer Paul Kallanode. He tried to explain how “being good at heart” can keep one young when actor Mamukoya, sitting next to him, snatched the microphone, unable to resist the opportunity. “A lot of people ask me a similar question. They want to know the secret of my good looks!” He continued: “Chathalum parayoola (I won’t divulge it even if I have to die).” This triggered a laughter riot.
The event was the fifth session of ‘Khalbile Kozhikode’, the nostalgic story-telling sessions organised as part of the 225th anniversary of St. Joseph’s Boys’ Higher Secondary School here.
The topic being ‘Kozhikode’s ability to appreciate art and its humour’, it was an opportunity to recall some known and unknown people of the city who were genuinely humorous, Ramdas Vaidyar being the front-runner.
“The man who conducted a ‘Virooparani contest’, the man who honoured the washing stone at Muthalakkulam for bearing with washermen during the day and mud-slinging by politicians at night,” is how Anoop G., curator of ‘Khalbile Kozhikode’, described him.
However, Mamukoya brought to attention some of the rather unknown people whose humourous comments had often been adapted for cinema: Kunjava who lives near Bombay Hotel; Undakkakka whose humour laced with innuendos, and Majeed, brother of musician M.S. Baburaj.
“Whatever Vaikom Muhammed Basheer and C.H. Muhammed Koya spoke turned out to be humourous,” veteran journalist N.P. Rajendran said, giving an account of his encounters with satire in his much appreciated column ‘Visheshal Prathi’.
Paul Kallanode spoke about the notorious jokes from his days as a teacher at St. Joseph’s school.
“As important as humour is the capacity to enjoy humour, and Kozhikode is rich in it,” Mamukoya said.
Khalbile Kozhikode discusses various facets of the city each day. It will conclude on January 24.
