‘Vellanakalude Naadu’, which has aired its 82nd episode this yesterday, has never run out of topics or situations to lampoon. The sitcom broadcast in Asianet every Sunday is currently one of the most favoured shows in Kerala and has succeeded in evoking the raw humour within an average Malayalee. A group of people all brought together under one roof, take a dig at events, both political and familial, that affect the common man in one way or another.
The situations could be serious or frivolous, like the dig at Kerala government officials or at famous snake catcher Vava Suresh. The characters who appear on the screen always bear similar names to the actual person.
“The idea was born when we realised that there were no such shows being aired in Malayalam television. Yes, there were sitcoms being broadcast in rival channels, like Marimayam, but they focus only on satirising situations that take place in government offices,” shares K V Sasikumar, who has had a successful stint as senior producer with Asianet over the years.
There are two neighbouring families and a group of other characters who appear in new roles every week. The main characters are essayed by Senthil Kumar, who plays Manjulan and Kunjumol by Anjana Appukuttan.
“All the actors that play the characters in the sitcom are full-fledged serial actors who have had years of experience playing less serious characters. The show has given them a new lease of life,” Sasikumar adds.
Even though serials rule most of the space in the mini-screen, sitcoms like these have a greater viewership, claims the veteran producer.
“Serials have an audience who are addicted to them. But, it is not a general audience as some of them are not comfortable with stories of broken families or ‘paingily’. But even the most serious person would laugh at a situational comedy. Because, that is the way, we Malayalees are tuned,” he adds.
The latest episode was a comical take on the lack of facilities not available in vital intensive centres in hospitals. Also, there will be a situational comedy which deals with a wife not wanting to have a child, while the husband is being persistent than ever.