IS IT THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF
KAPIL SHARMA SHOW by S. PRABHAKAR
The Kapil Sharma Comedy Show took
a serious and ugly turn with the spat between Kapil and Sunil Grover on flight
in public view. Sunil Grover has
promptly announced that he will no more work with Kapil and to make matters
worse Kapil’s good and childhood friend Chandan also took similar step. As
can be expected it is all over the news and majority are backing Sunil Grover. Sunil Grover has handled the situation very
cleverly and maturely and coming out very clean and as a victim. This unfortunate episode has considerably damaged the
brand `Kapil Sharma’. Once
the hangover of the cocktail was over Kapil has realised his mistake and went
public in apologizing Sunil Grover and
trying his best to get him back.
For a
person giving stage shows in Amritsar and participating in programme in Punjabi
channels with hardly any reach, the success achieved by Kapil Sharma is
phenomenal and it is human and natural to allow success to go to the head to some extent, but at this juncture trying
to shake off Sunil Grover is like ` `apne pair pe khuladhi maar na’.
Staleness has set in Kapil’s acts.
The biggest mistake Kapil and the
channel have collectively done is dragging the show unendingly resulting in overkill. No doubt everyone wants to make hey while
the Sun is shining but they should have done some research to realise that
boredom has set in long back and it is time to give a break and make a comeback
after creating curiosity value. The
programme is depending too heavily on Sunil Grover, who by his sheer
versatility of doing many roles in a single episode and with his perfect and
flawless mimicry (specially the roles of Dr Mashoor Gulati & Rinki Bhabhi) able to carry entire programme on his
shoulders. His popularity and demand
for his spontaneous mad acts at the climax on songs (like the ones in episodes
with Aishwarya and Sharukh Khan) was soaring skywards. This obviously might
have caused lot of discomfort to Kapil, on whose name the programme is
running. 
When Kapil started his career as
a stand up comedian in Great India Laughter Challenge on Star plus, he became
very popular as the Inspector Shemsher Singh.
After winning one edition, he moved to Sony Comedy Circus and appeared
in all editions and turned out to be the most successful comedian amongst other contestants like Krushna,
Sudesh, Bharti and VIP etc. 
But as a
comedian he did a tactical blunder in not relying much on his mimicry talent and donning various roles instead predominantly following single track of running
down his fellow contestants specially female partners episode after episode which can only appeal masses. This brand of comedy is popular with
Pakistani comedians both in Pakistani shows as well as when they were allowed
to participate in comedian shows in India.
They go berserk in insulting all and sundry and even go to the
ridiculous extent of insulting Mother and Father at drop of hat in such
cheap manner by saying that the `entire mohallah is after your Mother’. Sadly
Kapil picked up that trait and scripts were written around the theme of his running
down fellow contestants and his female partners and understably most of his female partners like Sweta
Tiwari got upset and opted out and Kapil
kept on changing his female paratners.
He ultimately zeroed on Sumona Chakravorthy, who preferred to be a dumbo
and continued to be at the receiving end of but of his jokes till
date.
If i were to give one piece of
advise to Kapil, it would have been that in comedy those comedians will be
popular and long enduring who project their innocence, cut jokes on themselves and
does idiotic acts rather than those who try to dominate and insult others. Charlie Chaplin and Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean have mastered this trait
and became house hold names and immortals.
Sunil Grover’s Mashoor Gulati role is in the same mould and Rinku Bhabhi
is just adorable. While moving from Colours
to Sony, Kapil carefully avoided all the popular and screen stealers like Bharti,
Krushna, Sudhesh and VIP and picked lesser known mortals like Ali Asgar,
Chandan who were his co-participants in other shows. Kiku and Sunil Grover were not very popular
in those days and did not enjoy star status.
While roping in them Kapil might not have thought that one day he will
be overshadowed by them, as has happened specially by Sunil Grover. When the Kapil show was with Colours Sunil
Grover stormed as Guthi and gained tremendous popularity besides Asgar Ali and Upasana Singh. On moving to Sony he had to re-create new
roles for all. Ali Asgar lost his charm and popularity as Dadi, but Sunil not
only slipped into Rinku Bhabhi effortlessly but also added new dimension by Dr.
Mashoor Gulati character.
Around the same time Kapil lost
the plot as a comedian, and merely reduced to playing introductory role and
interviewing celebrities in a very repetitive and stale manner. He has become so predictable by asking same
type of questions like what celebrities do in their bathrooms, how did they
enjoy kissing scenes, did you ever thought that one day you will come to Kapil
show, pouncing upon heroines to hug in a distatesful manner and
openly flirting with them, (despite being snubbed many times by Aishwarya,
Raveena and Sonakshi), repeatedly mentioning about his solitary feature film
under production and his paying huge amount of income tax. He becomes so out of control while dealing
with females that once Saina Mirza has to pull him by saying come on she is my Mother
atleast leave her, which is so embarassing, but he kept on repeating that unchartible act with the Mother of Arman Malik and few others. A time has come when episode after episode, apart
from Sunil Gover and Kiku, it is the guests who used to make the programme more
funny and interesting than Kapil. If
one considers the programme on Crys Gale, Bravo, Sabri brothers, Jackey Chan, Sidhu
Family, Govinda and Rishi & Neetu kapoor, Sunil Grover and the guests
completely dominated and proceedings. The moment Sunil Grover makes entry as Dr.
Mashoor Gulati and/or as Rinku bhabhi the programmes lightens up and focus
completely shifts and tempo of the programme picks up and Kapil get almost
sidelined, which must be difficult to digest for the comedian in him, though it
was benefitting him, the channel and the show.
To
have a reality check Kapil should play and see the episode featuring the most
popular martial artist in the world Jackie chan, who has great flair for comedy
too. The much awaited programme fell
flat miserably despite best efforts of Chan in the absence of Sunil grover
. Things were no better in the last
two episodes after the exit of Sunil Grover. Kapil brought in few comedians like Raju Srivastava, Sunil Pal and few more
comedians. They may be good for a change
but in this format they may not fit in and may not be able to fill the void
created by Sunil Grover's absence.
The predicament of Sunil Grover :
Sunil Grover knows that he
shoulders a huge responsibility in making the programme success as Guthi in
earlier Avatar and more so now as Mashoor Gulati and Rinku Bhabhi. This might tempt him to try his luck outside
Kapil Sharma show. His first attempt
to do so was a disaster and his show has not taken off at all and he had to
make a hasty retreat back to Kapil show.
This ugly incident has come as a blessing in disguise for him to
demonstrate how important, if not indispensable, he is for the Kapil Sharma
Comedy show to maintain its premier position.
Though he can surely encash this situation by getting his pay cheque
fatter, he has no other option but to come back, may be on a stronger footing
and better terms.
He is like Vinod
khanna of 1970s, who was so good in doing his bit excellently in multi starrers
but miserably failed to deliver any significant solo hits. Right from Mera Gao Mera Desh (with
Dharmender), to some 6 to 7 super hits with Amitabh in late 70s, including Hera
Pheri, Amar Akbar Anthony, Khoon Pasina and Muquddar ka Sikandar, he shone only in support roles. The same was the case with Shashi Kapoor
too and sooner these two actors realised it and were happy doing their part
well in multi starrer and be in business.
Sunil Grover too may not be able to do anything noteworthy on his own if
what happened earlier is any indication, unless any other channel puts him
together with Krushna and the adorable Sudesh and extremely talented Bharti and
VIP (taking care not to repeat the disastrous mistake of repeating Comedy
nights bachov) and pose a big threat to The kapil Sharma comedy show.
Way forward
Though Kapil and Sony channel may
like to continue with the show and reap as much as they can, it would be
advisable to take a break for some time and regroup with new set of comedians
rather than experimenting with different comedians every week. Few episodes back they brought in Dr.
Sankalp Bhonsle who did a great act of Sanjay Dutt. They also brought in very young and extremely talented
Siddhartha in few episodes but did not give him good author backed character. After some time if we get Kapil Sharma
comedy show in a new avatar and some other comedy show by Sunil Grover and
team, it will be double dhamaka for audience.
As of now it is advantage SUNIL
GROVER.
S. Prabhakar
31.3.2017
