Deven Verma didn't need sex jokes to make us laugh

Deven Verma is no more. The ace comedian of yesteryears whose humorous antics have titillated the Indian audience for the past four decades almost, had been living a quiet, retired life in Pune.  Verma, who worked in 149 films that included blockbusters such as Angoor, Khatta Meetha, Naastik and Rang Birangi decided to retire not just because he wanted to rest after a lifetime of hard work, but also because the new generation in the film industry appalled him!

His last film was Calcutta Mail, after that he permanently said good bye to Bollywood. Verma belonged to that genre of actors who did not care about the role they played - all that mattered for them was how much life they could infuse in their performance. It was neither penury, nor dearth of employment opportunities that made him do roles that were small - but the profound love for his work which impelled him to grab all opportunities that could whet his acting skills.

And we could see that in films like Angoor, Chor ke Ghar Chori and Chori Mera Kaam, though he was merely being a comedian, he almost carried the films on his shoulders. No wonder he got Filmfare's best comedian award for them.

It is natural for us to forget a man like Verma at a time when comedy in Bollywood means sick, sex jokes! Films like Ye Kya Ho Raha Hai, Oops, Grand Masti, Kya Kool Hain Hum have thrust homour to the murkiest abyss. Now, comedy is just about a bunch of dunderheads ogling girls, passing lewd comments and trying desperately to bring them to bed and then what churns out in between is for us to believe as comedy! Surely, sitcoms today are in a sorry, abysmal state with pornstars now taking the lead (Yes, you are right, I'm talking about Sunny Leone, who now plans to tickle the funny bone after her pettings and pantings have failed in films). So, what would a man like Verma have done in times like these - either he would have submitted to this mindless mayhem by turning vulgar by lustfully looking at hot heroines and cracking stinking jokes - or he would have just disappeared, as he did!

Deven Verma was the king of standard comedy. His humour was free from cheap and vulgar jest. He made you laugh with his expressions, with his outstanding dialogue delivery and with the way he reacted to situations in the plot. As a comedian, Verma was like RK Laxman’s common man, with whom the general public identified. Be it the innocent servant, the right minded husband who was afraid of his mother-in-law, the funny friend or the humorous care taker - he breathed life in his roles, making them livid and lifelike!

His jokes were subtle and deep and his antics affable, Verma belonged to that golden era of cinema when life was simple and happiness not just an occasional episode in the general drama of pain. This unbeatable Czar of untainted hilarity is no more with us - but his sepia reels and his sui generis comedy will continue to hold the bar high for generations to emulate.