Ever hanker for that “Sholay” fix ? You know, the one where Veeru goes “gaonwalo” and means YOU ? If you did, nirvana is in sight. Star’s stand-up comedy show “The Great Indian Laughter Challenge” is calling out to contestants for the new season, and they do it in a very Sholay-esque style. And while the show itself is unwatchable currently because of it’s sexist jokes and lets-paw-the-hostess attitude, the advertisement pretty much hits the spot. It’s got a Dharam-paaji style voice, complete with swagger and drunken attitude, a la Veeru, exhorting the viewers to gain fame – “Famous hona chahte ho ? To gaonwalo , apna DVD/tape/VCD yahaan bhejo . . .” A little re-phrased, but that’s pretty much what he’s saying.

Besides bringing back memories of Sholay, and the time when I actually saw Sholay, it tickles me no end to see the very modern junta of Star TV viewers addressed as “gaonwalo”. Essentially “village-people”. And philosophically, nothing wrong with that. After all the world is one big village, no ?

Now if only they’d get the master-minds behind that advert. to actually direct the show itself, the show might actually regain it’s sense of humor.