Dave Barryisms

Dave Barry is one of the best American sit-down comics (I don't know if he does stand-up comedy) I have read. Here are a couple of his gems from 'Dave Barry Does Japan,' which I am reading slowly, so that I can savour it longer- the way you linger over your favourite ice-cream. Not his exact words, but the jokes are his-

As I got off the plane, I noticed rightaway something unique about Japan. For  lack of a better phrase, I'll call it "lack of height." Every Japanese person was tall as our average school boy, without the guns.

The Bellboy got the luggage into the hotel room, and then did something amazing. He left! In America, he would have stayed with you until you remembered to tip him.


Translation of Japanese people speaking English into American.

Ah- No

I see- No

I will think about your proposal-  It will be sent to the shredder.

Note: The polite Japanese never say no. So the thick-headed Americans need this Guide to Japan to help them understand what's going on, according to Barry.

Odd Ones Out

We sometimes tend to think that the mainstream is what we are better off with. But if being memorable is the objective, it helps to be odd. Odd, isn't it? Examples abound from all fields.

Where would Mousumi Chatterjee be if her teeth were the usual (in the memorability stakes)? Where would Amitabh be without his height? Or Amir without his (the reverse)?

In another sphere, Bollywood songs, I remember a few odd songs for maybe a phrase, maybe an interlude, or just a particular sound in it, though the song itself may not be a great one. For example, there was a song, "Woh pari kahan se laoon, teri dulhan jise banaoon, ke chhori koi pasand na aaye tujhko" which had the chorus singing this line, I think.

Another was from a film called Anjaana, probably a Rajendra Kumar starrer, in which there is a scream, Anjaanaaaa.. at the end of each couplet that sort of stuck in the mind.

'Laila main laila' for its drum beats (Qurbani), a song from Muqaddar ka Sikandar for its 'yalla yalla, o ya allah' refrain, etc.

Mavericks in the ad world stand out, like Prahlad Kakkar. Or Suhel Seth. A beard of unusual shape seems to be one way to stand out, not to mention a pony-tail, so effectively used by a well-known management guru.