Bollywood’s comedy genre was once known for its cleverness and originality.
Now it’s stuck in a loop of old jokes and outdated tropes.
The whopping budget of Housefull 5 ( reportedly ₹225 crore) makes one uncomfortable question: why does a film with such resources deliver comedy that’s almost two decades old?
Despite the resources at hand, the film relies heavily on old gags, most of the comedy is innuendo and objectification of women, reducing women to props.
This isn’t because of lack of talent but lack of investment in good writing.
In earlier decades writers like Salim-Javed were given credit and compensation and the scripts became classics.
Today Bollywood is more interested in star power and spectacle than in nurturing original and clever scripts.
So we get slapstick and offensive humour and no effort to create relatable or memorable characters.
Audiences have evolved and so have their expectations.
Clever situational comedy rooted in good writing and character development resonates much more than regressive jokes or loud antics.
If Bollywood wants to revive its comedy genre it has to start valuing and investing in good writers.
Only then big budgets will translate into good films and not just expensive junk.
