Read

January/February 2008 Alternative Health
Laugh Until You Heal

by Arielle Ford

Rumor has it that the world-renowned director Mira Nair (known for Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake), was in Bombay, stuck in traffic and in the midst of a movie-maker's equivalent of writer's block when she discovered the source of traffic was hundreds of women dressed in white crossing the street. She was so intrigued that she ditched her cab and followed these women with her digital video camera - some time later, The Laughing Club of India was born.

In this compassionate and entertaining documentary, award-winning director Nair has captured a unique slice of life in contemporary India - the laughing clubs. From shop workers laughing to relieve stress, to widows cackling to forget their grief and children gleefully giggling with their teachers, The Laughing Club of India documents thousands of people who come together, foregoing their caste or class to laugh for 40 minutes and create more joy in the world.

This delightful film explores the power of laughter through the popular phenomenon of laughing clubs founded by Madran Kataria, an energetic and laughter-loving Bombay cardiologist. Dr. Kataria's passion for bringing the healing power of laughter to the world comes from a deep belief that laughing daily is the key to happiness and well being. In the early days Dr. Kataria would begin club meetings with jokes to get people laughing but he soon discovered that by just pretending to laugh or simulating laughter, real laughter would soon follow. He invented several different kinds of laughs: the greeter, milkshake and lion.

More than 1,300 laughter clubs now exist throughout the world. The laughing clubs meet in parks, offices, private homes, community centers and rooftops, just about anywhere. Throughout the film we get up close and personal with club participants including a stockbroker, three bawdy women, a musician, a widow laughing to cope with grief, and two old men - friends since school days who meet daily to laugh.

The healing power of laughter has been well documented and has been show to boost the immune system. The Laughing Club of India will inspire you to make laughing a daily practice.

The Spiritual Cinema Circle, America's fastest growing DVD club, features The Laughing Club of India in its January collection along with Knights of the South Bronx, starring Ted Danson. Visit www.spiritualcinemacircle.com.