Indian Mythology – A Graphic Look
by Pujitha Krishnan
Where are comic books and graphic novels in India today? Stories in Indian mythology are filled with larger-than-life characters who range from the flawless to demonic with every shade in between.
Hindu mythology lends itself very well to being captured in graphic novels. The scale is large and the visuals are only limited by the creator’s imagination. Are they doing justice to this large canvas of the past? More pertinently, are they able to offer an understanding of the world today and forge a connection with the youth of the times?
Bhavit Mehta‘s (Director of the DSC South Asian Literature Festival and publisher) visual treat of a presentation took us from the days of Chandamama, Amar Chitra Katha and Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan to the graphic novels of today: Virgin’s Devi series, Fluid comic’s DevaShard (story of Karna), Campfire’s Classic and Mythology series.
Joining Mehta on the panel were graphic novelist Sarnath Banerjee and comic expert Paul Gravett. The discussion centred around the fate of comic book houses in India – many of which have come and gone in the past 10 years, not having caught the imagination of the readers.
Multi-headed demons, flying gods, all-powerful creatures, epic battles which are all the stuff of Indian mythology have rather universal appeal, but somehow, Gravett believes, these themes have somehow not easily crossed over to readers outside India.
Perhaps this is where Banerjee’s works are more relevant, as they deal with current situations. He writes for the people who want to read about their own lives, perhaps creating new myths for this modern world.
Share this article
Close
