Comics are more than just a combination of images and texts. They nurture us in our growing years and for some of us, they continue to do that to date.
Comics aren't just for kids. The fact that the superhero comic brands like Marvel and DC went on to attract a global audiences across all ages in recent times is a testimonial.
I come from a then small town named Vizag and as a kid, my access to comics was very limited. I vividly remember the day I got my hands on a Tinkle and Chacha Chaudhary for the first time. I was suffering from chicken pox and one of my uncles gave me some Amar Chitra Katha comics to cheer me up. That definitely made me smile. I was instantly hooked and demanded for more (it's funny how persistent I was even as a child) and my parents had to succumb to it. A few months later, I got introduced to the world of Amar Chitra Katha.
Cut to a summer in the late 80s - I was at my Aunt's for a staycation. Little did I know, my cousins had these huge bound collections of Amar Chitra Katha. My eyes lit up on the first sight of them and it was probably the first time I was totally mesmerized by any art and literature. I had never read something like it before and found new wings to fly across those ages with my imagination. The stories from our Indian history and culture had all the elements to take you on an emotional journey and the Amar Chitra Katha series brought that to us with such exemplary narration and art. (The best part is they bring these stories to us as authentic as they are.)
The art of ACK is sheer brilliance. The character sketches, the fonts, colours and designs are all very peculiar. I believe these to be the strong points of the brand which can captivate it's audience even in these times of technological advancement.
As an adult, I still revisit my collection of Amar Chitra Katha comics to bring back that child in me. It’s like therapy when I am low and looking for some positive energy inside of me. A huge thank you to Mr. Anant Pai and his team of writers for creating such an epic brand of comics for the children of India and now the world too. A special mention to Mr. Rana Daggubatti for his involvement and efforts to reach out to the millenials with a digital facelift of the brand. Power to you guys!
And lastly, a shout out to all parents - please introduce your kids to the world of Amar Chitra Katha. It’s not just fun and fascination but will also teach them a lot about art, literature, culture and morality.
ACK - Always an inspiration for Madi Things!