A youth from Pune has got the distinction of releasing the first graphic novel in India. ‘Private Eye The Anonymous’ was released in the city on Thursday. The book is written by Tejas Modak, a 25 year old graphic artist.
Though graphic novels have a cult of their own all over the world, there is none in India. Keeping this in mind, Tejas have written this graphic novel about a detective who likes humour. Accordingly, even though the novel is a thriller story, it is written in a humorous way.
"Basically graphic novels are a part of the comics but they are different in a way that in comics, same sets of characters appear again and again. But in novels, there is a different story each time. Also a graphic novel is balanced in terms of visuals and text also," Modak said about this art form.
The book is published by Westland Books and Tranquebar Press. Tejas was used to write articles in newspapers in the
past and works in an animation company now. "I have managed to blend these two elements in the novel successfully," he says.The Book
According to Tejas, he always liked the suspense stories and also humorous books. He used to imagine himself doing the stuff. He has portrayed the same fantasies with a different character.
The book has a advantage that the text and drawings are done by the same person. The visuals are done in new ways generally avoiding the standard styles.
I find it strange, you being a journalist touching every topic under the sun, when you say Private Eye Anonymous is the first graphic novel of India when it is sixth. Corridor by Sarnath Banerjee was the first, then followed The Barn Owl's Wondrous Capers, The Believers, Kashmir Pending, and Kari, the last being a superior work than the rest.
ReplyDeleteThere is cult following for graphic novels in India. I see more and more bookshelves in major book shops carrying graphic novels. Perhaps, we are reading American or British because here it is yet to be established. Here our Alan Moore, Frank Miller, or Neil Gaiman are yet to arrive. Amruta Patil's Kari is a promising work. Waiting for her Hastinapur.
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeleteI have reported the matter as I was told. I really do not know as to how old this trend is in India. I am also sorry that I should have cross checked the facts. Anyway, thanks for the comment.
Congratulations Mr Tejas Modak, can you let us know which is an upcoming novel of yours.
ReplyDeletelove messiha