The 'Comics in Bengal' exhibition that began on Saturday offers visitors a peek into the rich history of comics in the Bengali language and how it has evolved over the years. The exhibition, jointly held by Kolkata Creativity Center and Comic Culture Group, will conclude on March 9.
From rare newspaper and magazine cartoons to comic books and artwork, comics enthusiasts in the city look forward to exploring how comics have changed from the 1920s to the present.
On Saturday, visitors to the exhibition had the opportunity to listen to film director and editor-in-chief of the famous Bengali children's magazine “Sandesh”, Sandeep Ray, and his thoughts on the comic book industry.
Ray shared how he started reading comic books and how “Tin-Tin” brought back many childhood memories for him. “I received Tin-Tin as a gift, but I was too young to understand French. However, the color palette of the comics attracted me. In the dark places, the white parts of the comic glowed. It was in French, so my father thought about translating it into English.
After being suspended for years, Sandesh was restarted in 1961 and its circulation has only increased over the years. According to Rai, Sandesh has the highest circulation numbers among photo publications in the state. Since 1961, many artists have contributed to Sandesh. During Durga Puja last year, distribution rose to higher levels.
Talking about famous author and illustrator Mayukh Chowdhury, Ray said: “He had a very good relationship with us. He had a talent for drawing animals. One of the things that amazed my father about his art was that he would draw animals starting with their tails. He spent every week of puja with my father.”
“This exhibition aims to unveil the vibrant legacy of storytelling, adventure and creativity that has shaped the comic culture in Bengal,” said Kolkata Creativity Centre’s Chairman Richa Agarwal. We invite everyone to come and indulge in the nostalgia of Bengali comics, and take a captivating journey through time and imagination.
(Tanya Asherji is an intern in the Kolkata office of The Indian Express)
© Indian Express Private Limited
First uploaded on: 02-19-2024 at 05:03 EST
