Above: A vintage 'Chacha Chaudhary' comic-strip by Pran. Copyright Pran Kumar Sharma 2009.
Pran Kumar Sharma is considered 'the father of Indian comics', the first to create an indigenous comic-strip, 'Daabu' debuted in 1960, featuring indian characters and local themes. In 1969 he created 'Chacha Chaudhary', which quickly became one of the most popular comic-strips in India, even spawning it's own television serial (which has aired over 600 shows). Pran has published over 500 titles appearing in 45 newspapers in India and surrounding countries, with a readership of over two million. Some of his other famous comic-strips characters including: Sabu, Shrimatiji, Pinki, Billoo, Raman and Channie Chachi.
Pran will be in Auckland this week and is very interested to meet some of New Zealand's local comics community. To this end, Dylan Horrocks has arranged a public talk by Pran to be held this Friday the 20th of November at the Central City Library, on Level 2 in the Whare Wananga from 6.00pm.
This is a free event, if you would like to RSVP you can contact the Library: PH (09) 377 0209
This is a rare opportunity to meet an international cartoonist and really see how the universal language of comics translates in a different culture and environment to our own. Hope to see you there!
For more information on Pran Kumar Sharma, you can read his bio and some of his comics at his website.
-AK!
PS: The previously mentioned Mezze Bar gathering may still happen afterwards (as cartoonists tend to go on once you get us together...), so feel free to hang around afterwards for some extra-overtime comics chatter!
Above: A more recent 'Chacha Chaudhary' comic-strip by Pran. Copyright Pran Kumar Sharma 2009.
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Pran will also be talking at the Auckland Public Library (Central branch, Lorne St) at 6pm. I'll give you more info when it's confirmed. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh cool!
ReplyDeleteI hope he brought some of his work with him...