This Onam, not just Mahabali, Kapish too is returning

As the enchanting festival of Onam dawns, Malayalis eagerly anticipate the joyous return of the mythical King Mahabali. Adding to the festivities, the beloved comic strip icon Kapish makes a comeback to the Malayali audience after a hiatus spanning two decades.

Kapish, the clever monkey with a tail possessing superpowers, has stood as a cherished cultural emblem across generations. Anant Pai, also known as 'Uncle Pai,' the visionary behind the renowned Amar Chitra Katha series of comic books, gave life to Kapish. In 1978, the Kapish comic strip made its debut in the Malayalam language through Pai and Pai Company's (PAICO) comic magazine, Poompatta.

During its golden period, Poompatta is said to have received a letter from the acclaimed writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, expressing the popularity of Kapish. "Friends here are making promises in the name of Comrade Kapish. Even a cat here has been named Kapish. If Kapish and Kalulu (a rabbit-another fictional character that appeared in folktales) were to contest in parliamentary elections, it is a 100 percent certainty that Kapish will emerge victorious," the letter read. In his letter, Basheer even deemed the notion that Kapish is losing its luster and reputation as absurd.

However, the publication of Poompatta ceased in 1989. Later, the comic strip appeared in Balarama magazine. It ran till the early 2000s and Kapish faded into the realm of nostalgia. Anant Pai had given the copyrights of Kapish to an animation company. The company had a plan to produce an animated series, which, unfortunately, did not materialize. After two decades, PAICO reacquired the rights from the animation company. Under its subsidiary, PAI Publishers & Distributors, PAICO is set to release a book centered around Kapish. Scheduled for release on August 17, the first issue of this book coincidentally aligns with Chingam 1, the Malayalam New Year Day.

M Mohandas, an artist hailing from Irinjalakuda (Thrissur), who previously illustrated for the Kapish comic in Poompatta magazine, has been roped in as the illustrator for the book. Mohandas expressed his joy in contributing to the depiction of the comic character Kapish. He recounted, "When Poompatta ceased publication, I received numerous letters from children expressing their dismay and disappointment. The children of that era have now grown up, and I am overjoyed to illustrate Kapish for their children."

Meanwhile, the editorial supervision of the book will be carried out by R Gopalakrishnan. The inaugural issue comprises classic Kapish tales authored by Anant Pai, alongside the inclusion of Ramu & Shyamu stories. "Our intention is to release the book on a bimonthly or quarterly basis. The frequency of publication will be determined based on the sales of the first issue," said Ajai Pai, the publisher of PAI Publishers & Distributors. He further said that subsequent editions will encompass translated renditions of new Kapish stories scripted by Luis Fernandes, the former editor of Tinkle Comics.