Kozhikode: The magical tail will grow long once again—Kapish is back. After two decades away from the spotlight, the beloved comic character and magician monkey is making his comeback. Balabhumi, the popular children’s magazine of Mathrubhumi, will showcase Kapish’s playful tricks from January 1 issue.

Illustrator Mohandas is bringing Kapish to life again, while Balabhumi assistant editor Santhosh Vallicode writes the stories.

Kapish first appeared in 1970 in Mumbai, through Mohandas’ illustrations, when he joined Anant Pai’s Rang Rekha. Pai created the stories to go with Mohandas’ drawings. Kapish became popular through magazines like Children’s World and Bal Bharti, reaching readers in English and other Indian languages. He came to Malayalam readers via Poombatta in 1978.

At the height of his fame, Pai transferred Kapish’s copyright to Hyderabad-based animation company Colour Chips, ending his print stories.

In 2002, Mathrubhumi Weekly article announcing that Kapish would not return saddened fans. Now, for his second comeback, Mathrubhumi is taking the initiative.

"Comrade Kapish, if he contested from here to Parliament, who could beat him? Comrade Kapish himself! I request that Comrade Kapish and Bandiliya be sent to Beypore. We can give delicious banana leaf meals, fruits, rice, curry, and payasam. My son Anees Basheer and friends wish to play with Comrade Kapish," acclaimed writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer once said.