The Cartoon Kingdom

Spare a minute to name five Indian cartoonists.... Any luck? Now try naming five cartoonists. Indian or not. This must have been an easier exercise. Well, it's not that there is a dearth of toon creators in India. It's just that this talented lot may have not been provided the right platform to reach out to the masses. For these people, who had the will to take the road less travelled, the climb has been steep.
The British brought the art of cartooning to India. While R K Laxman is one of the few who has become a household name, most of the others are still fighting hard to stay afloat despite being powerhouses of talent. The Indian Institute Of Catoonists has set out with an ambitious plan to promote and popularise this art in India. These patrons of the arts are enduring a noble effort to recognize and reward the cartoonists.
Prakash Shetty is a famed cartoonist who hails from Mangalore. In an illustrious career which has spanned over decades he has created cartoons in English and Kannada. Specialising in 2-minute spot caricatures, he holds a record of creating 150 caricatures in ten hours! Some of his latest caricatures and paintoons (cartoons painted on canvas using acrylic colours) are on display at the Indian Cartoon Gallery. Current affairs, eminent sportspersons and politicians are common subjects in the caricature exhibition called "Prakash Shetty Hanged".


N R NARAYANA MURTHY. An exception who proved the rule with the success of his company Infosys...



Dr. J JAYALALITHA.Known as Amma or Puratchi Talaivi (revolutionary leader) in Tamil Nadu.



GEORGE W BUSH. The good, the BAD and the ugly were on display at the exhibition.



A typical tea shop in South India. This is a paintoon of "Meter Chai" on canvas.



P CHIDAMBARAM. He's got money in his hands! Ruling the roost as the Finance Minister of India.



SHANE WARNE. The legendary Australian spinner has trapped many batsmen in his web...



L K ADVANI. Making a cocktail of religion and politics!