43 Comic Cuts 24-News 24: Editor S.Vijayan & Jumbo Special in Kungumam – India’s No.1 Tamil Weekly Magazine

Dear ComiRades,

Welcome back after a short break and this time we have a wonderful news in this particular post. Yes, This is possibly the biggest ever coverage for a Tamil comics book. Kungumam Weekly has covered the latest issue of Lion Comics Jumbo Special with a very neatly written article by Mr D. Arul Ezhilan. TCU is thankful to the management and the editorial section of Kungumam and a very, very special thanks to the author of this wonderful article.

Yes, there has been coverage in Magazines like India Today, Chutti Vikatan, etc. However, in terms of reach, this is by far the best. Kungumam happens to be India’s No.1 Tamil weekly magazine (Source: IRS). TCU is still waiting for more coverage from media on the promotion of Jumbo special and unfortunately another long official tour is already on the cards and hence for the next one week, there won’t be much of an activity, both in terms of coverage and posts. Apologies for that.

Now, Coming back to this article, the wonderful feature about it is, that it has the latest photo of our beloved Editor S. Vijayan holding the Jumbo special in his hands and for all those fans who are yet to see him in flesh and blood, this could be the possible alternative. Kindly buy the latest issue of Kungumam (Price INR 10/-, 132 Pages, 2011 Monthly calendar free with this issue) to have this piece of Comics History. Yes, there are certain collectors who do collect memorabilia like this. Do have this book in your collection.

Week 52 - Kungumam Issue Dated 03012011 - Jumbo Special Coverage – Special 3 Page Article - Page 86, Page 87 & Page 88 – Latest Issue

It is wonderful to have the complete address of the publishers and usually there is a policy amongst media that they do not promote players in their own domain. For example, one particular TV Channel will not endorse another TV Channel. Same is the case with magazines, news papers, monthly issues etc. That is where the effort of Kungumam has to be appreciated. There was a leading English daily which already mentioned that they will not mention the publishers name in their forthcoming article as it will violate their editorial policy.

TCU Has mentioned that there are some media coverage waiting: Here is what left behind and they will be done only in the forthcoming weeks:

• A Special Coverage in South India’s No.1 Daily Magazine
• TV Coverage in India’s National network
• TV Interview in a unique Tamil Channel.
• And many more media coverage before the Pongal day. All these will be updated and covered in TCU.

For those who have missed the Chutti TV Interview of our beloved editor, Here is the link for the post: Akotheka

Now, the next post will include three top female leads from across the world: South India (Nayan Thara), North India (Sushmitha Sen) and Hollywood (Angelina Jolie). Kindly wait for Tamil’s most glamorous Heroin Nayanthara  and her link towards cartoons and comics (with a bit of old story how and when TCU met her in person) and also a comics links with the other 2 female leads.

Well, that's all for the time being. As usual, post your comments in the comments section. For those who want to Pen their thoughts in Tamil, Kindly Use the Option Provided in the Widget in the Blog.

Thanks & Regards,

King Viswa.

Note: Scan Courtesy: Kungumam Tamil Weekly, © Kungumam Publications Pvt Ltd, Chennai.

28 Comic Cuts 23-News 23: S. Rama Krishnan Recommends Lion Comics Jumbo Special – XIII Ratha Padalam

Welcome Back. Long time readers will have fond memories of the older days when TCU used to post many-a-posts within a week. Gone are those days and amidst all the hectic schedule, TCU is posting another News post related to Lion Comics Jumbo Special. Hopefully the trend will continue for the next month as well.

Now, this post is something of a new trend in TCU because this news post is not from any of the achieves of the media. Instead it is from the personal video of TCU. This is merely a glimpse of the total interview that TCU is planning with S.Ra. The original video is for more than 15 minutes in Hi-Definition and that particular video will be part of the documentary which will be released during the book exhibition in 2012. Kindly wait till that time.

Now, S.Rama Krishnan alias S.Ra is a well known comic fan, especially that of Muthu Comics & Lion Comics. He has a keen interest towards the way in which the expressions are made out in comics. His favourite character during the childhood days was The Steel Claw aka இரும்புக் கை மாயாவி.

Three years ago when TCU was involved with the launch of another Tamil Comics, S.Ra was invited as a Chief Guest. At that time itself, he was keen on certain comics books. He had fond memories of Malaimathi AFI Comics தோற்பதர்க்காகவே சூதாடிய மோசக்காரி (The Card Sharper Who Dealt To Lose, Rip Kirby Daily Strip No 71, Hi Seas – Hi Jinx, Starting from 01-08-1966 to 22-10-1966, Story & Art by John Prentice) and TCU was fortunate enough to have that particular book amongst the doubles collection and on the day of the function, he received the book and his delight was there for everyone to see. Kindly click on the picture for an enlarged version of the same.

Today, TCU had the opportunity to meet him again and he was so happy that he guaranteed that he will complete the book by tonight itself and he will write his review of the same very soon. Here is the picture of him with the Jumbo Special: One of TCU’s regular readers is Saravana Kumar from Tirunelveli. About a month ago, he wished that he wanted to see his favourite author S.Ra holding the jumbo special in his hands and talking about it, a bit. Well, his wish got confirmed today and this video is dedicated to him for being a long time fan of both Lion/Muthu comics and S.Ra

ComiRades can read S.Ra’s review of the Jumbo special very soon in a leading publication. Hopefully, he will write about the book in His own website http://www.sramakrishnan.com/ and that itself is commendable. Thank you very much, S.Ra. TCU Will be there with you in all your future endeavours.

In TCU’s previous post, we have mentioned about the forthcoming media coverage for Jumbo Special. Here is what we have mentioned last week:

Now, then. Here is what’s on offer for ComiRades in the forthcoming weeks related to XIII Jumbo special.

• Another Interview with our Editor in Tamil Channel which is the No.1 Group in Tamil (Next Week Telecast)
• A Special coverage in Tamil’s best selling weekly (No.1 Tamil Weekly)

Now, most of us tried their guessing games and none of them could get the answers correctly. Here are the answers:

1. Chutti TV சுட்டி டிவி  – On Christmas Day – Morning 6.55 AM, 7.55 AM & Night 10.25 PM, IST.

2. Kungumam – Christmas Special Issue – Available on Shops on Monday, 27th Dec 2010.

Kindly check your timings and don’t miss on these two.

Well, that's all for the time being. As usual, post your comments in the comments section. For those who want to Pen their thoughts in Tamil, Kindly Use the Option Provided in the Widget in the Blog.

Thanks & Regards,

King Viswa.

41 Comic Cuts 22-Comics News 22: Editor S.Vijayan’s TV Interview on Jumbo Special 17th Dec 2010

Dear ComiRades,

Welcome back. Last week was a memorable week in yours truly ’s life The reason for that will be felt by the ComiRades in the forthcoming posts. There was a Giant Comic Convention held in South India and the details will be posted very soon. All these were the reason for not posting any post last week. It also gave people (Especially Dr 7) a reason to smile and make a show against TCU. Let us try to be regular, at least from hereafter.

Now, in this post we are going to view the interview of Editor S. Vijayan in one of the Tamil general entertainment channel named Polimer TV. This particular channel is in existence for the last one year and already it is making waves within this short span by upstaging long-standing players like Raj TV, Jaya TV etc and being among the top Tamil GEC’s (Source: TAM, CS 4+, Chennai region, 5 Random weeks in 2010). TCU was fortunate enough to get the interview recorded (apologies for the not-so-great quality of the video) and here is the same for your viewing pleasure. This video is only the 2nd televised interview of our beloved editor and the 1st one is believed to be lost.

TCU was also fortunate to have the original footage from the particular reporter who has done the interview (Ms Amudha from Chennai) and this footage is without the customary channel logo. Here is one news for the ComiRades. The original video is for more than 5 minutes and that particular video will be part of the documentary which will be released during the book exhibition in 2012.  That interview will be cracker for those who crave for rare information about our beloved comics.

Now, then. Here is what’s on offer for ComiRades in the forthcoming weeks related to XIII Jumbo special.

• Another Interview with our Editor in Tamil Channel which is the No.1 Group in Tamil (Next Week Telecast)
• A Special coverage in Tamil’s best selling weekly (No.1 Tamil Weekly)
• A Special Coverage in India’s No 1 Media Group
• A Special Coverage in South India’s No.1 Daily Magazine
• TV Coverage in India’s National network
• TV Interview in a unique Tamil Channel.
• And many more media coverage before the Pongal day. All these will be updated and covered in TCU.

This post is meant to be a quickie and it turned out to be so. Hence kindly wait for the Friday post which is not a news coverage and it is a landmark post in any of the sense. Well, that's all for the time being. As usual, post your comments in the comments section. For those who want to Pen their thoughts in Tamil, Kindly Use the Option Provided in the Widget in the Blog. Now, don’t forget that from here onwards, The Monday’s wont be the same. They will be TCU’s Comic Cuts Monday’s. To Make this happen regularly, Kindly intimate TCU either through mail or comment about the latest Comics News that you’ve read or seen over in any of the media. Next weeks post will include Tamil’s most glamorous Heroin Nayanthara  and her link towards cartoons and comics (with a bit of old story how and when TCU met her in person).

TCU had the opportunity to read some of the letters written by the comirades on Jumbo special and they were lovely, even though most of them were lengthy. By the way, when was the last time that you’ve written a letter to our Editor on the comics? Kindly do write in your opinions and the comments about Jumbo special and other things.

Thanks & Regards,

King Viswa.

Note: Video Courtesy – Polimer Media Pvt Ltd, Chennai.

55 Comic Cuts 21-News 21: Tin Tin in Limelight & Top Heroin reading Comics

Dear ComiRades,

Welcome back. After last weeks post, there was lots of enquiry related to the puzzle part involving the heroin reading comics. There were lots of phone calls, mails and messages with lots of guessing going on. Dr 7 has hyped it up by means of commenting earlier with relation to Actress Kushboo. However, when we have mentioned it as a frontline heroin, Kushboo is automatically ruled out for the simple reason that she no longer plays the lead role in the films, anymore. However, that fact is not ruled out entirely. In the near future, TCU may post something in the lines of that (based on the very little interaction TCU had with her). So, wait for that. Meanwhile, Those who have guessed it for Nayanthara can wait for one more week as TCU will feature her in next weeks Comic Cuts section in Monday. Now, then. Dr 7 and others can take a note on the fact that we are maintaining our weekly news post on Monday’s. Regularly other posts will also make their way in. So, the mocking on the regularity of TCU’s posts can be well left.

Let us get back to last week’s post where we put a small teaser saying that next week TCU Shall feature a news about a heroin. Here it is. Neha Dhupia seems to be reading Tin Tin fondly and if the news that it is available in Hindi language may enthuse her more so.

Times of India Chennai Edition Dated 02042010 Chennai Times Page 9 Neha Dhupia Loves Reading Tin Tin Comics

Now, As TCU was not publishing News Post for the last 8 months, many important things happened in that period went unnoticed by many. Now that we are active with News posts, TCU is bringing one by one of the things happened in the time just passed. In the month of April, there was a surge of comics news about Tin Tin. Most of them were related to the launch of the Hindi version of the immortal hero from Belgium. Here is the 1st among many:

Economic Times Chennai Edition Dated 24082010 Editorial Tin Tin in Hindi – The launch of the Hindi language version of the immortal character by Herge

Tin Tin’s Indian entry was brought by a Delhi based Publisher named Om Books. Their home page had the picture of Tin Tin to make sure people got their attention towards him. Even TCU liked the way it was promoted. During the last week of April 2010, TCU had the pleasure of talking to the man behind this mission and they were very much enthusiastic about the launch. Initially only 6 books were published in Hindi and later on 2 more titles were added to the translated versions and the total count now is 8 with many more in the wing in the next year itself. Here is how Tin Tin's crew is Indianised:

• Snowy                               – Natkhat
• Thompson & Thompson – Santu & Bantu
• Prof. Calculus                  - Prof. Aryabhat Suryamukhi

Tin Tin being a big brand name, he remains unchanged. Apart from that, the famous witty lines also change over into Hindi. Some of the most notable lines are:

• Millions and millions of squirming black turtles     - karodo karod kasmasate kaale kacchuve.
• Ten thousand thundering typhoons                         - dus hazaar tadtadate toofan
• Great snake                                                              - baal ki khaal

Each and every one these books are priced at INR 195/- which is almost half of what the selling price in India for the English versions. Here are the title and cover pages of all the 8 books which are translated so far:

The Black Island in Hindi Cover	Tin Tin in Hindi Blue Lotus Cover	King Ottokar's Sceptre in Hindi Cover	The Broken Ear in Hindi Cover
Cigars of the Pharoah in Hindi Cover	The Crab with the Golden Claws Hindi	Tin Tin in America Hindi Cover	Tin Tin in Congo in Hindi Cover

Even though these books were launched in the month of April 2010 itself, now only they are getting some of the media coverage (along with the launch of the additional 2 books with the existing 6 books). There is a sudden coverage towards these books in most of the dailies and it is a heartening thing to happen. Here is what Sangeetha of The Hindu has to say in her article:

The Hindu Metro Plus Dated 03122010 Tin Tin in Hindi Article By Sangeetha

One thing that is noticeable is that Deccan Chronicle gets these kind of information printed much quicker than other much higher ranked news papers such as The Hindu, Times of India etc. That effort for Comics news has to be appreciated. This article appeared a clear 4 days ahead of the Hindu’s article.

Deccan Chronicle Dated Nov 30 2010 Tin Tin in Hindi

A Similar piece of article in the Deccan Herald for your eyes only:

Deccan Herald Delhi Edition Dated 30112010 Tin Tin in Hindi

DNA has been a front runner in many issues and they have also presented the same with a little bit of celebrity point of view as well.

DNA Mumbai Dated 10042010 Tin Tin in Hindi

Well, that's all for the time being. As usual, post your comments in the comments section. For those who want to Pen their thoughts in Tamil, Kindly Use the Option Provided in the Widget in the Blog. Now, don’t forget that from here onwards, The Monday’s wont be the same. They will be TCU’s Comic Cuts Monday’s. To Make this happen regularly, Kindly intimate TCU either through mail or comment about the latest Comics News that you’ve read or seen over in any of the media.

Next weeks post will include Tamil’s most glamorous Heroin Nayanthara  and her link towards cartoons and comics (with a bit of old story how and when TCU met her in person). By the way, when was the last time that you’ve written a letter to our Editor on the comics? Kindly do write in your opinions and the comments about Jumbo special and other things.

Thanks & Regards,

King Viswa.