indian graphic novels

Graphic novels are unique because of the manner in which they bring together words and images, and use literal and symbolic layers to interpret a story. This combination is what makes these novels engaging reads, drawing readers into the stories on a wholly new level. While this genre had a slow start in India, graphic novels have now emerged as one of the finest parts of the Indian literary scene thanks to a myriad of excellent illustrators and storytellers. Graphic novelists have taken on topics from Kashmir to LGBTQIA+ issues to create outstanding stories, and these works need to be appreciated and acknowledged. From Munnu to Kari, here are 10 of the most amazing Indian graphic novels for you to go crazy over.

indian graphic novels

01

Kari

Amruta Patil

What better way to understand society than to see a glimpse of it in a beautifully depicted and stunning graphic novel? In Kari, two young lesbian lovers are driven to attempt suicide. They survive, but are forced to go their separate ways, and this graphic novel focusses on the story of the eponymous Kari. It tells of her struggles in establishing her own identity in a typical modern city, primarily inhabited by heterosexuals and where lesbianism is still considered abnormal. This book is a great way to understand the issues with heteronormativity. 

Buy it here.

indian graphic novels

02

Bhimayana

Srividya Natarajan & S. Anand (Authors), Duragbai Vyam & Subhash Vyam (Illus.)

Bhimayana documents the incidents in the life of Bhimrao Ambedkar, a pioneering leader who campaigned against social discrimination and is known as the architect of the Indian constitution. Using the experiences of caste discrimination Ambedkar himself went through, this graphic novel tries to explore the evil of untouchability that India still faces. Using the Pardhan Gond art of patterns and natural imagery, the artists have gone over and beyond in trying to create a graphic novel that pays proper homage to one of India’s most prominent leaders.

Buy it here.

indian graphic novels

03

Chhotu: A Tale Of Partition And Love

Varud Gupta, Ayushi Rastogi (Illus.)

In 1947, when the British are taking their leave after years of colonisation, and Partition is on the horizon, Chhotu has a crush on his mind. A student/paranthe-cook in Chandni Chowk, Chhotu just wants to ask his crush, Heer, to go out with him. But soon, corruption rears its ugly face, and the potatoes in the town go missing. Chhotu struggles to understand life and freedom amidst crime, corruption, and love. Set against the Indian independence and the horrors of PartitionChhotu is the story of an unlikely hero and the terror of a past that has a frightening resemblance to our present.

Buy it here.

indian graphic novels

04

Munnu: A Boy From Kashmir

Malik Sajad

Munnu: A Boy From Kashmir offers us a different outlook on Indian-administered Kashmir. Munnu is a young boy from Kashmir who loves to draw, but his childhood is being sullied by the ongoing Kashmir conflict. In Munnu’s world, militarisation is a way of life, where young men are crossing over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to be trained, his family members are often taken to identification parades, and schools are closed. Malik Sajad depicts Kashmiris as the endangered Hangul deer (the Kashmir stag), which is a telling metaphor for the situation in Kashmir. Sajad’s graphic novel is an amazing portrayal of the life of Kashmiris against the everyday political conflicts that seem ingrained in their lives.

Buy it here.

indian graphic novels

05

Legends Of Halahala

Appupen

In Legends Of Halahala, Appupen uses different drawing styles to portray five different stories, set in different periods, each showing a perspective on love and obsession. The most peculiar thing is that no words are used in the graphic novel. Instead, the novel relies on the art and the illustrations to convey the narrative. Appupen’s distinctive style, along with stories ranging from the Oberian Age to a dystopian future, make this graphic novel one of the best yet.  

Buy it here.

indian graphic novels

06

The Hotel At The End Of The World

Parismita Singh

Somewhere in the densely vegetated hills of North East India lies the hotel at the end of the world, where everyone has a story to tell. Stories feature the Chinese invasion, a Japanese soldier’s ghost from World War II, people pursuing a floating island, etc. Taking inspiration from local folktales, Parismita Singh has managed to artistically weave together tales of mythology and the supernatural in this amazing graphic novel.

Buy it here.

indian graphic novels

07

Longform: An Anthology Of Graphic Narratives

Sarbajit Sen, Debkumar Mitra, Sekhar Mukherjee & Pinaki De (Eds.)

In Longform, we are introduced to a breathtaking collection of graphic short stories from 30 artists around the world, each with their own unique style. With stories about travelling from Iran to Bhutan and Rome to Kerala, retelling mythological tales and exploring romance, this graphic novel is filled with tales that are both quirky and relatable. The collection includes stories from artists like Prakash Moorthy, Barroux, Venkat Shyam, and Allen Shaw, and is one that is a necessary addition to your collection.  

Buy it here.

indian graphic novels

08

Corridor

Sarnath Banerjee

One of the earliest Indian graphic novels, Corridor tells the story of Jehangir Rangoonwalla, a tea seller cum second-hand bookseller. He has a plethora of regular customers, all of whom engage in conversation with him about their lives and likes. There’s Bhrigu, who likes to acquire collectibles; Shintu, a newlywed in search of the perfect aphrodisiac; and Digital Dutta, who lives in the world in his head. In Sarnath Banerjee’s graphic novel, we see the lives of these people through the common thread of a shop-owner and get to know the course their lives take.

Buy it here.

indian graphic novels

09

Empire Of Blood

Arjun Raj Gaind, Enrique Alcatena (Illus.)

The British army has been taking the help of a miracle potion to capture all of Europe, with the intention of bringing it under the rule of Queen Elizabeth, the Empress of blood. Meanwhile in India, in a far corner of the Empire, a rebellion is starting, The natives are adamant that their country belongs to them, and Tom Lawrence of the British army is starting to realise that they might just be right. How will the rebellion end – in defeat or victory? The first in a series of four books, Arjun Raj Gaind’s graphic novel is one that is sure to stun every graphic novel fan.

Buy it here.

Prasanna is a human (probably) who makes stuff up for a living. When she’s not sleeping or eating, you’ll find her in the quietest corner of the library, devouring yet another hardbound book. She vastly prefers the imaginary world to the real one, but grudgingly emerges from her writing cave on occasion. If you do see her, it’s best not to approach her before she’s had her coffee.

She writes at The Curious Reader. You can read her articles here