Cartoons are known to spread cheer, as well as make a powerful point. The journalists in Mangalore decided to celebrate the 'Press day' with thought-provoking humour and hence organised a cartoon expo in Press Club on Monday.
About 29 cartoonists from different media organisations displayed more than 125 cartoons, with intended puns on the issues prevailing in the society. The expo was inaugurated by eminent cartoonist Harini, by sketching a cartoon.
The cartoons portrayed the present political scenario as well as the common man’s plight with inflation and poverty. Creative caricatures of well-known personalities were also displayed.
The main highlight of the expo was the 17-foot long cartoon sketched by Cartoonist Prashanth Shetty. Popularly known as Chitra Mitra in the art world, the artist told Deccan Herald, that he took four days to complete the 17-foot long art work which portrayed a film shooting scene.
“I am working as a lead in a film. The experience was enriching, hence I decided to convert my emotions into cartoons,” he said.
Speaking on his interest in cartoons, he said that he received his first assignment from a newspaper in Mumbai, as the journalists who used to visit his restaurant were impressed with his sketches.
Cartoonist Harini, who specialises in caricatures, sketched many well known personalities and brought out the uniqueness of their personality in his cartoons.
The safety and security of women, after the recent Manipal gang rapeincident was creatively portrayed by Shailesh Ujire, who sketched a girl asking a policeman if all the CCTV cameras are working as she wants to hire an auto.
In another sketch, he showed a petrified auto rickshaw driver telling a girl that he has stopped ferrying women.
Cartoonist Satish Acharya, poked fun on Finance Minister Chidambaram for telling Indians, to stop buying gold.
Cartoonist P Mohammed, creatively showed Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers fighting over Cauvery water issue, while Panju Ganguli showed the plight of the Congress government in Karnataka, after they won the elections.
John Chandran brought smiles on people’s faces, with his cartoon strip, ‘Namma Nimma Nimmi.’
Young cartoonist Nikhil Pai, also showed his creativity through his sketches.The expo will be open for public at press club, till Thursday.
Inauguration
The press day was inaugurated by Senior Journalist Dr U B Rajalakshmi, who spoke on 'women in media'.
Senior Journalist Prakash Kayarga spoke on the trends and development in media.
"Though India has newspaper circulation of 35 crore and stands number one in the world, there is decrease in readers and reading quality due to change in the lifestyle," he said. He also pointed out that journalists have the power to highlight problems prevalent in the society.
However, with regard to the endosulfan issue, the journalists and newspapers have failed, as the issue has become popular only locally and not internationally.
Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists Association President P B Harish Rai presided over the programme.
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