10 February,2023 10:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Sammohinee Ghosh
Panels from Haq
In the breeze of our daily grind, a flair can get stuck in a whirl and flutter away. But for inspiration and watering, flairs grow to explore what they can become. Studio Niyet - a self-sustaining initiative committed to telling stories through the medium of comics - identifies with the need for creative stimuli. Their digital interview series, Indie Comics Talk, curates an arsenal of processes that have been the means to an end for Indian artists and writers. Did the idea stem from a dearth of serious discussions on comics? "The overarching idea was kindled in 2018 when I was at the Kochi edition of the Indie Comix Fest. I realised the medium's power to relate personal narratives. The artwork was refreshingly different from what we associate with mainstream comics. The visual tales were communicated with striking ease. Studio Niyet's intention towards building an independent platform for comics was conceived then," shares Sanid Asif Ali, who co-runs the Kochi-based publishing forum with Rameeza Parveen.
Ali adds that the talk show only furthers their objective. "I could venture into this field because of names that inspired me. I was driven by a personal zeal that often made me deliberate their struggles and successes." He believes the show will encourage newcomers by letting them in on their journey. As doers, these names have cleared the way for forthcoming talent.
Vidyun Sabhaney
The latest episode that dropped a week ago features writer-illustrator Vidyun Sabhaney, the founder of Captain Bijli Comics. We know Sabhaney for marrying comics with journalism in her work titled Haq. Haq highlights the women protesters at Tikri border who explained to the documenter the fallacies of the farm laws passed by the Union government. Ali's chat with Sabhaney begins at the intersection of two occupations - reportage and graphic storytelling. The artist mentions Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa, a book she read while pursuing her degree in journalism. She reckoned that the medium could make readers feel socio-political strife in a way other forms of narration couldn't. Only three chapters old, the show has previously hosted CG Salamander and Rahil Mohsin. The chats have a relaxed tone but are meant for those naturally inclined to the world of comics. With no set time frame, the series can seem convoluted for the uninitiated.
The interviews are spread over long gaps in time. To that Ali says, "It is because scheduling a meet with busy creators, editing lengthy footage and compiling it into a show takes time. We are currently working on the next part that will be released in March." With Mohsin, the focus was on comic art; with Salamander, on comic writing; and with Sabhaney, on non-fiction graphic literature - is there a selection strategy that the studio follows? Ali elaborates that his aim is to bring to view changemakers in the Indian comic scene while exploring the variety of themes that the medium resonates with. Although liked by a small community of comic lovers, the show prides itself on receiving steady feedback from subscribers.
Log on to: youtube.com; @studioniyet on Instagram
