Tinkle, Tinkle,30 stars

Shikari Shambu and Co. can take a bow. On Children's Day today, the young and the not-so-young join in another celebration, as one of India's most popular indigenous kids' magazine, turns 30. Sunday MiD DAY recreates Tinkle's storyboard, with the original cast and crew

From day one, Tinkle's focus has been to be a good mix of fiction and non-fiction content, relevant to time," says an excited Dr Anant Pai (Uncle Pai to Tinkle readers) in an interview to Sunday MiD DAY. The magazine now boasts of a roster of 150 characters, but it seems like only yesterday when the India Book House stable was ready with their newest baby.

When Tinkle was born on November 14, 1980, 12 year-old Elaine D'Lima was chosen as Guest of Honour. She had won a story-telling contest conducted by Uncle Pai across 90 schools.

Since Amar Chitra Katha had a teenage and adult reader base, Subba Rao, then Assistant Editor of ACK suggested the Tinkle model, and despite Mr Pai's concerns, pushed the idea through. From the older clique that includes Tantri, Shikari Shambu and Suppandi to new-age characters like Butterfingers and the Defective Detectives, "Tinkle remains the only children's magazine that offers something for every family member."

Current Editor, Louis Fernandes says, "The biggest challenge is to create stories that will appeal to children, while imparting values of honesty, respect for elders, kindness to animals and concern for the environment."

Don't know these characters, and you don't know Tinkle

SHIKARI SHAMBU >>>>>
He's the affable forest ranger with his famed Chinaman moustache. Shambhu never fails to make you chuckle with his theatrics in the jungle, and his misadventures at home, with his wife and junior. For the record, he has never hunted a tiger.

SUPPANDI >>>>>
Suppandi, who made his debut in Tinkle No. 27, is a simple, optimistic thinker with a strange rectangular skull. Tinkle's most popular character, this domestic help keeps getting fired, and yet maintains his funny bone with his plainspeak.

TANTRI THE MANTRI >>>>>
Tantri is the scheming mantri (minister) in the Raja Hooja's court. With his eyes on the throne, he constantly plots to get rid of the Raja. Characters like Jantri, Dooja Tantri, and Tantri's henchmen Dushtabuddhi and Vichitrabuddhi, were included to add colour.

KALIA THE CROW >>>>>
When Tinkle was launched, Kalia the Crow was its first and only character. The wise crow had the last laugh, playing saviour to animals in the forest, even as he dealt with conniving Chamataka and his laidback ally, Doob Doob, who played ideal counterfoil throughout their delightful adventures.

Savio Mascarenhas (1994- present): He takes just a day to knock off shambu's adventures

I took over the reins from Mr Halbe in 1997. It was tough initially, to adapt to Shikari Shambu, since he was one of Tinkle's most popular characters.

Gradually, I added my inputs and expressions, and I have to admit, Shambhu has grown on me. Now, I need just a day to complete a single page of his adventures.

It's important for artists to capture the essence of the story, as conveyed by the writer. Previously, we relied on books for research; the Internet arrived and made things easier and faster.
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Devices like the pen-tablet have already begun to change the face of artwork, eliminating the need for paper.

Reena Puri (Editor, Amar Chitra Katha (ACK) & Associate Editoru00a0 Tinkleu00a0-- 1994-2005): She and the team would sift through 10,000 letters a month

When I joined in 1991, manual was the wordu00a0-- from scripting a story, lettering to colouring the illustrations. The touch-and-feel element was omnipresent. Mr Pai was clear that 70% of Tinkle's stories should come from young readers.

During holidays, we'd receive up to 10,000 letters every month. We'd pick the germ of a terrific idea and create a full-fledged story from it. The edit team read every letter, and sometimes the final story would see the light of day a year later thanks to the waiting list. Now of course, it's all computerised.
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Mr Pai said we are surrounded in darkness and negativity, and so, it is crucial to create a world of happy hope for the kids. There were no grey areas as far as values went; it was all black and white. And the language used was important since Tinkle went to schools.u00a0u00a0

Sidelights

One day, Uncle Pai and Subba Rao were seated in their cabin when an office staffer told Uncle, "There is a call for you, could you 'tinkle' back?" That's how the the comic got its name.

When the Tinkle office was burned down in 1994, most of the data was lost, from files of scripts to illustrations. But the team along with a set of dedicated freelancers pitched in and managed to bring out the next month's edition.u00a0