The morning newspaper and a cuppa chai is a ritual that is common to a large part of the human race. But people read it in their own manner. Some glance at the headlines and head straight for the sports page. So open the editorial page and shake their head disapprovingly at the affairs of the world. I head for the cartoons. I grab the newspaper and head straight for Ajit Ninan’s cartoon. I look for two elements of wit in a cartoon – the visual and verbal. Ninan excels in both. With most cartoonists one lands up choosing between the two. Ajit started his career with FD Stewarts – an ad agency in Chennai before they transferred him to Delhi. While in Delhi Ajit started contributing cartoons to Target – a magazine for children run by the India Today group. That led to an offer to join the media group as cartoonist and illustrator. Ajit’s cartoons in India Today, Business Today and Target got him noticed. He joined Indian Express newspaper in 1992 before drawing for the news magazine Outlook. He is now with The Times of India as their Chief Graphics Consultant. Ajit used to run a cartoon strip called Detective Moochhwala (and his tail-less dog called Poochh, which means tail in Hindi) for Target. That comic strip had cult status amongst readers and it was amazing to see Ajit pack in a tight storyline and brilliant graphics in about 35-40 frames.Nephew of the cartoonist Abu Abraham (1924-2002), Ajit grew up in Hyderabad. The highlight of his time at Hyderabad Public School was when he used to get “suspended” for drawing cartoons of his teachers. According to Ajit, “That allowed me to sit in the library and go through stacks of Punch and New Yorker cartoons. Cartoonists James Thurber and Arnold Roth were my inspiration. As a kid I spent many doing detailed sketches of machines and turbines. My love for these gadgets showed up when I drew Moochhwala who used hi-tech inspired gadgets like Katchem Krime Komputer – which was a dig at the Ku Klux Klan.” Ajit looked at my caricature of him and said, “That’s spot on! The hair on the eyebrows was michievous.” We caught up over lunch and many cups of coffee.
Abhijit Bhaduri: Where was your first cartoon published? How old were you then?Ajit Ninan: My first work was published in the last issue of the children’s magazine Shankar’s Weekly. I think that was in 1968 or 69 and they shut down after that. Maybe because of my cartoon!! They sent me a Money Order for Rs10/-. I promptly spent eight bucks out of that buying myself a new pair of school shoes.Abhijit: How did you know that you wanted to be a cartoonist?
Ninan: I am a “Mallu” (Malayali for the uninitiated) but from Hyderabad. I was weak in Math. So it had to be art. My ambition was to teach in a college. I thought I would move all my classes to the afternoon and get to sleep late everyday.But I did not start off doing cartoons. I started off drawing complicated machines and turbines. As a cartoonist you have to learn to draw all kinds of things and from all angles. If you need to draw a tractor, you have to know how much of the wheel would be visible, what shape the headlights are. Where are they fixed etc. You have to be able to draw all those details. Only then can you use them in a cartoon. A cartoonist’s mind has to be like a Rotoscope. When I am looking at a person, or reading a news item my mind automatically churns ideas, creates images, exaggerates a point of view. That is important for a cartoonist.(According to Wikipedia: In the visual effects industry, the term rotoscoping refers to the technique of manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate so it may be composited over another background.)Abhijit: Whose cartoons do you admire?Ninan: Mario Miranda’s drawings. He is the only Indian cartoonist who can have a hundred characters in a drawing and still have harmony. His pen strokes are so confident. He will take care to make a guy in a black coat stand in front of a white door to bring out the contrast and details. I grew up admiring the works of James Thurber and Arnold Roth of New Yorker. There are two kinds of cartoonists – those who attract attention with the blacks and those who use white (space). American cartoonists use a lot of black – their politicians and business people wear black. That explains their style. Our style has to be to use white. Abu Abraham shifted to using more white after he started to draw in India. I love Lurie’s style of big heads and small bodies. I used this style while drawing the business leaders caricatures.Abhijit: When you draw cartoons for a living, does it not tend to take the joy out of what could be a nice hobby? How do your friends treat you?Ajit: It is a stressful and lonely role. You cannot delegate it to anyone. You always have to have ideas that have at least a 24 hour shelf life. If you are on vacation, the continuity has to be maintained for the reader. My friends expect me to always come up with something wacky. Some of them are wary about getting themselves depicted as a cartoon.Abhijit: How do you draw caricatures? Are good looking people more difficult to draw caricatures of?
Ajit: Yes, good looking people are more difficult to draw. I find it tougher to draw women than men. When Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister, I was worried until he built his helipad ! By making Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister, in one stroke Sonia Gandhi has deprived cartoonists of so many cartoon topics. Manmohan Singh is difficult to make fun of. But cartoonists still manage to.I always start with the nose. Then decide where to hang the rest of the face. (hands me a collection of biz leaders’ caricature he has drawn.)Abhijit: What is it about the state of Kerala that has produced some of India’s best known cartoonists – Vijayan, Kutty, Shankar, Ravi Shankar, Abu Abraham to name a few? (Just check out this list at http://keralacartoonists.blogspot.com/)Ajit: I think it is a combination of literacy and political leanings that Kerala has to offer. All that Leftist ideology encourages people to cock a snook at the establishment. And then of course, having a largely matriarchal society ensures that the banter between the sexes is always witty.Abhijit: How did having the cartoonist Abu Abraham as your paternal uncle influence your work?Ajit: He was a very insightful man. Abu used to say, you need a high degree of intellect to be a cartoonist. Get to the essence of a situation, then visualize it in the most concise fashion. Do not fill up your drawing just to show people that you draw well.
Abhijit Bhaduri: How did Detective Moochhwala and Pooch get created? I was a great fan of those cartoons. I know I am not alone because I see many others pining for Moochh and Poochh. (Download a hi-res copy of this cartoon from here)
Ajit: Moochhwalla was inspired by cartoonist David Low’s character Col Blimp. I kept the dog Poochh white in color as it would save the hassle of coloring and shading the dog. (Pulls out a comic book version of Moochhwalla comics collection and shows me). I just loved coming up with those stories and crazy gadgets. Fitting a full story and the drawing on to 35 odd frames was a challenge. And not to forget the “silent” cartoons.Abhijit: How would you go about hiring a cartoonist? Ajit: I would gauge the person’s mind more than the lines. You need a wacko sense of humor. Then look for the person’s ability to visualize. I would ask the person to come up with as many visualizations of say, the hammer and sickle or any other party’s logo? After all the cartoonist is conveying a political point of view with visuals. The cartoonist should not have to wait for a news headline and then think of a cartoon. Humor can’t be simplistic humor either.Abhijit: What is the role of a cartoonist in a newspaper? With newspaper readership dwindling worldwide, what will happen to cartoonists in future?Ajit: There are many opportunities for cartoonists. Look at animation films like Shrek and Madagascar. They could employ hundreds of cartoonists. There are web sites and TV channels that look for cartoonists. Above all cartoonists need to be able to work in teams.Abhijit: Any cartoon you regret having made?Ajit: At the height of the Bofors scandal, I had drawn Rajiv Gandhi like a Pope surrounded by black sheep with one white sheep that was supposed to be VP Singh. Instead of the cross on his clothes I had used the Congress party symbol. That had offended some Christian groups. Another time I had shown the map of India to be like a Ganesha. Gujarat and the Eastern states being the ears etc. That offended a few Hindu groups. So I apologized.=====Join me on Twitter @AbhijitBhaduri or on LinkedIn
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Meet Cartoonist Ajit Ninan
Comments
37 responses to “Meet Cartoonist Ajit Ninan”
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Nice interview Sir….Really admire you for this interview…Your article helped me to know much about a cartoonist Life:)
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“Amazing is the word…. never knew a cartoonist life is so full of brains, sense of humor and intellect…..”Inspiring! 🙂
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Well, an interesting and candid interview. But from what I know of dear Ajit, this profile is just the tip of the iceberg. Ajit is a multi-faceted genius who understands the commoner on the street, the hypocratic politicians and the mind of a child (as evident from his silent cartoons caricatured in TARGET). Above all, he is gem of a gentleman to the core.May his witty visual insight and foresight chuckle the entire nation for all times to come.And finally, I wish to add that I open the pages of Times of India only for four topics. Ajit Ninan’s cartoons, Jug Suriya’s column and the obit page to see the remembrances to share my thoughts for the departed soul.
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@suresh panje: Your reasons for reading the newspaper are very close to mine :)@Milli and @Vijay: Thanks
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Hi,It was really nice to read through your blog.Mr Ajit’s interview was quite interesting too. The story that is been picturized, takes us to his old tomes.i must say, a Well maintained blog.Sohan Dhandehttp://sohandhande.wordpress.com
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Thanks for this rare insight in to the mind and work of Ajit Ninan.Would you believe that I am a great fan of his from Detective Moochwala days but this is the first time I have been able to read an interview of his.I have always felt that Ninan’s cartoons are a lesson in detailing, clean-cut lines and of course, a superb sense of situational humour. Thanks, again.
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nice interview….thumps up!!prabhakar ,cartoonist.
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Hi,Is there a facebook or orkut fanclub for Ajit Ninan ?Is there a digital copy of all the cartoons drawn by him in target and other publicationsThaanks for the wonderful interview.RegardsRaghruaman
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i am doing animation.. but the thing is that i am not so perfect in cartoon drawing.. so if u can please tell me how can i be perfect in it.. is there any course for it?
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Ajit is the best cartoonist in India! his observation skills are rare and amazing. His cartoons were and are way ahead of the times…usage of colors, adding life to unanimated objects are part of his unique style…thanks for this interview…it certainly reminded me of Target and India Today
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….i like ninas cartoon, as i love to draw cartoons, i have shown my work to mario mirinda also,he admired my work& intreast ,now i would like to meet mr.ninan, as early
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Since my college days i am fan of Ajit ninan cortoons. I was reading INDIA TODAY just for his cortoon sake. I stopped buying the magazine once he quit India today. I remember his one of my favourite cortoon. It showed jayalalitha”s way of supporting vajpayee govt. Either way the truck she is in will not move.I wish Mr Ajit visit my webside, and write his comments about my wildlife art.thanksj rameshwildlife artist
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Ajit Ninan has always been my inspiration. The awestruck stokes of his reveal that how apt he is in animation.
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grew up seeing Mr Ninan’s Illustrations and Cartoons Enjoyed the InterviewThanks to Mr BhaduriS
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i am a huge huge fan of mr ninan!! his cartoons are simply outstanding!!i try and make cartoons using his work as an influence but the way he does it is just unmatchable!most sincere regards and best wishes mr ninan..
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Hello Mr. Ajith Ninan , your Times of India Cartoons I saw very good Last month Manorama daily Editorial Director Thomas Jacob one column. every week in Manorama weekly coming that column. i read for E weekly Last column. He said Ajith Ninan Abu Abraham relaction told therefore I will letter for e mail .I awaiting for good reply for as soon as possibleWarm RegardsJohn Panicker.G
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Ajit Ninan is like demi-God to people like me, who have that satiristic attitude towards the life.His caricatures may not be as good as Prabhakar Bhatlekar ( of Illustrated Weekly ) but cartoons are having better punch line than Telang or Rajinder Poorie or Unny or Kuttys.I wish some day in my life I can have his e-mail ID or meet him in person!Then he can start drawing a common man with uncommon desires like this!!!Ajit ji Tussi Great Ho Ji, aap ke karan maine bahut India Today jaise mediocre publications padh liye.
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Dear Sir,Thank you posting this interview.I grew up watching and drawing Mr. Ajit Ninan’s illustrations since a kid.He is one of the best illustrators and I am a great of fan of him too.I would like to meet him in person, would it possible to share his contacts where I can reach him.I am also posting a link of my illustrations and it has the foundations on Mr. Ninan embedded in them.Thanks a lot.Best RegardsGod BlessKunal
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An interesting interview that still rivets you after passage of two and a half years.Could you pl. share with me the email address of shri ninan?
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Last 30 or so years I am following Ajit Ninan’s cartoons. Initialy I was a subscriber of India Today in early 80’s. He is fantastic. Even The latest 4 lives given to Tandulkar give us Kashmir.Simply superb.
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I was lucky my parents subscribed to Target when I was a kid. I would read all the other articles in Target & read Moochwala last…. to “Save the Best for last”Ajit’s style is so distinctive I can make out his cartoons even if his name is not printed.All the Best to you Sir.Keep them coming.
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For the past 4 Years one Ardent Times Of India Reader has been A Fan of The Great AJITH NINAN …. I would like to meet u in flesh and Blood Sir….. But only Problem is I am Totally committed to my business and can’t Spare my Time….I adore u a lot Sir … keep on with the Good Work (!)With Lots Of LoveHemanth Bhat
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Normally I don’t read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to check out and do it! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thank you, quite nice article.
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Great Abhijit! Very interesting and informative interview with one of the best Indian cartoonists.Thanks.IrfanCartoonist
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AJIT NAINAN CARTOONS ARE THE BEST EVER.His recent ones in the last 3 days are HILLARIOUS
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Namaskarams.Vargasneham valuthane.i am a health care professional who has spent over 41 years.i was involved in copy writing for sales men all these years.i have lots of thoughts in my chest of dryer.It is all jokes and mockery on health and the insanity of the advertisements i see every day.i caan do the copy writing and as a visualizer if you can help me i will appreciate.krseshadri
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Dear Ajit sir, I thought you would look somewhat like Detective Moochwala whom I admired all the time. I am 41 now, but I read a lot of comics during school days, including Target. I also admire most of your cartoons in India Today and Times of India. Keep on entertaining us sir, and may god give you all strength to continue to make our children smile. Jai hind!
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ajit ninan is undoubtly india’s top most cartoonist.his attention to details and style of exageration in a character’s look and action is extremely hillariously wonderful, i m glad to have some one from india matching truly international top bracket in this art form.i enjoy his worki m his fan , wish i could meet him someday
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Thanks for a nice candid interview. You’ll be glad to know that I am writing a series : 50 Great Indian Cartoonists. Ajit Ninan features in the list. This series is being published in mothly ‘Caroonwatch’ magazine in English, the Sunday section of Daily’Deshbandhu’ in Hindi and fortnightly ‘Samadrusti’ in Odia.
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i am keen to know the work process of ajit ninan? how he inks? colours ? mannualy or digitaly? ither lines are mannual?
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I am a big fan of TARGET and want the old copies of that.pl help
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I don’t even know how I finished up here, but Ithought this put up used tobe good. I don’t understand who you are howevr definitely you arre goingto a amous blogger in the event you aren’t already.Cheers!
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The little smart boy Ajit Ninan is the name I remember from among the students of St. Gabriel’s School and its boarding in Kazipet. It is so because I loved his drawings which used to be mostly of soldiers, guns and tanks! I connected his talent with that of his famous uncle Abu Abraham. I was proud of him when I used to see his cartoons in India Today. Then all of a sudden I saw he was no more with India Today and ever since I have not seen his works. My congratulations and best wishes to Ajit!John Bosco
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My day starts with hearty laughs after seeing the fantastic cartoon in TOI. I DON’T call it a cartoon. It’s the true picture of our dirty politcal scenario.Bhargavaram
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Tumblr articleI saw a writer talking about this on Tumblr and it linked to
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sir i am very happy i want make cartoon because attach in this fild i am master in fine arts from jaipur you have guide to me in cartoon side thanks i hope you will reply
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I stumbled upon this while looking for Ajit Ninan’s works. And i am glad I did, cos I am such a big fan of his creations. Being a cartoonist is a very tough job and this is a gem of an interview! I derived so many insights from the mind of a cartoonist.Thanks Abhijit! This is as relevant in 2018 as it was 9 yrs ago.
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