Jai Undurti, the creative director at Syenagiri, a publication house, studied in Rishi Valley School. “We used to come to Bengaluru for short day trips, and it was like coming to Manhattan or Paris. I remember a store, Tangerine, on MG Road where I first used computers,” he reminisces, adding, “Bengaluru, for me, represents bookstores. And everyone has some memory and impressions of the city.” Syenagiri’s Bangalore: A Graphic Novel, which launches today, captures this essence as 18 artists, illustrators and authors come together to piece together the anthology.
The novel is a part of the Every City is a Story initiative, which previously had a Hyderabad novel, and is looking to Goa next. City-based artists like Appupen, Prashant Miranda, Zac O’Yeah. and George Supreeth have worked on pieces on themes such as a futuristic dystopia, a look back at bygone days of the ’70s, a missing ATM and an occult story, respectively.
Urban chatter
The book highlights how each locality and landmark of the city has its own tone and vision. Ramya Ramakrishnan’s story is set in the iconic India Coffee House on Church Street, “It is a story about love and time-travel. I chose the setting because I think it is one of those places whose character is timeless,” she says. Illustrator Sreejita ‘Solo’ Biswas also tells us about her comic, “It is a superhero origin story about a mysterious vigilante who is disappointed in the city and wants to save it.”
Although the novel was launched as an e-book earlier this year, they were met with demands for a hard copy. “We aim to go fully digital, but people still like to hold and get the feel of physical books,” Jai tells us. The book will be released at Goobe’s Book Republic, “The owner, Ravi Menezes was instrumental in putting us in touch with the artists and the store is a hub for events, so it was natural to launch it in the place where it all began,” Jai signs off.
Entry free. July 28, 6.30 pm. At Goobe’s Book Republic, Church Street. Details: 40903806
anagha@newindianexpress.com
Twitter: @anaghzzz