&[19659002]BENGALURU KARNATAKA 15/11/2025: K. Venugopal (left), chairman, Kasturi & Sons Ltd., going through the animations exhibit by The Hindu businessline cartoonist Ravikant Nandula, throughout the inauguration at the Indian Cartoon Gallery, in Bengaluru on November 15, 2025. Picture MURALI KUMAR K/ The Hindu|Image Credit: MURALI KUMAR K
At an animation exhibit that happily takes digs at Indian politics, loan suppliers, and even AI, evidence emerges that journalism can still brighten with wit and sharpness. Shown in the frames is the peaceful knowledge of R.K. Laxman’s “commoner,” echoing the developer’s own observation: “My commoner is universal. He’s been quiet all these 50 years. He merely listens.”
K. Venugopal, Chairman, Kasturi & & Sons, remembered a minute from the paper’s early days when R.K. Laxman strolled into the newsroom on the eve of the launch– a time when it was unusual for a service publication to host a cartoonist.
“The very first problem was dated January 28, 1994. On the 27th, he occurred to be in our workplace,” Venugopal stated. “He drew an animation, however he wasn’t pleased with it. He tore it into 2 bits and dropped it into the wastepaper basket before beginning once again.”
What took place next developed into newsroom tradition. “The crumpled paper was rapidly gotten by Ravikanth Nandula,” he stated. “He pieced it back together, which animation is still with businessline.
Venugopal stated the occurrence showed what makes cartooning ageless. “The medium of journalism might alter, however the art does not. Brevity is the soul of animations, and the very best ones resonate with individuals no matter age.”
D. Sampath Kumar, previous editor of The hindu businessline, echoed the belief.
“Good animations truly have no expiration date,” he stated. “They withstand as long as we do, and often even longer.”
Ravikanth Nandula kept in mind, “This work does not cover all my profession in company life– it is just from the previous 4 to 5 years,” highlighting the modern lens of the program.
Animations vs Memes: Coexistence, Not Competition
In an age when social commentary is controlled by memes, reels and short-form visual humour, Nandula dismisses the concept that animations are being crowded out by digital culture.
“Pocket cartooning … has actually stayed the protect of print journalism,” he states. While acknowledging that digital media has actually changed usage practices, he firmly insists memes are not a risk– they are just a various types. “Meme has actually developed as a different category of satire and humour. It is not at the expense of animations.”
Print is unquestionably challenged. “Importance of an animation in a paper– or checking out a paper itself– has actually boiled down. That becomes part of the advancement. It might have had its time; it might have it once again.”
Released on November 15, 2025
