The Ramayana : A New Seven-Volume Graphic Series

Image source : ACK website

ACK Media’s newest release is the first of a seven-volume graphic series based on Valmiki’s Ramayana. Bala Kand, which will be available in bookstores shortly, looks at even the smaller details and stories of the epic. 

Inspired by requests from readers after Amar Chitra Katha published its 42-volume Mahabharata series, The Ramayana began to take shape more than a year-and-a-half ago. “The Ramayana has so many stories on the side. And our original book is an abridged version in which all these stories had to be cut out. This series will have everything in detail,” says Reena Puri, editor, ACK Media. 

Staying true to the original, the series will have seven volumes, one for each Kand that Valmiki wrote. “Each book will be about 135 to 150 pages. While the format will be our usual style, the graphic novel uses semi-realistic drawings and is more contemporary than traditional,” she says. “It took us quite some time to get the first book out because we had to check the original story, get our facts right, choose what drawings to use and so on. We hope to release the rest of the books in another year-and-a-half.” 

While the graphic novel is targeted at those between the ages 10 and 15, Reena says that the book is, in its entirety, for people of all ages.