Anandamela

"Anandamela" is a children's periodical in Bengali language published by ABP Limited (Ananda Bazar Patrika Group) from Kolkata, India. It has been edited by several eminent personalities at different times including the famous poet Nirendranath Chakraborty, Ashoke Kumar Sarkar, and Debasish Bandopadhyay. The present editor is Paulami Sengupta Sarkar. "Anandamela" is one of the most popular and oldest surviving Bengali children's magazines and is presently published once on the second day of every month. Many noted authors had started writing for children through "Anandamela"; for example author Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay got noticed as a children's author after writing "Manojder Adbhut Baari", which was published in "Anandamela" as a serial novel. On June 19, 2004, "Anandamela" split up into 2 different magazines, the original "Anandamela" (for children of the age group 8 - 14), and "Unish Kuri", (for teens and young adults of the age group 15 - 25). Both the magazines are edited by the same editor and editorial team. "Anandamela" is published from 6 Prafulla Sarkar Street, Kolkata 700 001.

Content

"Anandamela" is popular for short stories, ghost stories, novels (most often, thrillers) and original comics. In the past "Anandamela" had for over 25 years, published "The Adventures of Tintin" comics in Bengali language; and happens to be the only magazine in India to have ever published "Tintin" in any of the Indian languages. "Anandamela" is trusted by parents for study-material and examination tips. "Anandamela" has an immensely popular section; "Tomader Pata", where it publishes drawings and anecdotes written by children/readers. The following are the regular features:
* cover story
* short stories
* novel/serial novel,
* comics
* sports
* campus/school review
* page for contribution of readers
* news from the world of science and IT
* examination tips
* study-material
* letters to the editor
* book review
* puzzles

Popular series (past and present)

* Aranyadeb (The Phantom) comics (translated from English)
* Archie Comics (translated from English)
* Arjun by Samaresh Majumdar
* Asterix comics (translated from French)
* Feluda comics by Satyajit Ray, art by Abhijit Chattopadhyay
* Gablu (Henry) comics (translated from English)
* Ghanada by Premendra Mitra
* Gogol by Samaresh Basu
* Kakababu by Sunil Gangopadhyay
* Kalaboti by Moti Nandy
* Kikira by Bimal Kar
* Mitin & Tupur by Suchitra Bhattacharya
* Pandab Goenda by Shasthipada Chattopadhyay
* Professor Shonku by Satyajit Ray
* [http://www.royoftherovers.com/ Rovers-er Roy comics] . (translated from English)
* Spider-Man comics (translated from English)
* Tarzan comics (translated from English)
* The Adventures of Tintin comics by Herge (translated from French)

Key writers (past and present)

* Bimal Kar
* Dulendra Bhowmik
* Moti Nandy
* Nabanita Dev Sen
* Premendra Mitra
* Sailen Ghosh
* Samaresh Basu
* Samaresh Majumdar
* Sanjeev Chattopadhyay
* Satyajit Ray
* Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay
* Suchitra Bhattacharya
* Sukanto Gangopadhyay
* Sunil Gangopadhyay

Key artists (past and present)

Art and artists were always an important part of Anandamela, thus giving birth to some memorable artist talents. Among the large number of artists who illustrated the pages and covers of Anandamela, the most memorable 12 happen to be:
* Abhijit Chattopadhyay
* Ahibhushan Malik
* Anoop Roy
* Bimal Das
* Debasish Deb
* Krishnendu Chaki
* Samir Sarkar
* Satyajit Ray
* Subroto Chowdhury
* Subroto Gangopadhyay
* Sudhir Maitra
* Shubhaprasanna Bhattacharya

pecial Issue (Puja number)

In October, the Bengali festive month, Anandamela comes in a special size of over 400 pages, the hallmark of which is Sunil Gangopadhyay's new novel of the legendary thriller series, Kakababu, besides a full-length Feluda comic based on the story of Oscar winning director Satyajit Ray, illustrated by Abhijit Chattopadhyay. This special number features 5 - 6 full length complete novels, several short stories, features, 3 complete comic strips, some of which run up to 60 pages.

Although the fortnightly regular issues of Anandamela started much later, The PUJA NUMBER started way back in 1971. Sunil Gangopadhyay is the only writer whose writings are present in every Puja Number of Anandamela right from the beginning of the magazine.

Other activities

The Anandamela Club has a system of paid that arranges various programs, competitions and activities throughout the year for children.

Criticism

Anandamela has been criticised in the past for their over-dependence on foreign comics. Later, after Paulami Sengupta Sarkar took charge as the editor, original comics, and comics, based on Bengali literature was introduced, and all foreign comics were pulled off, including The Adventures of Tintin , that was the hallmark and flagship brand of Anandamela.

ee also

*Unish Kuri, sister publication of Anandamela.

External links

* [http://www.bengalicddvd.com/product_info.php/products_id/38 Online purchase and subscription 1]
* [http://www.simindia.com/mag/magazine.htm Online purchase and subscription 2]