https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=103.147.209.206Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]2026-08-17T18:25:46ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Balarama_(magazine)&diff=107024Balarama (magazine)2021-03-19T08:22:22Z<p>103.147.209.206: /* In-house (Malayalam) */Fixed typo.</p>
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<div>{{short description|Indian comic magazine}}<br />
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}<br />
{{Infobox magazine<br />
| title = Balarama<br />
| logo = Balarama Title.gif<br />
| logo_size = 200px<br />
| editor = A. V. Harisanker<br />
| editor_title = Editor-in-Chief<br />
| previous_editor = [[N. M. Mohanan|N. M. Mohan]]<br />
| category = Comic magazine<br />
| frequency = Weekly<br />
| circulation = 1,23,196 (ABC, July-December 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://advt.manoramaonline.com/2018/Manorama-Media-Kit/index.html|title=Manorama Online - Media Kit (April, 2018)|website=advt.manoramaonline.com|access-date=2019-07-13}}</ref><br />
* Readership - 7,33,000 (IRS 2017, AIR)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://advt.manoramaonline.com/2018/Manorama-Media-Kit/index.html|title=Manorama Online - Media Kit (April, 2018)|website=advt.manoramaonline.com|access-date=2019-07-13}}</ref><br />
| publisher = V. Sajeev George<br />
| founder =<br />
| founded = 1972<br />
| firstdate = <!-- {{Start date|year|month|day}} --><br />
| company = [[Malayala Manorama|Malayala Manorama Publications Limited]]<br />
| country = India<br />
| based = [[Kottayam]], Kerala<br />
| language = [[Malayalam]]<br />
| website = [http://www.manoramaonline.com/advt/children-new/balarama/balarama-index.htm Official website]<br />
| issn =<br />
0975-0339<br />
}}<br />
'''''Balarama''''' (literally ''Joy of Kids'') is an [[India]]n weekly comic magazine published by M. M. Publications, of [[Malayala Manorama|Malayala Manorama Group]] from [[Kottayam]], Kerala in [[Malayalam-language]].It is currently the 8th most read non-English magazine and 5th most read Malayalam magazine in India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Balarama Magazine Kerala - Read Online Balarama Malayala Manorama Magazine|url=https://www.justkerala.in/media/magazines/balarama-magazine|access-date=2020-07-04|website=Just Kerala}}</ref>Balarama is also the most read children's magazine in india.<br />
<br />
Starting as a monthly in 1972, the magazine became a fortnightly periodical in November 1984, before finally settling as a weekly in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Children's Magazines and Different Childhoods in Kerala|url=https://www.sahapedia.org/childrens-magazines-and-different-childhoods-kerala|access-date=2020-07-04|website=Sahapedia|language=en}}</ref>The weekly hits stands on every Friday. Along with the comics (original or syndicated), the content includes fables, rhymes, literary classics and various puzzles.<br />
<br />
''Balarama'' is known for its decades long partnership with [[Amar Chitra Katha]]. American comics syndicated by the magazine include [[Disney comics|Disney Comics]], [[Henry (comic strip)|Henry]], [[Dennis the Menace (U.S. comics)|Dennis the Menace]], Dora the Explorer and also [[Spider-Man]], [[Batman comics|Batman]], [[the Phantom]] and [[Mandrake the Magician]].<br />
<br />
Malayala Manorama also publishes ''[[National Geographic Kids]]'' in India'','' ''Manorama Tell Me Why,'' ''Balarama Digest, Kalikkudukka, MagicPot, Akkad Bakkad, Colouring Books'' and ''Balarama Amar Chitra Katha.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://advt.manoramaonline.com/2018/Manorama-Media-Kit/index.html|title=Manorama Online - Media Kit (April, 2018)|website=advt.manoramaonline.com|access-date=2019-07-13}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Publication history ==<br />
=== Early period (1972–1984) ===<br />
''Balarama'' was started in 1972 by the house of ''[[Malayala Manorama]]'', one of the most widely read dailies in south India. From the beginning, the monthly magazine was noted for its high standard of content. The publishers were mainly focusing on more grown kids, rather than young in this early period. Over the years, it became a comic magazine, with more comic strips and less children's stories, fables and rhymes.<ref>Indian literature since independence: a Symposium K. R. Srinivasa Iyengar Sahitya Akademi p. 165</ref><br />
<br />
Some earlier attempts to publish children's periodicals in Malayalam were proved failures. Among them, a magazine known as ''Ambili Ammavan'' (the Malayalam version of ''[[Chandamama]]'') alone survived for a long period. However, it was Pai and Pai Company's comic magazine ''[[Poompatta (comic magazine)|Poompatta]]'' that established among the readers for the first time. [[NM Mohan|N. M. Mohan]], the editor of ''Poomatta'' of the time, is considered as the architect and designer of all typical "children's magazines" in Kerala.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Datta|first=Amaresh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&q=Encyclopaedia+of+Indian+Literature:+A-Devo|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo|date=1987|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=9788126018031|language=en}}</ref><br />
<br />
=== Golden age (mid–1980s to late–1990s) ===<br />
In 1983, N. M. Mohan moved to ''Balarama'' and took charge as the editor-in-chief. He created the iconic [[Mayavi]] series, with Mumbai-based artist Pradeep Sathe. It debuted in the August 1984 issue of the magazine (and soon went on to become the flagship strip).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fans take up the message of 'Save Luttappi' at India-New Zealand match in Hamilton - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/fans-take-up-the-message-of-save-luttappi-at-india-new-zealand-match-in-hamilton/articleshow/67943061.cms|access-date=2020-07-04|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> The magazine became a fortnightly periodical in November 1984.<br />
<br />
''Balarama'' created a record in the history of the circulation of Malayalam comic magazines and replaced ''[[Poompatta (magazine)|Poompatta]]'' as the market leader. The rise of ''Balarama'' soon inspired other Malayalam daily newspapers to follow the suit and produce a number of similar type comic magazines. In the early 1990s, the magazine was able print completely in multi-colour. From 17 April 1999, the fortnightly became a weekly.<br />
<br />
=== Foreign syndication era (2000–2012) ===<br />
A major breakthrough in the development of ''Balarama'' came in the 25 March 2000 issue. From this issue, it started syndicating American comic strip [[Spider-Man]]. It was the first time an American super-hero appeared in a Malayalam comic magazine. The trend of syndicated super-heroes followed as [[Batman]], [[the Phantom]] and [[Mandrake the Magician]] comics also appeared in the subsequent years. In the summer of 2000, the magazine started syndicating [[Disney comics|Disney Comics]] and [[Henry (comics)|Henry]] strips. [[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]] was the first Disney comics to syndicate, followed by classics such as [[Cinderella (1950 film)|Cinderella]] and [[Alice in Wonderland (1951 film)|Alice in Wonderland]].<br />
<br />
In mid-2001, the magazine started a new in-house series [[Soothran]], which later became quite popular among the readers. More than 500 weekly strips of Soothran have been published so far, each one about 4 or 5 pages in length.<br />
<br />
=== Competition for the juvenile market (2012–present) ===<br />
<br />
After the retirement of N. M. Mohan in 2012, A. V. Harisanker took over charge as the editor-in-chief. With the decreasing sales, connected to competition for the juvenile market from online streaming and computer games, the new editor-in-chief faces a tough challenge to keep up with the demands of the market.<br />
<br />
==Famous comics and series appeared in ''Balarama'' ==<br />
''This is a list showing the famous comics and series appeared in Balarama.''<br />
<br />
=== In-house (Malayalam)===<br />
{{columns-list|colwidth=35em|<br />
* [[Mayavi]](flagship comic)<br />
* [[Luttappi]]<br />
* [[Soothran]]<br />
*Akkuvum Ikkuvum<br />
*Mrigathipathyam Vannal<br />
*Oridathoridathu (folk tales)<br />
*[[Jungle Book]]<br />
*Kaloopi<br />
*Mantriyude Thantrangal<br />
*Mayajala Kadhagal<br />
*Jampanum Thumbanum<br />
*Thala Maratte<br />
*Shikkari Shambu<br />
*Raja Thuglan<br />
*Munjasan Kadhagal<br />
*Kayamkulam Kochunni<br />
*Kulappurath Bheeman<br />
*Dundu Mon<br />
*Kuppi Bhootam<br />
<br />
}}<br />
From its early period, cartoonist P. J. Venugopal's series appears in every issue of the magazine. Series such as ''Thalamaratte'', ''Pulivalu'' and ''Jambanum Thumbanum'', discussing relevant social issues, were quite popular among the readers. Venugopal also draws the last page strip, known as ''Mrigathipathyam Vannal''.<br />
<br />
=== Syndicated ===<br />
====Indian====<br />
''Balarama'' is known for its decades long partnership with [[Amar Chitra Katha]] (India Book House). Until recently, MM Publications held the rights publish Amar Chitra Katha comics in Malayalam.<br />
{{columns-list|colwidth=35em|<br />
* [[Shikari Shambu]]<br />
* [[Kapish]]<br />
* [[Suppandi]]<br />
* [[Kalia the Crow]]<br />
* Tantri the Mantri<br />
* [[Shikari Shambu]]<br />
* Pyarelal series<br />
* Janoo and Wooly Woo<br />
* Mahabharata (Dilip Kadam)<br />
* Inspector Azad<br />
* [[Shaktiman]]<br />
* [[Chhota Bheem]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
====Outside India====<br />
{{columns-list|colwidth=35em|<br />
* [[Disney comics|Disney Comics]]<br />
* [[Spider-Man]]<br />
*[[Dracula]]<br />
* [[Henry (comic strip)|Henry]]<br />
* [[Batman comics|Batman]]<br />
* [[The Phantom]]<br />
*[[Tarzan]]<br />
* [[Mandrake the Magician]]<br />
* [[Mickey Mouse]]<br />
* [[Donald Duck]]<br />
* [[Dennis the Menace (U.S. comics)|Dennis the Menace]]<br />
* [[Dora the Explorer]]<br />
<br />
<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
* [[Champak]]<br />
* [[Tinkle]]<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* Official website [http://www.manoramaonline.com/advt/children-new/balarama/balarama-index.htm]<br />
<br />
{{Malayalam journalism}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balarama (magazine)}}<br />
[[Category:1972 establishments in Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Malayalam-language magazines]]<br />
[[Category:Children's magazines published in India]]<br />
[[Category:Weekly magazines published in India]]<br />
[[Category:Indian comics]]<br />
[[Category:Magazines established in 1972]]<br />
[[Category:Malayalam comics]]<br />
[[Category:Malayala Manorama group]]<br />
[[Category:Biweekly magazines published in India]]<br />
[[Category:Magazines about comics]]<br />
[[Category:Mass media in Kerala]]</div>103.147.209.206