Book review: 'Uud Bilaw Manus'

In the first of DNA’s series of pop culture comics, Daniel Pinto reviews Adhiraj Singh & Abhijeet Kini’s fascinating Uud Bilaw Manus

 

With a style visually reminiscent of Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman, Udd Bilaw Manus is the comic based on a Bhojpuri-speaking anthropomorphic sea otter. Hailing from rural ‘Beehar’ in the Hindi heartland, Ubima, as he is lovingly called by hisfemme fatale girlfriend Kitty, must prevent it from being trampled underfoot by a slew of ruthless Bollywoodesque criminals. These include the barbaric Black Dog, and archenemy Kan Khajurah (and his gang of kiraye ke tattus, horse-faced minions with rickshaw meters on their person)

Bursting on to the scene with his catch phrase 'Chillao mat, hum inha hi khada hoon,' the dog-faced UbiMa with his ripped pehelwan bod and 'rubber katccha' is a sight to behold. Just like Beehar is a far cry from Metropolis, UbiMa, with his lohe ke haath is no Superman. Rather dim-witted and slow on the uptake, our hero’s only superpower -- in the true sense of the word -- is the strength that flows from his rustic goodness and sense of justice and duty towards his humble town, which repeatedly faces a number of colourful threats. Scenarios in the story include elements from Bollywood, Sci-Fi, film noir and drama. UBiMa in one episode saves US president Obama  (UbiMa, Obama  see what they did there?) from the clutches of a local gang north Indian type goons.

 

While illustrator Abhijeet Kini’s art is playful, dynamic, and pleasing to the eye, writer Adhiraj Singh must give consideration to the storyline, which is replete with mindlessness. Interestingly, Hindi and Bhojpuri, both in Devnagiri and transliterated English, are employed in the dialogues and onomatopoeic sound effects.

 

Though I have nothing against lowbrow humour and general weirdness, it appears that Singh had a list of elements (which I admit were amusing) which were added but don’t do anything for the paper-thin story. While the quirkiness is appreciated, it must serve as an accompaniment to the story rather than merely dominate stunted vignettes. Let’s hope that after vital characters are introduced, the comic shakes off this anecdotal characteristic and matures into a layered form of storytelling (The development of story arcs, for example, could be one direction where the narrative could head).

 

Either way, with its strong Indian flavor and idiosyncrasies, and script laden with hilarious Pran-esque bad English and all-too familiar expletives (parents, don't get fooled by the cartoon animals), Uud Bila Manus, with its pop culture references, is unprecedented in its deliberate celebration of pervasive bad taste. However, an overall better-structured narrative where the kitschiness the comic seeks to ‘pay tribute’ to is better contained would make the Uud Bilaw Manus, with all its absurdity, something more memorable, worthy of engagement and looking worth looking forward to. Still, if the randomness of the comic appeals to you,  give Uud Bilaw Manus a leaf through.