It was 2001 and I used to be an aspiring cartoonist in determined want of a spark. Ninan, together with his “Centrestage” sequence of editorial cartoons at India Today journal, was already a legend. He had pioneered the fusion of black and white drawings with the modern vibrancy of Photoshop colors. His exact and measured traces marked a departure from the daring, deft brush strokes of iconic figures like Keshav Shankar Pillai, R Ok Laxman, and OV Vijayan. And he was a real maximalist, identified for lavishing meticulous care upon each illustration.
Every time I flipped by my scrapbook full of Ninan’s sketches, I felt disheartened. That’s when the concept of looking for his recommendation struck me.
At 6.30am, I entered the India Today workplace clutching my portfolio. I used to be so nervous that I didn’t see Ninan enter. At 7 sharp, the guard ushered me in, and I confronted Ninan, acutely aware of the seconds slipping away.
“Show me your cartoons,” he stated. As he examined my drawings, my eyes darted to his personal items hanging on pinboards. “Your ideas are promising, but your drawing skills need more work,” he stated. “And remember, this is a demanding profession. You’ll need to dedicate long hours. So, ensure you’re in good mental and physical shape.”
Ninan defined his personal early behavior: “I prefer to start early because every newsroom turns into a machhli bazaar in the second half of the day. It becomes challenging to focus.” He spent one other 5 minutes explaining his work course of, and as I ready to depart, he gave me a valuable tip: “Try to find humour in everyday life. And if you can’t find it, create it.”
Once exterior, I realised he had given me quarter-hour of his time. What extra might I’ve requested for?
We subsequent met as colleagues 14 years later after I joined The Times of India in 2015. To my astonishment, he recollected each element of our first assembly. He was nonetheless prolific, effortlessly producing high-quality illustrations and cartoons on demand. I’d usually get up to heartwarming e mail pats on the again – “Excellent, SA,” “Beauty, SA,” “Lovely, SA” – for my cartoons.
With him gone, our mornings gained’t be the identical.
