Young Cartoonists’ Lack of Interest in Political Satire Worries Veterans

Hyderabad: Veteran cartoonists from the two Telugu-speaking states expressed deep concern that the younger generation of cartoonists was averse to political cartoons and more inclined towards animations, comic books, gaming and VFX in movies. This raises a big question mark over the future of political cartooning, they said.

They were speaking at a Telugu cartoonists’ mega workshop, organised at the Press Club, in collaboration with Artbar, here on Sunday.

The event saw a turnout of around 120 cartoonists from Telangana State and Andhra Pradesh.

While many participants were engaged in cartooning activities, some veterans shared their expertise and experiences on a range of topics.

Subhani from Deccan Chronicle highlighted the techniques used in drawing political cartoons, especially those inspired by everyday political events.

T. Venkatrao, the most senior cartoonist around, explored the intricacies of 2D and 3D cartoon drawings. Surendra delved into the concept of silent cartoons; Narsim explained the workings of a cartoon syndicate and Shankar provided insights on creating caricatures.

“The workshop was like a reunion of sorts. The experts explained the techniques with practical displays. We were updated about the latest digital techniques as well,” said Dr. Bhavannarayana Kandala, one of the participants.

Mrityunjay addressed the integration of technology with cartooning.

The event culminated with the distribution of awards for the cartoon competition held on International Day for Yoga.