VAARE KORE

MURDER OF THE CARICATURING ART

Our magazine always stood against all kinds of unfair and idiotic practices around us. The provocation for this write-up is the results of International Caricature Competition organized by Indian institute of Cartoonists.

Unfortunately, we happened to see those prize winning entries. It was a clear case of ‘murder’ of the caricature art form ! Undoubtedly, Rtd. Judge Mr. Venkatachalayya, artist Andani and cartoonist Keshav were responsible for this tragedy. What more can we expect when these three caricature illiterate persons become the judges !

A review of these prize winning works would turn their heads down.

Section- Manmohan Singh

First prize: Except for its detailed work, this one is not at all a perfect caricature.The nose is unnecessarily distorted so big. Why Gandhi specs? [ Is it Gandhism ? ha ha ha.. ] His bushy eyebrows are missing.

Second prize : Mr Manmohan Singh might fall flat if he happened to see this one ! What is the ‘hole’ thing between forehead and turban ?

Third prize : Here Mr Singh was butchered beyond recognition !

All those 3 consolation entries are realistic portraits !

Section - Sonia Gandhi

First, second and third prize winning entries should have been kept out of the competition itself for it’s realistic approach. All 3 are neat portraits!

These 3 consolation winning works are not perfect ones.

Now, what is a caricature after all ? A portrait ? No way ! Or is it just an

exaggeration face of a person ? Exaggeration of face is okay to some extent.

A perfect caricaturist would show the distorted face as well as something about

the person.

But judges here simply ignored all this . It’s a big humiliation for those who believed

in caricaturing.

IIC did a lot of valuable programmes so far. But now it lost it’s respect with this

blunder. Poor R V Deshapande, President of Congress has donated Rs3,50,000 as

the prize money. Sadly, the money was spent to hire realistic artists to murder this

great art !

PRAKASH SHETTY

Editor, Vaare Kore, a kannada humour monthly

[ The above article has appeared in VAARE KORE January issue ]