Balarama (magazine) facts for kids
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| Editor-in-Chief | A. V. Harisanker |
|---|---|
| Former editors | N. M. Mohan |
| Categories | Comic magazine |
| Frequency | Weekly |
| Circulation | 1,23,196 (ABC, July-December 2017)
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| Publisher | V. Sajeev George |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Company | Malayala Manorama Publications Limited |
| Country | India |
| Based in | Kottayam, Kerala |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Website | Official website: http://www.manoramaonline.com/advt/children-new/balarama/balarama-index.htm |
| ISSN | 0975-0339 |
Balarama (which means Joy of Kids) is a very popular weekly magazine from India. It's packed with exciting comics and stories. The magazine is published by the Malayala Manorama Group. They are based in Kottayam, Kerala, and the magazine is written in the Malayalam language.
Balarama is one of the most widely read magazines in India. It's actually the most popular children's magazine in the country!
The magazine started as a monthly publication in 1972. Later, in November 1984, it became a magazine that came out every two weeks. Finally, in 1999, Balarama became a weekly magazine. You can find new issues every Friday. Besides comics, it also features fables, rhymes, classic stories, and fun puzzles.
The Malayala Manorama Group also publishes other interesting magazines. These include National Geographic Kids (for India), Manorama Tell Me Why, Balarama Digest, Kalikkudukka, MagicPot, Akkad Bakkad, and Balarama Amar Chitra Katha.
Contents
Discovering Balarama: A Fun Magazine
Balarama is well-known for its long partnership with Amar Chitra Katha. This partnership helped bring many popular comics to its readers. The magazine also features famous comics from other countries.
Popular Comics and Characters
Balarama has introduced many beloved characters and series over the years. Some of these were created right in India, while others came from different parts of the world.
Indian Comics Created In-House
These are comics and characters created by artists and writers in India, specifically for Balarama:
- Mayavi (a flagship comic)
- Luttappi
- Soothran
- Akkuvum Ikkuvum
- Mrigathipathyam Vannal
- Oridathoridathu (folk tales)
- Jungle Book
- Kaloopi
- Mantriyude Thantrangal
- Mayajala Kadhagal
- Jampanum Thumbanum
- Thala Maratte
- Shikkari Shangu
- Raja Thuglan
- Munjasan Kadhagal
- Kayamkulam Kochunni
- Kulappurath Bheeman
- Dundu Mon
- Kuppi Bhootam
Since its early days, cartoonist P. J. Venugopal has created series for almost every issue. His comics like Thalamaratte, Pulivalu, and Jambanum Thumbanum were very popular. They often talked about important social topics in a fun way. Venugopal also draws the comic strip on the last page, called Mrigathipathyam Vannal.
Indian Comics from Other Publishers
Balarama has a long history of working with Amar Chitra Katha (India Book House). For a long time, MM Publications had the rights to publish Amar Chitra Katha comics in Malayalam. Here are some popular Indian comics that appeared in Balarama:
- Shikari Shambu
- Kapish
- Suppandi
- Kalia the Crow
- Tantri the Mantri
- Pyarelal series
- Janoo and Wooly Woo
- Mahabharata (by Dilip Kadam)
- Inspector Azad
- Shaktiman
- Chhota Bheem
Comics from Around the World
Balarama also brings many famous international comics to its readers. These include well-known characters from different countries:
- Disney Comics
- Spider-Man
- Dracula
- Henry
- Batman
- The Phantom
- Tarzan
- Mandrake the Magician
- Mickey Mouse
- Donald Duck
- Dennis the Menace
- Dora the Explorer
