Raju Nair

Raju Nair is one of the most prominent cartoonists in the Malayalam newspaper industry. Though his official name is Raju Peter, even his close associates know this or this name is seldom known. Most importantly, he is the director of first tele-film with animated cartoons to be telecasted in a channel.

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Raju Nair Cartoonist, one of the prominent figures in Malayalam newspaper and caricature industry.

Currently he is working as the senior cartoonist of Deepika, the oldest newspaper in Malayalam language. He has been in the field of cartoon and caricatures for a quite long time, well over three and a half decades.

Birth and childhood

Nair was born to Kocheril Peter and Gracy couples on April 13, 1952 at Perumbavur in Ernakulam district of Kerala. He later shifted to Munnar and had his Lower primary education at Munnar Government LPS and Upper Primary education at Little Flower High School, Nallathanni in Munnar.

Having completed his high school studies from Nirmala High School in Muvattupuzha, he joined Nirmala College from where he completed his Pre–Degree (an equivalent course to the current 10+2 system) and graduation in Commerce. While he was in the college and school, he had won a number of prizes for drawing and painting.

Major achievement

Nair is the director of the first tele-film in Malayalam with animated cartoon pictures. It was he who directed the first tele-film with animated cartoons entitled Cherapai Kadhakal. It was telecasted on the state-owned channel Doordarshan.

Career

Cartoonist Raju Nair with Dr. John A Lent. The image was taken on 13-07-1993 during Dr. Lent's visit to Kerala.

With a view of kindling his talents in drawing and painting, he decided to start his career as an artist. Thus in the year 1978, he began working as an artist at the age of 26. Though in the initial phases, he preferred to remain behind the curtain and so he decided to take the profession of artist as a freelancer.

A couple of years were sufficient for Cartoonist Raju Nair to gain fame and name. His talents in drawing, particularly in cartooning or caricaturing, were widely appreciated and he got handful of offers from many art-related firms and magazines.

Career at the Deepika

He joined the Deepika in 1980 and ever since he is a strong presence in the cartoon column of this newspaper. During his 35-year long career at Deepika Newspaper he was awarded many times by the local and state government and non-government organizations.

He has been regularly publishing cartoons under the title Cartoon Scope for thirteen years in Rashtra Deepika, the evening newspaper by Rashtra Deepika Ltd which is the same publishers of the Deepika. Cartoon Scope is most probably one of the oldest and lengthiest cartoon as it has reached nearly 6000 episodes. His cartoon entitled Mavelinadu (the land of Maveli in English) is one of the most popular cartoons all over the state.

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This is a brief write up on Cartoonist Raju Nair, published in Malayalam Pathram Supplement. It was written by Suresh S, as a tribute to Mr. Nair on completion of his 25 years in Cartoon industry.

Earmarking the 125th anniversary of the Deepika Newspaper, a special exhibition of Cartoons by Raju Nair was held at Thiruvananthapuram.

Major cartoons

1. Mavelinadu – in Deepika 2. Madhuvidhu – published in Deepika Weekly 3. Amruthayum Mridulayum – in Kuttikalude Deepika 4. Sunday Club – in Express 5. Cartoon Scope - Rashtra Deepika

Cartoons and columns

1. Captain John William – Adventures Comic Strip (1979) 2. Utkadana Manthri – Manorajyam Weekly (1998) 3. Kalyaniyum Kochammayum – Mamankom Weekly and Deepika Daily – (from 1979 to 85, 1993- ….) 4. Focus Out of Focus- Cinema Masika (1979) 5. Kochu Kochu Posukal – Mamankom Weekly (1981) 6. Moonnam Cheri – The Deepika Daily (1981) 7. Mahasar - Mamankom Weekly (1981) 8. Muka Mukam - The Deepika Weekly (1985) 9. Amminikutty – Kalakaumudi Women Magazine (1985) 10. Nattilum Veettilum – Manorajyam Weekly (1987) 11. Netaji – Deepika Daily (1989) 12. Cartoon Scope – Rashtra Deepika Evening Daily (1993-….) 13. Kiran – Yovadeepam Monthly (1992) 14. Akavum Puravum – Nadam Monthly (1993)

Apart from these, Nair has also contributed to various special editions of Deepika Annuals, Kunju Kurup, a humorous monthly from Toms Publications. He is also the founder treasurer of Cartoon Akkademi (Cartoon Academy) established in 1982 and become secretary in 1990.

Awards

Nair has won many state awards. He won the Media Awards for Cartoon in 2005 from the Kerala Press Academy for his cartoon Driving School.

He was chosen the best cartoonist of the year 2003 by the Trivandrum Press Club.

Major books

Nair has written a couple of books in Malayalam. They are Cartoon Jeevitham, Cartoon Kadhakal and Amruthayum Mridulayum. Two editions of Amruthayum Mridulayum have been published so far.

Family life

Nair is married to Baby. She works at South Indian bank, Perumthuruthy branch as the assistant manager. They have two children: Nitin and Neethy.