KOCHI: Amidst the frenzy at the Athachamayam in Tripunithura, Sajjive Balakrishnan looked busy as ever. The cartoonist was attempting a rare feat -- caricaturing a thousand faces, from the sea of people who were visiting the cultural gala. Young children, youths and the older folk queued up eagerly. And almost all the caricatures that were drawn, which had the ‘Maveli’ stamp, were humourous expressions.
The artist says it was his 91-year-old mother who inspired him to attempt the feat at his hometown. “She is my biggest fan. My mother laughs uncontrollably whenever she sees my sketches. It was she who wanted me to come down to Tripunithura and try out this marathon caricature work as part of Athachamayam.
My effort is dedicated to her,” he said.The programme, titled ‘Bahumukham Bahurasam’, was held on Friday between 8.40 am and 8.40 pm. Incidentally, Sajjive, who works at the Income Tax Department, is a Limca Book of Records holder. His last effort was in 2010, when he drew 651 caricatures, over a 12-hour period, and received the distinction of being the ‘fastest caricaturist in the country’.
Observing people
Sajjive says a caricature artist does his best work when he has observed a person well. “In fact, a cartoonist is supposed to lie in ambush, watching people without being observed,” he jokes. “For this, he is at liberty to hide behind a crowd, a bush or a milestone depending upon his ambulatory tendencies and body mass.” But this could be a bit tough for Sajjive, who weighs 130 kgs. “I have never been able to completely conceal myself even behind the thickest of bushes, till date,” he said.
The artist says he likes to caricature people on the move, preferring unreserved train compartments and wayside tea stalls. “The mayhem is visible in my drawings,” said the artist who received the certificate from the Best of Indian Records.