Comic books and graphic novels are a great medium. It’s incredibly underused!
-Darren Aronofsky
Visuals have always appealed to people more than anything. The increasing screen time over social media and OTT platforms is a testimony to it. However, a graphic novel, with illustrations alongside the text, is truly underused and undervalued, as noted by the Polish-American filmmaker Darren Aronofsky. I can say this because Corridor is only the second graphic novel I have read till now, after Bhimayana. The latter was in my UG syllabus.
However, let’s go back to school days for a while. Didn’t we grow up reading comics? Balhans, Champak, Nandan, Chacha Chaudhary, Doga and whatnot used to adorn our shelves. We even used to borrow them from our friends. You may be thinking that I jumped from graphic novel to comic, so do they belong to the same genre or form? Well, I would suggest you find out. Till then, I have to say something about the Corridor.
Here is a brief overview of the novel:
Title: Corridor
Author: Sarnath Banerjee
Publisher: Penguin Books (First published in 2004)
Genre: Social Satire
Price: ₹ 330/- (flipkart)
The graphic novel Corridor is largely set in Delhi, but it doesn’t have a singular theme. The novel dwells on multiple themes and switches among them, now and then, elucidating the history-geography of Delhi to the themes that are considered taboo, such as orgasm, sex, ex-lovers, and masturbation. The novel incorporates a satirical tone throughout. The traditional medicine system offered by Hakims and babas has also been criticised in the novel.
I wish I could say Corridor presents a picture of Delhi in the 2000s, but I am reluctant to do so, given the trivial things the novel dwells on. However, as I said, the author’s attitude is largely satirical or trivialising, as evident in the illustrations as well. Hence, I would also suggest that readers carefully revisit the illustrations to make the most of the novel. The narration is not linear and appears fragmented or incomplete at times as it moves to the next plot.
I think I am not an expert to comment much on the novel, as Corridor is only the second one I’ve read in that genre. I hope to become more familiar with such novels in future to offer a critical opinion. Nonetheless, such novels are fascinating to read due to their illustrations and can be completed within less time.
©Shashank
P.S. Thanks, Nihar, for lending this book!
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