Balarama is an Indian weekly comic magazine published by M. M. Publications, of Malayala Manorama Group from Kottayam, Kerala in Malayalam-language.It is currently the 8th most read non-English magazine and 5th most read Malayalam magazine in India.Balarama is also the most read children's magazines in Malayalam Language. Starting as a monthly in 1972, the magazine became a fortnightly periodical in November 1984, before finally settling as a weekly in 1999.The weekly hits stands on every Friday. Along with the comics, the content includes fables, rhymes, literary classics and various puzzles. Balarama is known for its decades long partnership with Amar Chitra Katha. American comics syndicated by the magazine include Disney Comics, Henry, Dennis the Menace, Dora the Explorer and also Spider-Man, Batman, the Phantom and Mandrake the Magician. Malayala Manorama also publishes National Geographic Kids in India,Manorama Tell Me Why,Balarama Digest, Kalikkudukka, MagicPot, Akkad Bakkad, Colouring Books and Balarama Amar Chitra Katha.
Publication history
Early period (1972–1984)
Balarama was started in 1972 by the house of Malayala Manorama, one of the most widely read dailies in south India. From the beginning, the monthly magazine was noted for its high standard of content. The publishers were mainly focusing on more grown kids, rather than young in this early period. Over the years, it became a comic magazine, with more comic strips and less children's stories, fables and rhymes. Some earlier attempts to publish children's periodicals in Malayalam were proved failures. Among them, a magazine known as Ambili Ammavan alone survived for a long period. However, it was Pai and Pai Company's comic magazine Poompatta that established among the readers for the first time. N. M. Mohan, the editor of Poomatta of the time, is considered as the architect and designer of all typical "children's magazines" in Kerala.
Golden age (mid–1980s to late–1990s)
In 1983, N. M. Mohan moved to Balarama and took charge as the editor-in-chief. He created the iconic Mayavi series, with Mumbai-based artist Pradeep Sathe. It debuted in the August 1984 issue of the magazine. The magazine became a fortnightly periodical in November 1984. Balarama created a record in the history of the circulation of Malayalam comic magazines and replaced Poompatta as the market leader. The rise of Balarama soon inspired other Malayalam daily newspapers to follow the suit and produce a number of similar type comic magazines. In the early 1990s, the magazine was able print completely in multi-colour. From 17 April 1999, the fortnightly became a weekly.
Foreign syndication era (2000–2012)
A major breakthrough in the development of Balarama came in the 25 March 2000 issue. From this issue, it started syndicating American comic strip Spider-Man. It was the first time an American super-hero appeared in a Malayalam comic magazine. The trend of syndicated super-heroes followed as Batman, the Phantom and Mandrake the Magician comics also appeared in the subsequent years. In the summer of 2000, the magazine started syndicating Disney Comics and Henry strips. Pinocchio was the first Disney comics to syndicate, followed by classics such as Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland. In mid-2001, the magazine started a new in-house series Soothran, which later became quite popular among the readers. More than 500 weekly strips of Soothran have been published so far, each one about 4 or 5 pages in length.
Competition for the juvenile market (2012–present)
After the retirement of N. M. Mohan in 2012, A. V. Harisanker took over charge as the editor-in-chief. With the decreasing sales, connected to competition for the juvenile market from online streaming and computer games, the new editor-in-chief faces a tough challenge to keep up with the demands of the market.
Famous comics and series appeared in ''Balarama''
This is a list showing the famous comics and series appeared in Balarama.
In-house (Malayalam)
From its early period, cartoonist P. J. Venugopal's series appears in every issue of the magazine. Series such as Thalamaratte, Pulivalu and Jambanum Thumbanum, discussing relevant social issues, were quite popular among the readers. Venugopal also draws the last page strip, known as Mrigathipathyam Vannal.
Syndicated
Indian
Balarama is known for its decades long partnership with Amar Chitra Katha. Until recently, MM Publications held the rights publish Amar Chitra Katha comics in Malayalam.
