A cartoon by Ravikanth Nandula
News in a nutshell is not a social media, modern-day occurrence. Back in the day, newspapers would bring out pocket cartoons or single panel illustrations that captured the gist of current affairs in a pithy, witty way. Pocket, an exhibition by Ravikanth Nandula, showcases the best of the artist’s work created over the past five years for The Hindu Business Line.
Still, when there is a barrage of events and happenings hurtling your way, how do you sift and sieve for news you can use? For cartoonist Ravikath Nandula, the choice has always been simple. “It depends on how relevant a subject is. Will the image spark something in the viewer’s mind or just prod them? Knowing what not to show helps one decide,” says the Hyderabad-based cartoonist.
“Second, is it funny and does it evoke further thought? You have just one chance to present readers with a cryptic comment and you have to make it count.”
Ravikanth says the litmus test he uses is to gauge if a person would respond to a situation in the way he has portrayed it. “That is the touchstone I use before I send a draft for approval,” he says, adding that though it works for the most part, “There are times you end up with egg on your face.”
Ravikanth Nandula
It is this sense of humour that is reflected in his work, whether he is presenting the market economy, climate crisis, cyber security or unemploymentin a sketch.
Having illustrated for some of the leading publications in South India since the 1980s, Ravikanth says he was always doodling and sketching, and becoming a professional cartoonist was a childhood goal. “As a student, I was interested in science and technology, but the turning point came when the Council of Science and Industrial Research began publishing my images in their science magazine regularly,”
He began by providing drawings to accompany feature articles in periodicals and magazines, arming himself with an Engineering degree in the meantime. “This was a time before the internet and one would spend hours at the British Library going through back issues of The Punch, Blitz and other periodicals,” he says, adding it not only gave him an insight into world of news and images, but also resulted in a lifelong admiration for RK Laxman, his “biggest influence” and others such as Charles Saxon, Mario Miranda and Abu Abraham.
Ravikanth entered the world of journalism at a time when reforms were not only rocking the industry, but the nation as well. Newspapers, which had previously outsourced caricatures and images from international news agencies were looking inwards at home grown talent. And India, on the ascent from ‘developing nation’ status provided enough fodder.
A cartoon by Ravikanth Nandula
“Over the years, subjects such as science and technology which were once niche, became a part of the mainstream.” He goes on to explain how his cartoons on topics such as AI are now a part of mainstream news. “About 20 years ago, it would take time for such a concept to become common knowledge. The internet has helped give cartooning a new dimension.”
Ravikanth adds that this holds true not only in the spread of news, but also with how content is created. In his years as cartoonist, he has moved from sketching with charcoal pencils, his favourite medium, to using electronic and digital media to integrate his work in the newsroom.
K Venugopal, chairman, Kasturi & Sons Ltd, will inaugurate Pocket on November 15 at 11am.
Pocket, a solo show of cartoons by Ravikanth N, will be on display at the Indian Cartoon Gallery, Bengaluru till November 30, 2025. Entry free, Sundays closed.
Published – November 12, 2025 09:35 pm IST
