Anokhelal: The Unconventional Journey of Crookbond

Anokhelal, also known as Crookbond, had a unique name, but he fancied himself as James Bond’s disciple. Due to this, everyone referred to him as Crookbond. Anokhelal’s fate or misfortune, depending on how you see it, was shaped by his father, who was a constable in the police force. Frustrated with his son’s peculiar and eccentric detective activities, Anokhelal’s father, Dhamaakasingh, found himself at the center of every experiment Crookbond conducted.

Dhamaakasingh aspired for Anokhelal to become a successful officer through education. However, Anokhelal, a character as unusual as Crookbond, was not prepared to pass the tenth grade. He had failed four times already, and when he attempted the fifth time, a miracle seemed to happen. Dhamaakasingh, who had sworn a thousand times to administer punishment, found himself distributing sweets throughout the neighborhood. The change in fortune created an amusing atmosphere at home when the cards were shuffled.

Crookbond, a fascinating character from Manoj Comics, is a product of Manoj Comics’ inspiration from foreign characters and stories. However, some characters are genuinely indigenous, with their stories and demeanor reflecting a Desi flavor. Characters like Hawaldar Bahadur and Crookbond entertain readers with their antics. While Crookbond often succeeds through coincidence or sheer luck, he earnestly attempts to solve every case.

The popularity of Crookbond’s stories soared when the first comic, “Modern Jasoos Crookbond,” was released. At that time, Manoj Comics had already established characters like Hawaldar Bahadur and Bawankalaal in Raj Comics. However, Crookbond’s narrative captivated readers’ attention. During that era, many young readers, inspired by detective novels, started identifying themselves as amateur detectives, finding resonance with Crookbond’s character. The relationship dynamics between father and son portrayed in the stories, akin to the supportive mother or the trouble-loving brother like Motu, added an extra layer of relatability.

Bimal Chatterjee penned the stories of Crookbond, while Trishul Comics illustrated the character. Bimal Chatterjee presented the narrative in a highly entertaining manner without unnecessary complexities. Trishul Comics ensured that the character’s structure was well-crafted. Over time, as trends evolved, so did the writers and artists in the comics industry, bringing a refinement to the comic genre that readers appreciated. Crookbond’s popularity was such that when most comic companies were shutting down, readers could still find Crookbond’s comics, eagerly awaiting the next edition to enjoy the detective’s unique and amusing cases.