If there is any character in the history of Indian comics who is most liked despite not being a hero, it is ‘Bankelal’. In the world of Raj Comics, where superheroes like Nagraj, Dhruv and Doga are busy saving the world, Bankelal’s only dream is to somehow get his own king (Vikram Singh) killed and sit on the throne of Vishalgarh himself. This is his upside-down thinking that makes him the loveliest ‘villain-hero’ (Anti-Hero) of Indian comics.
The comics “Shani Ki Chhaya” are a great and memorable episode of the Bankelal series. As we all know, in Indian beliefs Shani Dev is considered the god who delivers justice and the results of karma. Good people get scared after hearing the name of Saturn’s Sade Sati or Dhaiya. But what will happen when Shani Dev encounters a clever, funny and crooked mind like Bankelal? The entire comics show this funny and laughter-filled situation. The funny way the pair of writer Tarun Kumar Wahi and painter Bedi mix humor and mythological colors in this story is a lot of fun to read.
Bankelal and Shani Dev face to face
The story begins in the heavenly world, where Shani Dev decides that he will go to Earth and experience his own influence. They believe that even gods and demons are afraid of their anger, so humans will not be saved at all. They change their form and descend to Earth as a monk/oil-collecting human from a commoner.
Arrival of Shani Dev and stupidity of Bankelal:
On Saturday, Shani Dev is roaming in the city to collect oil and donations. People donate immediately out of fear so that Saturn does not notice them. But Bankelal is Bankelal, a master of upside down. When Shani Dev (in the guise of a beggar) reaches his door, Bankelal teases him. Instead of donating, he kicks his bowl and scolds him away.
This is where the real conflict of the story begins. Shani Dev gets angry and curses Bankelal saying that now “Shani’s shadow has fallen on him. That means now trouble will come at his every step.” Shani Dev wanted to teach him a lesson.
Curse or blessing? (The Irony):
The most interesting thing about Bankelal’s stories is his ‘reversal’. Whatever bad he tries to do, it turns into good in the end. And here it is amazing. Shani Dev wants to harm him, but every “bad incident happening to Bankelal, in reverse, proves beneficial for Raja Vikram Singh and disappointing for Bankelal.
The mystery of shoes and Raja Conspiracy Singh
Bankelal reaches Raja Vikram Singh. Seeing the shoes kept outside the room there, he gets angry (due to the effect of Saturn’s shadow). He angrily picks up the shoes and throws them out. At the same time, Raja Vikram Singh is about to hug his friend “Raja Conspiracy Singh.”
As Bankelal throws the shoes, they go and hit Sanyasat Singh, and the dagger (cutter) hidden in his clothes falls down.
Then it is revealed that Raja Sangrah Singh had come to kill Vikram Singh. But this action of Bankelal saves the king’s life. Shani Dev had thought that Bankelal would get into trouble by throwing shoes, but what happened was opposite, he gets the credit for saving the king’s life.
Bankelal thinks sadly inside,—
“hi! My victim (Vikram Singh) survived again…”
And outside he is receiving rewards and praise.
The monster of the well
Bankelal is thirsty and goes to a well to drink water. Due to Saturn’s shadow, he does not get water, and in anger he breaks the poisonous ‘scorpion’ grown there and puts it in the well. Bankelal did not know that there was a demon hidden in the well, who wanted to kidnap women.
Poisonous leaves fall on the monster, and he comes out in agony and dies. Shani Dev wanted Bankelal to be troubled by being thirsty, but unknowingly he killed the demon and again became ‘Mahanayak’.
Vishal Chapati and Dosa
Bankelal goes to a confectionery. There too, the influence of Saturn continues, and he does not get anything to eat. Meanwhile, another monster ‘Bhukhkhad’ comes, who wants to make ‘dosa’ by dipping humans in chutney. Bankelal does whatever he does to save his life and in desperation—like throwing burning incense sticks or any other object—even the monster is defeated by that.
Garuda’s egg
At the end of the story, Bankelal finds the egg of a giant female eagle. He tries to break it, but the egg falls out of his hand onto another monster’s head and it ends up dying too.
In the end, Shani Dev also acknowledges that he wanted to harm Bankelal, but his fate (or misfortune) is such that every bad deed of his proves beneficial for the kingdom.
Characterization and analysis
Bankelal:
Bankelal is in his peak form in this comics. His character is very consistent and funny. He is greedy, jealous and power hungry. When he gets hurt, hungry or insulted after the curse of Shani Dev, his facial expressions are worth seeing. Readers do not pity him, but laugh. His biggest problem is not that he got hurt, but that Raja Vikram Singh again survived.
Shani Dev:
The author has shown Shani Dev in a very human form. He is serious and arrogant in his power. But having his powers backfire in the face of Bankelal’s antics is the main comic point of the story. It is very funny for a god to fail to spoil the fate of a common man.
Monster:
The monsters featured in the comics (Bhukhkhad, Sangrah Singh, Welled Monster) are not traditional horror monsters. They are comical villains. Their aims and their endings at the hands of Bankelal are based entirely on ‘slapstick comedy’. For example, a human dosa-making monster—it makes one laugh just thinking about it.
Art side (Artwork) and dialogue
Drawing (Bedi):
Bedi ji’s artwork is the life of the Bankelal series, and he has done wonders in these comics too. His greatest quality is the facial expressions; when Bankelal inadvertently saves the king, his annoyance and crying appearance create humour. Action scenes like throwing shoes, a demon coming out of a well, or a Garuda picking it up—have been very well shown in terms of movement, which makes the scenes come alive. Shani Dev is shown in traditional blue and majestic robes, which shine separately in the comics.
Dialogues (Dialogue):
Tarun Kumar Wahi’s dialogues are very cheeky, maintaining the comic nature of the comics. Bankelal talking to himself (Monologue) is the main source of humor, like—
“O innocent Shankar! What a disaster this has become, the king is saved again!”
It’s a fun mix of disappointment and annoyance. Great use of contrast in dialogues—The balance between Shani Dev’s heavy and angry dialogues and Bankelal’s light, timid dialogues is very effective. Also, the repeated use of a phrase such as “Shani’s shadow” maintains humor throughout the comics.
The message behind the story and social satire
Although ‘Bankelal’ is a comic comics, it also has dark satires. Its main message is that destiny (Destiny) is the greatest. If a planetary deity like Shani Dev wants to do bad to someone, but it is written in destiny, then the same will happen. Bankelal’s unknowingly doing good even after intending bad shows this.
This story also lightly satirizes superstition—Bankelal is not afraid of any planet or constellation, which is a funny sarcasm on the fear of Saturn. At the same time, it satirizes the safety of leaders and kings; Raja Vikram Singh’s naivety and blindly trusting Bankelal is a satire on the ignorance of those in power.
Why read these comics?
This comics is a great source of pure entertainment. If you are stressed and want to laugh openly, Bankelal’s ‘luck, antics, and his unintentional good deeds’ will make you laugh. It’s also a great chance for nostalgia for 90’s kids who still remember the simple and straightforward stories of the time.
The flow of the story is very fast and funny; one incident connects to another so quickly that Bankelal does not get a chance to breathe, and the reader gets lost in the story by turning the page. Because of this, there is no chance of boredom.
Conclusion
“Shani Ki Chhaya” is a priceless gem in the Bankelal series of Raj Comics. This comics proves that villains don’t always have to be scary; sometimes circumstances themselves become the biggest villains. Shani Dev is not the villain here, and Bankelal is not the hero, yet the result always goes in favor of the ‘hero’.
Bankelal’s misfortune—that **“he can’t do bad even if he wants to”—**is the character’s biggest feature (USP), and the author has enjoyed it a lot in this comics.
This entertainment, available for 10 rupees (original price), is still priceless. If you’ve never read Bankelal before, this is the best comics to start with. And if you are an old reader, then after reading it again, you will smile remembering that ‘wretchedness of Bankelal, which proves to be a boon for the entire Vishalgarh’.
Rating: 4.5/5
(For humor, screenplay, and brilliant portrayal of Bedi ji)
