‘Dhruv-Shakti’ is a big name in the history of Indian comics, which is considered a symbol of the creative heights of Raj Comics. With Jolly Sinha’s writing and Anupam Sinha’s powerful portrayal, the story focuses on the clash between Super Commando Dhruv and Nari-Rakshak Shakti. It is not just a battle of two superheroes, but shows a deep conflict between two distinct streams of justice, logic and emotions, and religion and personal vendetta.
On the very first page of the comic, the main question of the story comes out: “But what will be the result of a fight in which there is only truth on both sides?” This question makes the reader think whether Shakti (Chanda), who protects the honor of women, is wrong? Or did Dhruv, who is a symbol of justice according to logic and law, not understand her anger properly? The comic showcases the social and cultural issues of its time, especially the growing crime and vendetta against women, from a superhero perspective, raising it far above a simple action story.
This was the same period when Raj Comics was giving complexity and emotional depth to its characters, and ‘Dhruv-Shakti’ is the highest example of this effort. This review tries to understand every aspect of this comic in depth, so that its importance can be fully highlighted.
In-depth analysis of the plot: a game of parallel tracks
The story of ‘Dhruv-Shakti’ runs on two parallel tracks, which finally meet each other.
Archaeological theft track (robbers and poles)
The story begins on the banks of Rajnagar, where some robbers are trying to retrieve the precious treasure of a 16th-century Portuguese ship sunk in the sea. These robbers are in scuba diving suits and have dangerous weapons like timer explosives. Their plan is very well thought out, but due to the alertness of the Coast Guards and their own mistakes, they get into trouble.
This is where Super Commando Dhruv enters. With the help of his pet bird (a trained pigeon), Dhruv chases these robbers. Dhruv’s action scene becomes very exciting because of the portrayal of Anupam Sinha. The robbers snatch a car and run away, and Dhruv uses his motorcycle to get down from the flyover, which shows his circus training and sharp intelligence. When Dhruv reaches the robbers’ car and confronts them, a robber attacks him with a ‘harpoon gun’. Dhruv is saved by the bird’s scream, but this struggle connects him to the story of Chanda and Shakti.
Chanda’s past and rise of power
The second and more emotional part of the story revolves around Chanda, who is actually Shakti. Chanda is working as a receptionist in a hospital conference. Then her old medical classmate Tarun recognizes her. Tarun, now a cosmetic surgeon, teases Chanda’s past. Here it is revealed that Chanda is a widow and hates men. Chasing Tarun becomes so uncomfortable for Chanda that she wants to run away from the crowd for fear of turning into Shakti.
This rush of Chanda brings her to the injured person taken out of the car by the robbers. When she hears the scream of a woman in trouble, she cannot stop herself from turning into Shakti, because her Shakti form is forced to work as a ‘woman-protector’. Chanda loses her consciousness in an instant, becoming a force in her past anger and energy filled with a sense of female safety.
The collision of Dhruv and Shakti
Shakti immediately arrives to punish the robbers. When she sees that Dhruv is fighting those criminals and trying to catch them, she mistakes Dhruv as the one who supports the criminals. For Shakti, every man raising his hand on a woman—even if in favor of justice—‘cannot be a supporter of truth and religion’. This is where the main conflict of the story begins.
Dhruv, who works within the realm of logic and law, blames Shakti for using her power on the wrong human being. At the same time, Shakti, inspired by emotions and the impulsive feeling of women’s safety, decides to punish Dhruv. Both consider themselves symbols of justice and truth.
This conflict is not just a fight, but also a clash of ideas. Dhruv uses his martial arts (Jupiter Circus training), intelligence and gadgets. Shakti tries to stop Dhruv with her energy and electricity. Dhruv knows that Shakti will turn into Chanda again after a time, so he cleverly targets the robbers’ oxygen tanks. The blast upsets the balance of power and turns her back into Chanda. Dhruv takes the injured Chanda to the same hospital where Tarun is present, thus connecting all the threads of the story.
In-depth study of characters: Dhruv vs Shakti
The portrayal of the two main characters of this comic is very intense and sophisticated, which is a major reason for their popularity.
Super Commando Dhruv: Symbol of logic and balance
Dhruv represents ‘truth, virtue and dharma’ in this story. He knows that justice is not served by strength alone, but by prudence and right direction.
Dhruv is a hero who does not rely on his power, but on intelligence and gadgets. This is why his justice is always rational and planned. For example, when fighting an enemy like Shakti, he exploits her weakness (time limit) and environment (oxygen tank) instead of physical force. For him the culprit is just the culprit, whoever he is, and he tries to put Shakti on the right path by considering her as an enemy. Not only this, along with chasing the robbers, he also fulfills the responsibility of taking the injured woman to the hospital, which shows the responsibility and comprehensiveness of his character.
Shakti (Chanda): Impulse of vengeance and emotions
Shakti’s character is one of the most complex and emotionally strong characters in Indian comics.
Shakti is born out of social injustice and personal tragedy. She is not an ordinary superhero, but changes from Chanda to Shakti due to her deep hatred towards men and the trauma of her past. This conversion is her way of emotional defense, making her an unstoppable avenger by giving up her weaknesses.
The justice of Shakti is impulsive, sharp and based on emotions. She immediately punishes and often loses sanity, as seen in her fight with Dhruv. Although she starts with the intention of protecting women, her vengeance sometimes makes her forget to differentiate between right and wrong.
The Duality of Justice: Dhruv and Shakti
‘Dhruv-Shakti’ comic is not just a story, but a deep commentary on social issues. Its main theme is the ‘duality of justice’. In this story, Dhruv’s justice is based on the rules and laws of society, which take into account logic and the well-being of the community. On the contrary, the justice of Shakti is completely personal and full of emotions. For her, whoever does injustice to a woman should be punished immediately and strictly.
The author has deliberately shown both characters as symbols of justice and truth, leaving readers wondering what is right. The message of the story is clear: Impulsive justice (Shakti) often goes astray, while calm, thoughtful justice (Dhruv) goes in the right direction and is more acceptable to society.
Feminism and the subject of vengeance
Shakti has emerged as a response to women’s vulnerability in society. Her tiger/cheetah-printed outfit and strict personality symbolize ‘women power’. The comic shows that when laws and society fail, the spirit of vengeance can lead to a powerful (but flawed) protector. This story forces readers to wonder whether a ‘tragic vigilante’ is sometimes needed.
Chanda’s past—being a widow and hating men—affects her current actions. Tarun’s sudden appearance reopens her old wounds. This duality adds emotional depth to the story. Dhruv takes care of his present duty free from the burden of his past—to catch robbers and save the injured—while Chanda deviates from her duty due to the storm of her past.
Art and Dialogue: Contribution of Anupam Sinha and Jolly Sinha
Anupam Sinha’s Art: Dynamics and Character Design
Anupam Sinha’s art is the life of this comic. He has filled the story with amazing speed and energy. Especially Dhruv’s action scene—like getting down from the flyover using a motorcycle wheel—and the battle of Dhruv-Shakti seem very lively and exciting.
In character design, Dhruv is in his classic look, while Shakti’s bold costume with a cheetah print became instantly popular among comic lovers at the time. Moreover, Anupam Sinha’s close-up panels have shown Chanda’s pain and Shakti’s anger very effectively.
Jolly Sinha’s Dialogues: Philosophy and Interpretation
Jolly Sinha’s dialogues give impetus to the story and add serious philosophical aspects to it. The dialogues on justice and religion on the opening pages give the story depth and an epic look. However, in some places the dialogues become too interpretive, meaning the characters speak their emotions directly, which sometimes reduces the visual impact of the portrayal.
Conclusion and place in Indian comics
‘Dhruv-Shakti’ is one of those few stories which gives importance to the feelings and thoughts of the characters along with the action. This story shows that justice is not always straightforward, but also involves emotional and moral conflicts. Dhruv’s logic and the impulse of Shakti are both right in their own place, but only a balanced approach (Dhruv) wins in the end.
The complexity of the story, the emotional depth of the characters and Anupam Sinha’s brilliant art made it a classic. This special issue took the characters of Dhruv and Shakti to a new dimension and showed that serious and philosophical stories also have a place in Indian comics. Even today it is one of the most memorable and collectible specials of Raj Comics.
