The ’90s was the golden age of the world of Indian comics. During this golden period, a superhero emerged as a symbol of patriotism and devotion to duty, whose name was ‘Tiranga’. Tiranga was not just a superhero but a symbol of an ideology that stood for Indian values, integrity, and justice. The comics ‘Nakalchi’, published in 1998, is one of the most memorable and emotional stories in the Tiranga series. Written by Hanif Azhar and Vivek Mohan and adorned with stunning illustrations by Dilip Choubey, the comics is not just the story of a superhero, but a poignant saga of corruption, revenge, and the birth of an anti-hero.
Story: When Justice Was Strangled
The story begins in the house of Rakesh Dange, the honest and conscientious personal assistant to Chief Minister Arjun Singh. Dange’s son, Vishesh, is an extraordinary talent – he can mimic any voice exactly. In the very first few pages of the story, Vishesh, showcasing his skills, surprises his father by calling him in the voice of the Chief Minister. It’s a light-hearted moment, but the words that come out of Rakesh Dange’s mouth point to the horror of the future – “Looking at his art will one day get us all into some big trouble.”
The story takes a serious turn when Rakesh Dange reaches the Chief Minister’s residence with his son. There, he unknowingly witnesses a nefarious bargain between Chief Minister Arjun Singh and Gardarkhan, the right-hand man of the city’s mafia boss Vikram Gawli. The Chief Minister is ready to hand over the city to criminals to ensure his victory in the next elections. Being a true patriot, Rakesh Dange opposes this conspiracy and threatens to expose the Chief Minister. Drunk on power, the Chief Minister brutally murders his most loyal assistant for fear of revealing his reality.
He sees this entire scary incident with his own eyes. Before he can recover, the Chief Minister pounces on him to eliminate him too. Vishesh somehow tries to run away to save his life, but the Chief Minister raises the alarm and falsely accuses Vishesh of attacking him. Amidst this chaos, the sentinel of justice, Tiranga, arrives at the spot. Believing the Chief Minister’s false story, Tiranga attacks Vishesh, considering him a criminal, catches him, and hands him over to the police.
From here, Vishesh’s world is completely destroyed. His father has been murdered, and the killer is roaming freely. His mother is also killed to erase the witness, and Vishesh himself is put in jail by being falsely accused of attempted murder. In an instant, the life of a talented teenager becomes hell. He understands that the law and order in which his father had faith is completely rotten, and he will not get justice from here.
In lockup, seeing his future in darkness and his parents’ murderer on the throne of power, the innocent heart of Vishesh turns to stone in the fire of hatred and revenge. He uses the wonderful art of imitating voices to escape from prison. He deceives the sentries by uttering the D.C.P. Saheb’s voice and becomes free. But this freedom gives rise to a new, dangerous personality – the ‘Imitation’. Vishesh is now dead; there is only one motive left – revenge.
Vishesh/Copycat(Nakalchi): The heart and soul of this comics is the character of Vishesh. He is a tragic hero. At the beginning of the story, he is a common teenager who makes everyone laugh with his art. But the transformation he undergoes after witnessing the brutal murder of his father is hair-raising. His pain, his helplessness, and then his anger are deeply felt by the reader. When he becomes a ‘mimic’, he is not a traditional villain. He is an anti-hero, whose intentions may be wrong, but the reason behind them is so strong that the reader is forced to empathize with him. His power is not physical but mental and artistic, making him different from other villains.
Tiranga: Tiranga is a symbol of patriotism and idealism in this story. But the story of Nakalchi puts him in an interesting dilemma. He is easily deceived by a powerful person like the Chief Minister in the beginning. This makes him a more human and trustworthy character who can make mistakes. His confrontation with the imitator is not only physical but also ideological. Tiranga wants justice by staying within the system, whereas the copycat considers the system itself, which has done injustice to him, as his enemy.
Chief Minister Arjun Singh: The Chief Minister is the main villain of this story, a devil hiding behind the mask of power. He is a symbol of corruption, cruelty, and abuse of power. There is no remorse in his eyes when killing his loyal assistant, which shows the meanness of his character. He’s a villain the reader despises, and that’s the hallmark of a good villain.
Art and Painting: The Magic of Dilip Choubey
Dilip Choubey’s artwork is a hallmark of that era of Raj Comics. The pictures made by him add life to the story. The action sequences are dynamic and full of energy. The expressions on the faces of the characters – the fear of Vishesh, Rakesh Dange’s devotion to duty, the Chief Minister’s deceit, and the anger of Tiranga – have all been portrayed very effectively. The copycat’s costume design (purple and black) gives him a mysterious and dangerous look, while the Tiranga costume evokes a sense of patriotism. The use of sound effects like “Dhadak”, “Ahh”, “Khatak” makes the action scenes even more lively.
Topics and Messages: The Saga of Corruption and Revenge
Nakalchi is not just an entertaining comics, but it is also a sharp commentary on the society of its time.
Political Corruption: The main theme of the story is political corruption. It shows how people at the top of power can sell the country and society for their personal gain. The Chief Minister, who should be the protector of the people, is the biggest traitor.
Justice vs. Revenge: This story depicts the fine line between justice and revenge. Is the path of revenge for Vishesh the right one? When the system itself is corrupt and there is no hope of justice, does a person have the right to take the law into his own hands? This comics raises these difficult questions and makes the reader think.
Rise of an Anti-Hero: The character of the copycat was a turning point in Indian comics. He was such a “villain” that the reader felt sympathy for him after reading his story. His rise shows how injustice and tragedy can push an ordinary human being down an extraordinary, but dangerous path.
Conclusion
Nakalchi is a milestone in Raj Comics and the Tiranga series. It is a fast-paced, emotional, and action-packed story that is as relevant today as it was in 1998. Its biggest strength is its main character Nakalchi, who is a complex and memorable character. This comics is not just about action and superhero victories, but it is the story of a human burning in the flaws of the system, the pain of an innocent, and the fire of revenge. Its end also leaves the reader at an exciting juncture, where, on the orders of the Chief Minister, the entire police force sets out to arrest Tiranga. This comics is a precious gem for fans of Indian comics and proves that comics can be not only a means of entertaining children, but also a powerful medium to tell serious and meaningful stories.
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