So, today we are going to share our scholarly (and slightly humorous) opinion on a comic named ‘Ichchadhari Saanp’. The name itself suggests that there will be snakes, and not just any snakes, but shapeshifting ones! Meaning, they can become a boy, a girl, and maybe sometimes even a pizza delivery boy at will (although nothing like this is shown in the comic, but what’s the harm in letting imagination run wild?).
Story’s Beginning: Papa’s Snake Knowledge!
The comic begins with a conversation between a father and daughter. Daughter Bunti insists on hearing the story of shapeshifting snakes from her papa. Papa turns out to be quite knowledgeable, saying, “Bunti beta, this is not just a story, but reality, and I am an eyewitness myself!” Now imagine, if your papa tells you that he is an eyewitness to the reality of shapeshifting snakes, what would you do? Either you would ask him what he has been drinking, or immediately take him to a psychiatrist. But Bunti is an innocent child who finds it more entertaining. It seems Papa must have watched a lot of Nagin dance in his childhood, which is why he is speaking with such confidence.
Dark Secrets of the Serpent Realm
Well, the story begins in Serpent City of the Netherworld, where there was a terrifying, multi-headed serpent king. He had become so fat that he could barely walk. Now, imagine for yourself, how would a king who can’t even walk, rule? Perhaps his courtiers would push him from one place to another, or he might have got a remote-controlled throne made.
Now, let’s come to the real heroes and villains of the story. Our hero is the brave Naga Tausi, who is in love with the Nagini Apsara. Apsara was so beautiful that Prince Jabbar was completely infatuated with her. This Jabbar turned out to be the number one flirt. The moment he saw Apsara, he was possessed by the ghost of marriage. Poor Tausi and Apsara were lost in their love play under a tree when Jabbar passed by with his general. Now, imagine, a loving couple is romancing under a tree, and suddenly a prince passes by with his entire army, how would that feel? I think Jabbar should have considered some privacy.
Jabbar was so angry seeing Tausi and Apsara’s love that his eyes burned with rage. He said, “I will drink Tausi’s blood!” Oh brother, you’re a snake, why would you drink blood? Spit venom or bite! Drinking blood is a mosquito’s job. The general was no less, he advised Jabbar to eliminate Tausi in the competition on Nagpanchami day. Wow, what a general! Meaning, don’t fight directly, first create a drama in the name of a competition. Seems like this general was also some TV serial script writer.
Nagbaba’s Blessing and a Strange Competition
The next day, Tousi goes to receive blessings from his guru Nagbaba. Baba turns out to be quite wise and says, “My blessings are with you, but I’m afraid of Jabbar’s cunning tricks.” When Tousi says that Jabbar cannot harm him, Baba says, “Underestimating an enemy’s strength is not wisdom – Jabbar has the strength of a hundred snakes.” What is this strength of a hundred snakes? Did Jabbar eat a hundred snakes, or did he take snake gym training? If so, Jabbar should be called the ‘bodybuilding guru of snakes’.
The competition begins. In the middle of the field, a hundred-meter-long fire is burning. Whichever snake crosses it in a single leap will receive a magical golden pot whose milk never runs out. What logic is this? A milk pot for crossing a fire? Was there a milk shortage in Serpent City, or was this some kind of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ for snakes? One snake tries but burns to ashes in the fire. A deathly silence falls in the spectator gallery. Now imagine, if someone burns like this in front of you, what would you do? Perhaps you would also be stunned, or someone would say, “Oh man, this turned out to be a ‘snake’s fire test’!”
Tousi accepts the challenge of crossing the fire. Apsara tries to stop him, but Tousi says, “Nothing will happen to me, Apsara – your love and Baba’s blessings are with me.” Oh, what a lover! He’s about to jump into the fire trusting love and blessings. It seems Tousi took the saying ‘love is blind’ a bit too seriously. Tousi transforms into a snake and starts slithering around the fire. Then suddenly, he stands upright with his tail and leaps. In the blink of an eye, Tousi crosses the fire. Spectators cheer, “Long live Tousi!” Apsara also shouts, “Hurray… Hurray SSS!” What is this SSS? Perhaps the sound of snakes’ happiness!
Treason and Rescue Mission
Jabbar could not bear it. He stands on the king’s stage and shouts, “Tausi – if you have the courage, fight me!” King Sheshnag becomes angry at the indiscipline and asks the commander to stop the competition. The commander also turned out to be clever, saying, “Do not misunderstand, Your Majesty! The prince has confidence in his strength, doing this will not be wrong.” Meaning, the prince’s mistake was also given the name of ‘self-confidence’.
In the next competition, Jabbar and the commander together deceive Tausi. The commander throws away the sword, and Jabbar begins to tighten Tausi in a coil. King Sheshnag asks Jabbar to stop, but the commander turns out to be Jabbar’s sycophant, saying, “No! From today, you are not our king – Prince Jabbar is our king.” Two soldiers surround the king. Chaos breaks out in the audience gallery. Apsara also shouts, “Save my Tausi…!!” Suddenly, smoke spreads, and darkness falls.
When Tausi regains consciousness, he was in front of Nag Baba in the Shiva temple. Baba saved Tausi by creating darkness with his knowledge, but could not save Apsara. Jabbar and the commander had captured Apsara. Tausi becomes angry and swears not to let Jabbar live. Baba explains to him that Jabbar has a full army, but Tausi does not care. He asks where Apsara is imprisoned. Baba says, “In the Indrajal Talisman – which is in deep water under the royal palace…” What is this Indrajal Talisman? Some underwater jail? It seems Jabbar had also built an ‘underwater secret base’ for himself.
Baba explains that breaking the talisman is not an easy task. There lives a terrible wish-fulfilling snake that does not let anyone enter. Also, inside the talisman are many obstacles and horrifying creatures. He tells Tausi a mantra by which he can control the wish-fulfilling snake. Tausi sets out towards the talisman.
As soon as he enters the talisman, Tausi encounters a massive crocodile. Tausi knocks it down with his tail. Then he goes inside the talisman, where he hears Apsara’s voice. He searches for Apsara and finds her imprisoned in a cage. Jabbar arrives and threatens Tausi. Tausi attacks Jabbar, but Jabbar was also powerful. A terrible battle ensues between them. Then Nag Baba arrives and weakens Jabbar with his knowledge. Tausi takes the opportunity and kills Jabbar.
Apsara is freed and happy to meet Tausi. Nag Baba reveals that Jabbar had also imprisoned his old father. Tausi and Apsara free King Sheshnag. The king repents Jabbar’s actions and declares Tausi as the new king of Serpent City.
Humor’s Tadka: Some Funny Observations
In this comic, there are things that will make you laugh, even if unknowingly:
King Ajgar Who Can’t Walk: Imagine a king so fat that he can’t even walk! What would happen in his court? “Your Majesty, you need to go to that corner? Let us push you!”
Prince Jabbar the Blood Drinker: A snake talking about drinking blood is like a cat saying, “I’ll drink mouse milk today!” I mean, speak according to your species, brother!
Milk Pot Crossing the Alav: It’s like winning a marathon and getting a cow as a prize! Was milk so scarce in Serpent City that the king had to organize such a competition?
The Sycophancy of the General: Calling Jabbar’s mistake ‘self-confidence’ is something that happens even in today’s corporate offices. Just call the boss’s every mistake ‘visionary’ or ‘out-of-the-box thinking’, and then get a promotion!
Underwater Secret Jail: Indrajal illusion, which is deep under the palace. Now think, how did Jabbar build this jail? Did he call some ‘James Bond’ of snakes who is an underwater construction expert?
Tausi’s ‘Love is Blind’ Confidence: Jumping into fire on the basis of love and blessings is like saying, “I’ll jump from a plane without a parachute because my girlfriend’s love is with me!” Brother, love is one thing, physics is another!
Nag Baba’s ‘Smoke-Smoke’ Magic: When everything was going wrong, Nag Baba created darkness by making smoke. It’s like when guests arrive and the house is a mess, just turn off the lights! Not a solution, just a way to hide!
Final Thoughts
Overall, ‘Ichhadhari Saanp’ is a comic that will give you entertainment along with some laughter. Its characters, their actions, and the twists in the story will keep you engaged. However, some logical points might make you wonder if snakes’ lives are also so tumultuous? But then you’ll think, hey, it’s a comic, anything goes here!
Talking about illustration, Trishul Comics Art has done their job brilliantly. The pictures are clear and help move the story forward. The colors are vibrant, which children will love. Editing is done by Premila Jain, and she has presented the story smoothly.
If you want to read a comic that reminds you of old days, where hero-villain fights were straightforward and magic was common, then ‘Ichhadhari Saanp’ is for you. Reading it, you’ll feel that the world of snakes also has no less drama, and sometimes even more than humans! So what are you waiting for, pick up this comic and get ready to dive into this weird world of snakes! And yes, if you find an Ichhadhari Snake, don’t forget to order pizza from him!
