Shikari Shambu is one of the well known characters in Indian comics series and are regularly featured in the monthly Tinkle Comics. The character was created by Subba Rao and V. B. Halbe and published in Tinkle comics magazine by ACK Media. Shikari Shambu is a gentle, relaxed and lazy hunter whom everyone perceives as powerful and courageous. He always attempts to run away from dangerous animals, but because of some good luck Shambu always ends up as being a hero in the stories. Although he escapes from any kind of trouble, his wife Shanti and the villagers consider him as a brave and fearless hunter and convince him to take up various dangerous and risky tasks.
In most issues, Shikari Shambu manages to complete the task successfully by a stroke of luck. In the storyline The Legend of Shikari Shambu, it was depicted that before becoming a hunter, Shambu once accidentally fell on a tiger and knocked out the animal. After this incident he was named Shikari Shambu.
History of Shikari Shamb
u
During the early 1980s, Tinkle had become one of the most popular children`s comics magazine in the country. Subba Rao, one of the creative minds in the publishing house proposed the concept to the editors of Tinkle. The main idea was conceived as an inspiration of a character of a boastful but gutless big game hunter that was featured in the popular television serial, I Love Lucy. In the first story, created by Luis Fernandes, the character was named only as Shambu, but Subba Rao suggested adding the title Shikari, which means Hunter in Hindi language, to the name Shambu. Although there were some reservations amongst the editorial team regarding protest from Wildlife Conservation agencies, but Editor Anant Pai and others finalised on the name.
But it was decided by Tinkle that Shambu will never harm or kill any animals in the series. Furthermore, the character was gradually disassociated from his trademark hunting gun after some episodes. The illustrations of Shikari Shambu by artist Vasant Halbe was done keeping in mind the comical theme of the story and this style appealed to the readers, which contributed to the popularity of Shikari Shambu in India.
Halbe had made several sketches of the character, but the editing team finalised on a particular sketch that depicted the character with his hat pulled down over his eyes. The sketch became the flagship character of Tinkle comics magazine.
Development of Shikari Shambu
The Shikari Shambu series was much criticized as the stories portrayed wild animals in the negative manner and were mostly seen as the main villain in the plots. But eventually the negative impression of animals was changed and the recent issues contain strong pro-conservation message for the readers.
It is also frequently shown that instead of hunting animals, Shambu actually loves animals and helps them. It is also suggested that he has never killed any wild animals.
