MUMBAI: Education and entertainment company for kids, ACK Media, has launched an Amar Chitra Katha title on its creator Anant Pai.

Named ?Anant Pai ? the master storyteller?, the Amar Chitra Katha title on Uncle Pai is available in all book stores and stands since the third week of February at Rs 50. It is also be available on the Apple App store.

Fondly known as Uncle Pai, he had also created Tinkle. He passed away in February last year.

Marking the occasion of his first death anniversary, the biography of Pai was launched during Comic con on 18 February by his wife Lalita Pai. A short film titled ? Tribute to Uncle Pai was also aired during comic-con.

Amar Chitra Katha editor Reena Puri said, ?This is a tribute to the man who created Amar Chitra Katha. It is an acknowledgement of the revolution he brought, not just by creating comics based on Indian stories but also by bringing into the limelight stories of our country which needed to be shared and told. It is a tribute from all of us who have worked with him and learned from him.?

Known as the Walt Disney of India, Pai told stories from mythology, history and literature using the comic book format. A chemical engineer by profession, he gave up his job to follow his dream that led to the creation of Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle. The title traces the story of the man who left behind a legacy of learning and laughter. This is his life story from his childhood days in a village in Karnataka, through his education and then the pursuit of his dream till he succeeded.

?The Anant Pai title is an inspirational story which seeks to provide a role model for children. It is a typical Amar Chitra Katha, the only difference is that it is about a man who still reaches out and touches the hearts of millions of Indian children. It was very difficult to decide what we should finally put into the script of the book as there was lot of information available. What guided us were Mr Pai?s own words, ?See if the story will be of interest to children. See if there is something in it for children to take away. Then tell it.? We feel that there is a lot for a reader to take away from the story of this wonderful man ? be it a child or a grown-up,? Puri added.

Researched and scripted by Gayathri Chandrasekaran, the title is a 32-page comics biography and took 11 months to compile.

?A lot of people who worked with Mr Pai had to be met and extensive interviews conducted with his wife, Mrs Lalita Pai, his sister and other relatives. Mr Subba Rao, who was one of the first associate editors of ACK gave us very valuable inputs and helped us refine the script,? Gayathri Chandrasekaran said.

NEW DELHI: The Second Comic Con India over the weekend in the capital saw a footfall of around 35,000 people, and the sales touched a figure of around Rs 5 million.

Comic Con India Founder Jatin Varma of Twenty Onwards Media told indiantelevision.com that the three-day event from 17 February saw around 20 book releases and several launches of merchandise.

For the first time, awards were given away in the world of cartoons and comics, and the eminent R K Laxman received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Costume competition with participants dressed as their favourite comic book heroes were seen on all three days and prizes were given those who took part in the best Cosplay. The event showcased a huge range of heroes, both new and old, from Chacha Chaudhary to Suppandi.

There were around 50 stalls exhibiting, promoting and selling comics, graphic novels, merchandise etc., and workshops and interactive sessions were held every half hour at the dedicated stage area with exclusive launches of Comics titles, book signings, competitions and Cosplay (Costume contest). The stalls included some by foreign teaching institutions in animation technology.

?We try to bring Retailers, Publishers, Merchandisers, Writers, Artists, Illustrators etc. from within the Comic, Animation, Gaming, Movies/studios and related communities together and give them a common platform. The three-day event showcased 80 participants and several interactive sessions and talks by world renowned artists like Robert Crumb. We were extremely fortunate to have speakers - from the legends of the Indian Comics Industry, to veterans of the industry from outside the country this year,? added Jatin.

The pioneer of India‘s comic book revolution - Amar Chitra Katha - released one of their most-awaited titles ?Anant Pai ? Master StoryTeller? as a tribute to the ACK founder.
Fans of Walt Disney Pictures highly anticipated release of epic, action adventure film ?John Carter? had their first taste of the 3D film at the John Carter Fan Zone.

"This is for the first time that Marvel?s superhero Iron Man visited India to meet and greet Indian fans and we are overwhelmed by the response we have got from our fans in India,? said a Disney spokesperson.