The Beginnings, also known as Thudakkangal in Malayalam, is one of the popular Indian graphic novels that created by author Nishanth Gopinathan, who is based in New York, in the year 2007. The Beginnings or Thudakkangal is considered to be the first graphic novel in Malayalam. It was also published in English with the title The Beginnings. The 40 page graphic novel was published online by KeralaComics.com and was printed by LiveEyes Media Publications in the year 2007.
Concept of The Beginnings
The Beginnings or Thudakkangal is a semi-autobiographical story that is based in a small rural town located in the state of Kerala. The plot begins when the novelist is taking preparations to begin his journey from Kollam in order to join a newly established Engineering college named Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Kottayam. The writer takes the readers through his personal experiences in the new institute that lacked proper facilities, which were considered a basic norm in other Engineering colleges. It also depicts the social and political situation of Kerala that existed in that time period.
Eventually a female character is introduced into the plot with whom the author falls in love with. The plot takes a turn and it is revealed that the girl witnesses the murder of a nun, reminiscent of the infamous Sister Abhaya murder case that created much controversy in Kerala during the same time period in which the story is set.
Characters of The Beginnings
Some of the vital characters in the graphic novel are mentioned below-
Nishanth
He is an 18 year old teenager from Kollam who resides in Kottayam, Kerala, during the early 1990s.
Sheena
She is depicted as the love interest of the leading character. Sheena is the classmate of Nishanth and his girlfriend as well. She is the witness to the murder of a nun inside a convent where she lives.
Fazil
He is Nishanth`s friend and roommate at Kottayam.
The Priest
He is one of the important characters in the novel. He frequently goes to the convent and is involved in the murder case and the cover-up of the crime as well.
The Beginnings was published in both Malayalam and English.
