This journey started a long time ago, with a little boy who used to save his pocket money just to buy comics.
Thomas was a struggling schoolboy who fell head over heels in love with the world of comics. Every Friday, he would eagerly wait to get his hands on the latest comic release. For him, comics were more than just colorful pages. They were an escape from reality, a window into another world, and the fuel that kept his imagination alive.
Years passed, but that love for comics never left him. He carried that dream with him, and eventually, he took the plunge and created his own publishing house, Malay Publications.
The journey was anything but easy. There were ups and downs, obstacles and setbacks. But through thick and thin, his family stood by him and supported his dream.
Thomas had only one goal in mind: to bring back the forgotten comic culture of Kerala.
While Marvel and DC expanded comics beyond children, creating stories that attracted adults and eventually built massive fan bases and cinematic universes, Kerala’s comic culture remained stuck in children’s magazines.
And perhaps that is one of the reasons why we never got our own homegrown superheroes.
Japan has its own powerful comic culture called manga, which has grown into a billion-dollar entertainment industry. Global phenomena like One Piece and Attack on Titan began as manga before making their way to television screens and becoming worldwide sensations.
South Korea has its own comic culture too, known as manhwa. Solo Leveling, for example, started as a Korean manhwa and later became a hugely successful anime series.
But what about India?
Our own comic culture, Chitrakatha, is still waiting to reach its full potential. We have wonderful stories and talented creators, but much of our comic world is still limited to children’s stories. There is nothing wrong with children’s comics. But why should that be the end of the road? Why have we failed to create stories for teenagers and adults? Why can’t we build our own superheroes, fantasy worlds, thrillers, mysteries, and cinematic universes based on our comic culture? The answer is simple we don’t have any comic culture like Marvel and DC. We limited our comics’ structure because our Indian comics only targeted kids. That was the problem
This is where Malay Publications comes in. A Kerala family is taking a step forward to revive a culture that once captured the imagination of an entire generation. It was a long road, but every great journey begins with a single step. And this family was ready to take that step.
Thomas started with something simple, yet incredibly meaningful. He began translating Amar Chitra Katha into Malayalam. It wasn’t just a translation project. It was the beginning of a mission. Bringing back the Mahabharata in the Malayalam language without losing the quality and culture.
His wife and children stood beside him, shoulder to shoulder, and together they took on something that many other Malayalam publishers were afraid to attempt.
For months, they worked tirelessly. There were no big investors, no huge production budgets, and no deep pockets behind them. Thomas didn’t have a fortune to invest in a publishing house. His monthly income was the only capital he had.
But sometimes, all you need is a little money, a big dream, and the courage to take the first step.
After months of hard work, they finally did it. They published a collectable seven-book Malayalam edition of Amar Chitra Katha. For Malay Publications, it was more than just seven books. It was proof that their dream could become something real. A small family had taken on a challenge that many were hesitant to touch, and they saw it through.
I am not saying they suddenly became a huge publishing house or a household name. They still have struggles. They still have obstacles. But the most beautiful part of this story is that Thomas is still holding on to the same dream. The dream of bringing Indian comic culture back to us.
And honestly, this story isn’t about digital marketing. I know that. But if you’re reading this with a dream of your own, maybe there is something here for you.
You don’t need everything figured out before you begin. You don’t need a huge investment; you don’t need to wait for the perfect opportunity. The road will be difficult. There will be moments when you question yourself. There will be people who tell you it’s impossible. There will be days when giving up feels easier than moving forward.
But take that first step anyway. Because sometimes, the biggest thing standing between you and your dream isn’t money, talent, or opportunity. It’s simply the courage to begin. That’s what Thomas’s story taught me. Starting is important. Because every big dream, no matter how impossible it looks today, has to begin somewhere.
Continue using AI Cursor? Keep it on. Turn Off
