As much as I want this writing about V.T. Thomas, better known as Toms, to not be anecdotal, somewhere through a small crevice of the mind, a chuckle from his cartoon strips sneaks in defying the intent.
As a child, I found 'Bobanum Moliyum' the unputdownable comic magazine. The pristine Kizhukkamthookku village was the perfect setting — the quirky inhabitants dabbed not just hilarious elements onto our minds, but let fine streaks of social and political innuendos touch us in a lighter vein. The arrangement of characters, the settings and the dialogues are so uproariously funny, I've had to hold myself back from laughing in public whenever I've travelled with a copy of 'Bobanum Moliyum'.
Read: Kerala cartoonist Toms, creator of 'Bobanum Moliyum', passes away
Remembering the characters that sparkled with wit and wisdom, let's pick out the favourites among the lot.
Boban and Molly
They sprint about, fill up the pages with their funny pranks and mischief; the 12-year-old twins, inspired from real life, are also the glue that hold the pack together in many ways. The caricature of these two characters are always in movement, where the wily childhood packs in its innocent moments as well.
Ittunnan chettan and the feisty chettathy
The most hilarious of the characters in 'Bobanum Moliyum', Ittunnan chettan, the simpleton who is crowned the president of the panchayat trips on his own follies and mostly falls face down in front of chettathy, his spunky better half. And then, it's war! How can any ardent fan of 'Bobanum Moliyum' forget the temper flares of chettathy, who flings ladles, spoons, even a wooden coconut scraper a few times, at her half-witted husband?
Appi the hippie
The evergreen roadside romeo in 'Bobanum Moliyum', Appi hippie was loved for his wooing ways. An unflinching flirt with a guitar for an accessory, he represented the unemployed youngsters of the time (during the 1970s and 80s). He could even be the Bob Marley/Jim Morrison inspired youngster of today, with his long locks and shady shades! He even used Newtonian gravitational laws while courting a bigger girl, that 'smaller objects are drawn towards larger objects'! And no, it doesn't sound objectifying, one could easily laugh at his antics.
Pothan lawyer and Mary
The parents of Boban and Molly, they exemplify the thrifty life of a lawyer who doesn't get enough work, and the wife who nags about their small life. They are forever caught between their kids' pranks as well as their everyday woes that are both laughable and thought-provoking. Toms mostly touched upon the social issues through these characters who embodied the middle class life.
Ashan
Ashan is the voice of wisdom in the series. A balding man with silvery moustache, Ashan is one of the most amicable characters, who observes all the happenings around him, and is the subtle socio-political commentator.
Unnikuttan
The 'Dennis the Menace' of our land, Unnikuttan is all things mischievous. A constant terror for his well-to-do parents, his childish buffoonery makes for pure fun.
The dog!
No one who has been a consistent reader of this comic strip, can ever forget the little dog that trudges behind its masters Boban and Molly, reminiscent of the observation that actor Jayaram makes in Summer In Bethlehem - “...like the dog that makes it to every frame in 'Bobanum Moliyum'” that went on to receive wide attention, not just because it was funny, but also true. The addition of this dog, whose name remains unknown, although seemingly negligent, was in fact, the genius of the artiste, who knew his characters and situations inside out.