Subhani depicts spirit of Hyderabad in book

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Adaab Hyderabad, a book by Deccan Chronicle’s cartoon editor Sheik Subhani, was released at the cartoon festival in the city on Sunday.

The book which has cartoons, caricatures and sketches depicting the history, culture, monuments, people and the Dakhni language of Hyderabad has been written and illustrated by Mr Subhani.

The book was released by V.G. Narendra of the Indian Institute of Cartoonists, Bengaluru, former IAS officer Dr K.V. Ramana Chary, and senior cartoonist Jayadev from Chennai.

Narendra Luther, in his foreword to the book, writes that Subhani’s art has matured in Hyderabad, which is considered the humour capital of India. The local lingo Dakhni, by itself, is a device of humour for outsiders and films have exploited it for that reason.

The book is a mix of history and caricatures of the founder of Hyderabad, his beloved Bhagmati, and the seven Nizams. Subhani also gives life to the amusing rock structure of Hyderabad in his book. There are free-hand sketches of famous monuments like the Charminar from different angles, the Mecca Masjid, the Chowmahalla Palace and the Qutubshahi tombs.

Subhani’s satire on traffic violations in the city like where a trader tells the heavily loaded auto driver Udar nakko police wala dal le ta, is tickling. Traffic mein attak gaya, Boss, Hallu Hallu, Subeh subeh dimagh kharab are some of the punchlines in the local Dakhni language used in the cartoons.

From Hitec City to St Mary’s Church in Secunderabad, his cartoons touch on all aspects of the Hyderabadi life.

Subhani won the Yudhvir Award in 2010 for his contribution to cartoon journalism.