The Comic Street Awards 2024 debuted at the prestigious India Joy Digital Entertainment Festival at the Hyderabad International Convention Center (HICC). A collaboration between the Telangana VFX, Animation, and Gaming Association (TVAGA) and the Indian Comics Association (ICA), the awards celebrated exceptional talent in the Indian comics industry, marking a new chapter in the legacy of India Joy. The awards were presented by former beauty queen and Bollywood actress Ruhi Singh, whose presence added a touch of glamour and star power to the event. In recognition of her contributions to the creative industry, Himanshu Singhal, PR & Industry Head of ICA, presented a memento to Ruhi Singh.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the legendary cartoonist Abid Surti for his immense contributions to the Indian comics landscape. A true pioneer, Abid Surti is the creative genius behind Bahadur, India’s first-ever superhero, and has significantly shaped the Indian comics industry.
The ICA proudly hosted a panel discussion at Comic Street featuring prominent figures such as Sanjay Gupta (Raj Comics by Sanjay Gupta), Preeti Vyas (Amar Chitra Katha), Ajay Krishna (Forbidden Verse), and Ajitesh Sharma (Cinemics). The panel delved into various aspects of storytelling, industry evolution, and comic industry opportunities, offering invaluable insights and fostering engaging discussions among industry pioneers and enthusiasts.
Ajitesh Sharma, president of ICA, interacted with Prashant Varma, the visionary director of the highly acclaimed movie Hanu-Man, on Comics IP & Cinema. Ajay Krishna, Executive Member of ICA, presented a special memento to Prashant Varma, acknowledging his remarkable contributions to storytelling, creativity, and the growing universe of Indian superheroes.
Adding to the event’s excitement, two new comic titles were launched: Chandrakanta, an Indian epic adapted into Comics by Cinemics, and Soul Contract, an Indian manga by Cosmics. These latest releases generated a buzz and showcased the vibrant creativity and innovation within the Indian comics industry.
An ICA Pavilion exhibiting Indian Comics was set up at Comics Street, and Ravi Tanwer, Anadi Abhilash, Mohamad Shabaz, Himanshu Singhal, Vasu Gupta, Saahil Sharma, Varun Malhotra, and Neelesh Makwane from ICA led the initiative. Moreover, ICA promoted the upcoming Comics Creator Championship, set to take place during Waves 2025, further engaging the community and encouraging creators to showcase their talent in this Create in India Challenge.
The event underscores India Joy’s commitment to fostering a thriving ecosystem for the AVGC sector. Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao highlighted that the festival embodies the state’s vision to position Hyderabad as a global hub, attracting more than 25,000 attendees globally and showcasing India’s potential as a global media and entertainment industry leader.
1. Best Comics
· Platinum: Professor Ashwatthama 3 (Cheeseburger Comics)
· Diamond: Ad Infinitum – Sisyphus (Chitragaatha Comics)
· Gold: Celestial Beings (Amar Chitra Katha)
2. Best Comics Writer
· Platinum: Bijoy Raveendran, Codename Alpha ’97 (Yali Dream Works)
· Diamond: Saahil S Sharma, Operation Ganga (Alpha Comics)
· Gold: Soumya Das, Violated Series (The Hierophant Entertainment)
3. Best Artist
· Platinum: Dildeep Singh, Rakt katha Series (RCSG)
· Diamond: Caio Pegado, Soormas (Curious Bit Publication)
· Gold: Harsho Mohan Chattoraj, Al-Zebra (Alpha Comics)
4. Best Colorist
· Platinum: Valeria Verdi, Soormas (Curious Bit Publication)
· Diamond: Shadab Siddiqui & Sunil Dasturia, Rakt katha Series (RCSG)
· Gold: Jyoti Singh, Dvij: Born from Fire (Radiant Comics)
5. Best Cover Design
· Platinum: Violated Issue 1 (The Hierophant Entertainment)
· Diamond: Guddu Bomb Issue 1 (Chitragaatha Comics)
· Gold: Whispers of Void: Midnight Mist (Cosmics)
6. Best Kids Comics
· Platinum: Chahal Pahal (Alpha Comics)
· Diamond: Weatherman (Cinemics)
· Gold: Tinkle Holiday Special 54 (Amar Chitra Katha)
7. Best Manga
· Platinum: Whispers of Void: Midnight Mist (Cosmics)
· Diamond: Trio (Vaibhavi Studios)
8. Best Rising Talent
· Platinum: Ajay Krishna (Forbidden Verse)
· Diamond: Vasu Gupta (Alpha Comics)
· Gold: Prathamesh Gandhi (Colorist: Yali Dream Works)
9. Fan Favourite Comics
· Platinum: Tinkle 800 (Amar Chitra Katha)
· Diamond: FORBIDDEN VERSE: LEO’S CIVIL WAR (Forbidden Verse)
· Gold: The Legend of Watakattu – Claws of Justice (Alpha Comics)
10. Best Comics (Student Category)
· Platinum: Beaver And The Boy (Abin Antony)
About ICA
The Indian Comics Association (ICA) promotes and nurtures the Indian comics industry. Through various initiatives, events, and collaborations, ICA aims to foster creativity, support comic creators, and elevate the art of storytelling through comics in India. The association plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between industry, government, creators, and audiences, ensuring that the rich tradition of Indian comics continues to thrive and inspire future generations.
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