Nante Fante Collection III

Continuing the humorous exploits of Nante Fante, the collection consists of chapters 7 thru 9. Sometimes playing pranks on each other (once in this collection and that too marked by a different style of sketching) the naughty duo often makes life miserable for the Superintendent Sir. But the greater pranks are stored for the wicked Keltu. Being boarders of hostels, their desire for sumptuous meals often becomes the central theme of the multipage plots and in these often Keltu becomes the sole competitor. Debnathbabu’s unique style of presentation and cartoons has made these children’s story a priceless gem in the world of Bengali comic strips. The collection also contains an advertisement cleverly concealed in the story, maybe one of the starters of its kind.

Nante Fante Collection IV

The collection contains chapters 10, 11, 12 though one of the strips has been juxtaposed incorrectly. The humorous exploits of the duo continues as they face Keltuda and his chums who try to provoke them unjustly. The superintendent sir also plays his part and as always remains all the more comical. The use of colloquial language increases the charm though the slang always remains well within the aesthetic limit. Proving once more that age is never a bar for this kind of entertainment the heart always longs for more for it. An interesting fact is that though the practical jokes remains the main theme of each strip but it is never indecent. Finally another important fact is that though the teachers sometimes becomes the unsuspecting targets of the jokes but they are always highlighted respectfully. With delightful cartoons the chapters will no doubt appeal to readers of all age.

Nante Fante Collection II

In sheer enthusiasm I'd bought this collection too containing volumes IV to VI but some disappointments were in store for me. One of the strips were surely incomplete and certain stories were quite lacking in the fun. But the first few chapters were very much entertaining and though the plots were repeating, the excellent graphics more than compensated the monotone. The amusing misunderstandings, several of them at the cost of Keltu's misadventures, the innocent pranks on the unsuspecting superintendents were hilariously depicted by the cartoon while the underlying message of the bond of friendship and the spirit of camaraderie were conveyed all along.

Nante Fante Collection I

Picked spontaneously from a bookfair, as I went through the pages, several nostalgic memories seemed to overwhelm me. Not only was Nante-Fante my first official storybook which I read but the pack of boarding school members including the wicked Keltu and the fearsome Superintendent had been my best of friends for a very long time. As I grew old, the comics gave way to more serious materials but the innocent frolicks penned by Narayan Debnath still lingered in the heart. So though these comic strips disappeared beneath the piles of papers addressed to the wastepaper bin their memories was etched deep down in me. This I felt, when I suddenly came across the collection consisting of chapters 1-3 in the bookfair and without thinking more, bought the 1st volume then and there. The naivity of the characters that came alive in the sketches of Shri Debnath still refreshed the minds and some of them produced peals of laughter even now.  Enjoying Nante-Fante playing tricks on Keltuda and, sometimes, even on themselves while trying to help the needy, I seemed to realize or better to say, prove for myself that age can never be a bar while enjoying humour devoid of malice.