The first issue of Anandamela appeared in March 1975.[1]Satyajit Ray designed the cover of first issue. The magazine is published fortnightly.[2] It has been edited by several eminent personalities at different times, including the poet Nirendranath Chakravarty,[3]Ashok Kumar Sarkar, and Debasish Bandopadhyay. The current editor is Caeser Bagchi. Anandamela is one of the oldest surviving Bengali children's magazines and is published twice a month, on the fifth (previously second) and twentieth days.
Many authors began writing for children through Anandamela. For example, Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay gained recognition as a children's author after his serial novel Manojder Adbhut Baari was published in Anandamela. On 19 June 2004, Anandamela split up into two different magazines: the original Anandamela (for children aged 8 – 14) and Unish Kuri (for teens and young adults aged 15 – 25).
Popular series, novels, and stories
Aranyadeb (The Phantom) comics (translated from English)
Art and artists were always an important part of Anandamela, thus giving birth to some memorable artistic talents. Among the large number of artists who illustrated the pages and covers of Anandamela are:
In October, the Bengali festive month, Anandamela is published in a special edition of nearly 400 pages. This edition features Sunil Gangopadhyay's new novel in the thriller series Kakababu, as well as full-length Feluda comic based on a story by Oscar-winning director Satyajit Ray, illustrated by Abhijit Chattopadhyay. The special issue includes five to six complete novels, several short stories, features, and three complete comic strips, some of which extend up to 60 pages.
Although the regular fortnightly issues of Anandamela started much later, the Puja Number began in 1971. Its price was Rs. 2.00, and it did not contain any cartoons. Sunil Gangopadhyay and Satyajit Ray are the only writers whose work has appeared in every Puja Number of Anandamela since the magazine's inception.
Other activities
The Anandamela Club has a paid membership system that arranges various programs, competitions, and activities throughout the year for children.
Criticism
Anandamela has faced criticism in the past for its over-reliance on foreign comics. After Paulami Sengupta took charge as the editor, original comics based on Bengali literature were introduced, and all foreign comics were pulled, including The Adventures of Tintin, which was the hallmark and flagship brand of Anandamela.
