Soothran
Encyclopedia
Soothran is a fictional funny animal
, the titular hero of the Malayalam language comic series Soothran appearing regularly in children’s weekly Balarama owned by the Indian media giant Malayala Manorama
.
The story, named after its protagonist Soothran, takes place somewhere in Indian jungles, probably in southern India. The series portrays Soothran as a young, clever and cunning Indian jackal
(Golden jackal
) accompanied by his half-foolish and cowardly friend Sheru the tiger
. The story mostly depicts the every day life of Soothran and Sheru, and is noted for the funny twist endings. Stories of Soothran are also published as special comics book by Malayala Manorama
called Soothranum Sheruvum (“Soothran and Sheru”) more than once. Since, the main characters are anthropomorphic, they walk on hind legs, and supposed to use a common language for communication. The Malalyam word "soothran" translates "the clever one" or "the one who knows tricks" and the word "sheru" comes from the Hindi
word “sher” which refers to any of the big cat
s.
Sheru, Soothran's friend, is easily recognized by his black stripes, innocent eyes and his foolish acts. He always respects Soothran and his tricks. Many of Soothran’s planned moves are failed and sometimes even accidentally injuring Soothran due to the presence of Sheru or his foolish acts. Thus Soothran’s own ideas are boomeranged against himself. Soothran often quarrels with Sheru but has never left his friend because of their close intimacy or his thinking that it is a good thing to have a tiger as friend to a jackal, although he is the best to know the depth of the foolishness of his friend. ‘Akku & Ikku’ is another spin-off
story from the Soothran Universe currently appeaing in Balarama Comics in addition to Soothran.
Golden jackals appear prominently in Indian folklore, where they are often portrayed in the context of trickery and deceit. Like in the story of the Blue jackal or in Rudyard Kipling's Mowgli stories collected in The Jungle Book, the character Tabaqui is a jackal despised by the Sioni wolf pack, due to his mock cordiality, scavenging habits and his subservience to Shere Khan
. Though tigers are mostly depicted as a menacing and fearful animal or as a vehicle of deities in India
, Sheru is a poor and somehow foolish tiger.
2. Akku and Ikku: Two young jackal twins. Disciples of Soothran. Often shows more intelligence than that of their master.
3. Karinakkan the bat: Whatever he said will happen immediately at the spot. Though has no intention to harm, highly dangerous to anyone.
4. Ajagajan the goat: A pious Siva devotee who often comes from the nearby village to the jungle. He always uses alliterations in talking.
5. Owl the apothecary: The physician of the jungle. No close personal relationship with anyone. Have treatment for anything.
6. Son of Kadiyan: Naughty cub. Fears no one. Poor in studies.
7. Uncle Karadi: An Indian bear. The artist of the jungle. Excellent in drawing and sculpture making.
8. Karinhunni: A black cat who never minds anyone. Happiness and sadness come and go quickly.
Funny animal
Funny animal is a cartooning term for the genre of comics and animated cartoons in which the main characters are humanoid or talking animals, with anthropomorphic personality traits. The characters themselves may also be called funny animals...
, the titular hero of the Malayalam language comic series Soothran appearing regularly in children’s weekly Balarama owned by the Indian media giant Malayala Manorama
Malayala Manorama
Malayala Manorama is a daily news paper, in Malayalam language, published in the state of Kerala, India. It was first published as a weekly on 14 March 1890, and currently has a readership of over 16 million . The Malayalam word "manorama" roughly translates to "entertainer"...
.
The story, named after its protagonist Soothran, takes place somewhere in Indian jungles, probably in southern India. The series portrays Soothran as a young, clever and cunning Indian jackal
Indian Jackal
The Indian Jackal , also known as the Himalayan Jackal is a subspecies of golden jackal native to India, Bhutan, Burma and Nepal. Its karyotype is quite different from that of its Eurasian and African counterparts .-Description:Its fur is a mixture of black and white, with buff on the shoulders,...
(Golden jackal
Golden Jackal
The golden jackal , also known as the common jackal, Asiatic jackal, thos or gold-wolf is a Canid of the genus Canis indigenous to north and northeastern Africa, southeastern and central Europe , Asia Minor, the Middle East and southeast Asia...
) accompanied by his half-foolish and cowardly friend Sheru the tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
. The story mostly depicts the every day life of Soothran and Sheru, and is noted for the funny twist endings. Stories of Soothran are also published as special comics book by Malayala Manorama
Malayala Manorama
Malayala Manorama is a daily news paper, in Malayalam language, published in the state of Kerala, India. It was first published as a weekly on 14 March 1890, and currently has a readership of over 16 million . The Malayalam word "manorama" roughly translates to "entertainer"...
called Soothranum Sheruvum (“Soothran and Sheru”) more than once. Since, the main characters are anthropomorphic, they walk on hind legs, and supposed to use a common language for communication. The Malalyam word "soothran" translates "the clever one" or "the one who knows tricks" and the word "sheru" comes from the Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
word “sher” which refers to any of the big cat
Big cat
The term big cat – which is not a biological classification – is used informally to distinguish the larger felid species from smaller ones. One definition of "big cat" includes the four members of the genus Panthera: the tiger, lion, jaguar, and leopard. Members of this genus are the only cats able...
s.
Sheru, Soothran's friend, is easily recognized by his black stripes, innocent eyes and his foolish acts. He always respects Soothran and his tricks. Many of Soothran’s planned moves are failed and sometimes even accidentally injuring Soothran due to the presence of Sheru or his foolish acts. Thus Soothran’s own ideas are boomeranged against himself. Soothran often quarrels with Sheru but has never left his friend because of their close intimacy or his thinking that it is a good thing to have a tiger as friend to a jackal, although he is the best to know the depth of the foolishness of his friend. ‘Akku & Ikku’ is another spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
story from the Soothran Universe currently appeaing in Balarama Comics in addition to Soothran.
Golden jackals appear prominently in Indian folklore, where they are often portrayed in the context of trickery and deceit. Like in the story of the Blue jackal or in Rudyard Kipling's Mowgli stories collected in The Jungle Book, the character Tabaqui is a jackal despised by the Sioni wolf pack, due to his mock cordiality, scavenging habits and his subservience to Shere Khan
Shere Khan
Shere Khan is a fictional tiger of the Indian jungle. He is the chief antagonist in two of Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book stories featuring Mowgli. Shere Khan is named after an Afghan Prince Kipling encountered on his trips to Afghanistan...
. Though tigers are mostly depicted as a menacing and fearful animal or as a vehicle of deities in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Sheru is a poor and somehow foolish tiger.
Other important characters of the story
1. Kadiyan the lion: Noted by rough and cruel character or the aggressive nature. He often gives Soothran and Sheru tough tasks including domestic assignments.2. Akku and Ikku: Two young jackal twins. Disciples of Soothran. Often shows more intelligence than that of their master.
3. Karinakkan the bat: Whatever he said will happen immediately at the spot. Though has no intention to harm, highly dangerous to anyone.
4. Ajagajan the goat: A pious Siva devotee who often comes from the nearby village to the jungle. He always uses alliterations in talking.
5. Owl the apothecary: The physician of the jungle. No close personal relationship with anyone. Have treatment for anything.
6. Son of Kadiyan: Naughty cub. Fears no one. Poor in studies.
7. Uncle Karadi: An Indian bear. The artist of the jungle. Excellent in drawing and sculpture making.
8. Karinhunni: A black cat who never minds anyone. Happiness and sadness come and go quickly.