Odayan

Last updated
Odayan
Publication information
Publisher Level 10 Comics
Publication date2012
No. of issues8
Creative team
Written bySuhas Sundar
Artist(s)Deepak Sharma
Collected editions
Paperback ISBN   978-93-81766-08-8

Odayan is an Indian martial arts comic book series, created by Suhas Sundar and Deepak Sharma, and published by Level 10 Comics. [1] Set against the backdrop of feudal Kerala, the series revolves around Odayan, a mysterious vigilante who slowly builds a criminal empire which is poised to destabilize the reign of the Zamorin.

Suhas Sundar won the award for Best Writer at Comic Con India (2012) for penning Odayan: Aarambham, [2] and Deepak Sharma was nominated for the Best Artist category. [3]

Plot

Odayan is set in Bhargavakshetram, an alternate version of feudal Kerala. The story begins with the legend of Parashurama's axe, which is broken into twenty-one pieces and scattered across Bhargavakshetram. Odayan, the titular character, sets out to gather all the pieces of the fabled axe. His quest involves hunting down a Kalarippayattu master named Kalan because he possesses a piece of Parashurama's axe. After winning a piece of Parashurama's axe in a duel with Kalan, Odayan goes to Malabar, a port city in Bhargavakshetram. There Odayan earns the reputation of helping some potential allies while intimidating others into joining his criminal empire. He becomes more powerful, causing more instability for the Zamorin's reign. Yet it is a past tragedy that drives Odayan to choose a life of lawlessness. [4]

Meanwhile, Kalan's son, Unni, is motivated by revenge to undergo Kalarippayattu training. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parashurama</span> Sixth avatar of Hindu god Vishnu

Parashurama, also referred to as Rama Jamadagnya, Rama Bhargava and Virarama, is the sixth avatar among the Dashavatara of the preserver god Vishnu in Hinduism. He is believed to be one of the Chiranjivis (Immortals), who will appear at the end of the Kali Yuga to be the guru of Vishnu's tenth and last incarnation, Kalki.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kozhikode</span> Metropolis in Kerala, India

Kozhikode, official name until 1990 was Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices, Kozhikode is listed among the UNESCO's Cities of Literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalaripayattu</span> Indian martial art from Kerala

Kalaripayattu is an Indian martial art that originated in Kerala, a state on the southwestern coast of India 3000 years ago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Konkan</span> Region of Southwest India

The Konkan is a stretch of land by the western coast of India, bound by the river Daman Ganga at Damaon in the north, to Anjediva Island next to Karwar town in the south; with the Arabian Sea to the west and the Deccan plateau to the east. The hinterland east of the coast has numerous river valleys, riverine islands and the hilly slopes known as the Western Ghats; that lead up into the tablelands of the Deccan. The region has been recognised by name, since at least the time of Strabo in the third century CE. It had a thriving mercantile port with Arab tradesmen from the 10th century. The best-known islands of Konkan are Ilhas de Goa, the site of the Goa state's capital at Panjim; also, the Seven Islands of Bombay, on which lies Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra & the headquarters of Konkan Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vadakkunnathan Temple</span> Ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva

The Vadakkumnathan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva in Thrissur, in the Thrissur district of Kerala, India. The temple is a classical example of the architectural style of Kerala and has one monumental tower on each of the four sides in addition to a koothambalam. Mural paintings depicting various scenes from the Mahabharata can be seen inside the temple. The shrines and the Kuttambalam display vignettes carved in wood. The temple, along with the mural paintings, has been declared as a National Monument by India under the AMASR Act. According to popular local lore, this is the first temple built by Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu. Thekkinkadu Maidan, encircling the Vadakkumnathan Temple, is the main venue of the renowned Thrissur Pooram festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Kerala</span>

The term Kerala was first epigraphically recorded as Cheras (Keralaputra) in a 3rd-century BCE rock inscription by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka of Magadha. It was mentioned as one of four independent kingdoms in southern India during Ashoka's time, the others being the Cholas, Pandyas and Satyaputras. The Cheras transformed Kerala into an international trade centre by establishing trade relations across the Arabian Sea with all major Mediterranean and Red Sea ports as well those of Eastern Africa and the Far East. The dominion of Cheras was located in one of the key routes of the ancient Indian Ocean trade. The early Cheras collapsed after repeated attacks from the neighboring Cholas and Rashtrakutas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parashu</span> Sanskrit term for axe

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Thrissur</span>

Thrissur is the administrative capital of Thrissur District, in the central part of Kerala state, India. Thrissur district was formed on 1 July 1949. It is an important cultural centre, and is known as the Cultural Capital of Kerala. It is famous for the Thrissur Pooram festival, one of the most colourful and spectacular temple festival of Kerala. From ancient times, Thrissur has been politically, economically and culturally significant to the Indian subcontinent. It has opened the gates for Arabs, Romans, Portuguese, Dutch and English. According to tradition, Thrissur is where Christianity, Islam and Judaism entered the Indian subcontinent. Local Christian tradition holds that Thomas the Apostle arrived in 52 CE, and Muslim tradition states that Methala is the location of country's first mosque.

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The Nambudiri, also transliterated as Nampoothiri, Nambūdiri, Namboodiri, Namboothiri and Nampūtiri, are a Malayali Brahmin caste, native to what is now the state of Kerala, India, where they constituted part of the traditional feudal elite. Headed by the Azhvanchery Thamprakkal Samrāṭ, the Nambudiris were the highest ranking caste in Kerala. They owned a large portion of the land in the region of Malabar, and together with the Nair monarchs, the Nambudiris formed the landed aristocracy known as the Jenmimar, until the Kerala Land Reforms starting in 1957.

Panicker was an honorary title conferred by the King of Travancore in Kerala to distinguished individuals. This title was given to prominent Nair, Saint Thomas Christians, Kaniyars and Ezhavas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vilwadrinatha Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zamorin</span> Hereditary king of kingdom of Calicut (1124–1806)

The Samoothiri was the title of the erstwhile ruler and monarch of the Kingdom of Calicut in the South Malabar region of India. Originating from the former feudal kingdom of Nediyiruppu Swaroopam, the Samoothiris and their vassal kings from Nilambur Kovilakam established Calicut as one of the most important trading ports on the southwest coast of India. At the peak of their reign, they ruled over a region extending from Kozhikode Kollam to the forested borders of Panthalayini Kollam (Koyilandy). The Samoothiris belonged to the Eradi subcaste of the Samantan community of colonial Kerala, and were originally the ruling chiefs of Eranad. The final Zamorin of Calicut committed suicide by setting fire to his palace and burning himself alive inside it, upon learning that Hyder Ali had captured the neighboring country of Chirackal in Kannur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiryathil Nair</span> Sub-caste

Kiryathil Nair or Kiriyath Nair also known as Vellayama Nairs is a Kshatriya subdivision of the Nair caste of martial nobility, who performed the functions of Kshatriyas in Kerala, India. They were also involved in business, industry, medicine and accounting, but as they were the Kshatriya sub-division, their main occupation was governing the land. They constituted the ruling elites (Naduvazhi) and feudal aristocrats (Jenmimar) in the regions of Malabar and Cochin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eranad</span> Erstwhile Province in Kerala, India

Eranad also known as Ernad refers to the erstwhile province in the midland area of Malabar, consisting of Malappuram and nearby regions such as Anakkayam, Manjeri, Kondotty, Nilambur, etc. Currently Eranad Taluk is a Taluk in Malappuram district. Eranad was ruled by a Samanthan Nair clan known as Eradis, similar to the Vellodis of neighbouring Valluvanad and Nedungadis of Nedunganad. The rulers of Eranad were known by the title Eralppad/Eradi. They also used the title Thirumulpad.

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Parappanad was a former feudal city-state in Malabar, India. The headquarters of Parappanad Royal family was at the town Parappanangadi in present-day Malappuram district. In 1425, the country divided into Northern Parappanad and Southern Parappanad. Southern Parappanad included parts of Tirurangadi Taluk and the town Parappanangadi. Northern Parappanad included Panniyankara, Beypore, and Cheruvannur of Kozhikkode Taluk. Parappanad royal family is a cousin dynasty of the Travancore royal family.

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The Panniyur Sri Varahamurthy Temple is an ancient Hindu temple complex situated at Kumbidi, Pattambi taluk, Palakkad district of Kerala, India. The temple is believed to be the first temple in Kerala consecrated by Parasurama. The temple is dedicated to Varaha, the third avatar of Vishnu, who is positioned with Goddess Bhumi. The temple is included among the 108 Abhimana Kshethrams in Vaishnavate tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calicut (kingdom)</span> Historical kingdom in the region of Kerala

The Kingdom of Kozhikode, also known as Calicut, was the kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut, in the present-day Indian state of Kerala. Present-day Kozhikode is the second largest city in Kerala, as well as the headquarters of Kozhikode district.

Malappuram is one of the 14 districts in the South Indian state of Kerala. The district has a unique and eventful history starting from pre-historic times. During the early medieval period, the district was the home to two of the four major kingdoms that ruled Kerala. Perumpadappu was the original hometown of the Kingdom of Cochin, which is also known as Perumbadappu Swaroopam, and Nediyiruppu was the original hometown of the Zamorin of Calicut, which is also known as Nediyiruppu Swaroopam. Besides, the original headquarters of the Palakkad Rajas were also at Athavanad in the district.

References

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  2. Sen, Jhiunuk (August 25, 2014). "Warning: Graphic content inside". Millennium Post. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  3. "Comics are serious business at 2nd Comic Con India awards". MXM India. February 14, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  4. Biswas, Sreejita (July 25, 2014). "Complexity of grey". Bangalore Mirror . Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  5. "The return of the green-masked Odayan". Mid-Day . August 25, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2022.