B. M. Gafoor

2022-05-02T12:18:29Z

2001:7C0:205F:8001:0:0:0:B7:

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = B. M. Gafoor
| image =
| imagesize = 220px
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1942|5|4}}
| birth_place = [[Tellicherry]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2003|11|13|1942|5|4}}
| death_place = [[Calicut]], [[Kerala]], India
| occupation = [[Cartoonist]]
| yearsactive = 1980–2003
| spouse = Suhara Gaffoor
| parents = Vaidyarakath Mohammed Kutty Haji & B.M. Mariyumma Hajjumma
| relations = [[B. M. Suhara]] (sister)
| children = 4 (Tazneem, Thanveer, Thanzeela, Thajmal)
| signature =
}}
'''B. M. Gafoor''' (4 May 1942 – 13 November 2003) was an Indian [[cartoonist]] and [[comic artist]]. He was one of the most prominent cartoonists from Kerala and was one of the founders of [[Kerala Cartoon Academy]]. Within a career of more than three decades, he created some of the most popular comics including the social satire ''Kunjamman''.

==Early life==
A native of [[Tellicherry]], Gafoor was a student at St. Joseph's High School, [[Calicut]] when [[M.V. Devan]] began teaching him painting.<ref>[http://www.indiancaricature.com/modules/cartoons/public-album.php?id=47 "Gafoor. B. M."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713025106/http://www.indiancaricature.com/modules/cartoons/public-album.php?id=47 |date=13 July 2011 }}. Indiancaricature.com. Retrieved 1 January 2011</ref><ref name="The Hindu">{{cite news|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/11/14/stories/2003111407960400.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125180906/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/11/14/stories/2003111407960400.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=25 January 2013|title=B.M. Gafoor passes away |date=14 November 2003|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> He was exposed to another prominent painter, [[K. C. S. Paniker]] when he attended the [[Government School of Arts and Crafts, Chennai|Madras School of Arts and Crafts]], where Paniker served as principal.<ref name="The Hindu"/>

==Career==
Gafoor served as a cartoonist for many publications, including the ''[[Chandrika (Malayalam newspaper)|Chandrika]]'', ''[[Shankar's Weekly]]'', ''[[Deshabhimani]]'' and ''Cut Cut'', before settling down for the remainder of his career at ''[[Mathrubhumi]]''.<ref name="The Hindu"/> He remained at ''Mathrubhumi'' from 1980 until his death in 2003. He also had his own magazine for a time, ''Niramala'', which he had started during the [[Emergency (India)|Emergency]].

In 2000, during his tenure at ''Mathrubhumi'', Gafoor became Creative Animation Director with the Nest company in Ernakulam, remaining for a year.<ref name="The Hindu"/> He is also the founder of BMG Group, an animation company based in Kozhikode. He played a major role in establishing the [[Kerala Cartoon Academy]] and served as its founder secretary.<ref name="The Hindu"/> He was also a key figure in establishing Calicut Art Gallery.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xgsSKIdLBlo/RznpYj266oI/AAAAAAAABIA/VTuNGkl206w/s1600-h/news-02.jpg | title=B. M. Gafoor remembered | newspaper=[[Mathrubhumi]] | accessdate=28 September 2018 }}</ref>

Gafoor died of a heart attack on 13 November 2003. He was aged 61.<ref name="TOI">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Cartoonist-Gafoor-passes-away/articleshow/283998.cms|title=Cartoonist Gafoor passes away|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|date=14 November 2003}}</ref> In his honor, [[Kerala Government]] has established an annual award named "Gafoor Smaraka Puraskaram".<ref>[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xgsSKIdLBlo/RznplD266qI/AAAAAAAABIQ/VloLO4J1zj4/s1600-h/news-04.jpg "B. M. Gafoor Award"]. ''[[Madhyamam]]''. Retrieved 1 January 2011</ref>

==Personal life==
B. M. Gafoor was married to Suhara and had four children, among them Thanveer Gafoor and Thajmal Gafoor, the directors and promoters of BMG Group. The renowned Malayalam writer [[B. M. Suhara]] was his sister.

==Major works==

===''Kunjamman''===
''Kunjamman'' (''Uncle Kunj'') is a popular satirical cartoon published in ''Mathrubhumi'' from 1980 onwards. It was conceptualised and illustrated by Gafoor. The central character Kunjamman depicts an ordinary man who raises his voice against corruption and malpractices. ''Kunjamman'' had major social and political impacts in contemporary Kerala. BMG Animations created an animated version of the cartoon, "B.M. Gafoor's Kunjamman", which was telecast on [[Kairali TV]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041104055102/http://www.hindu.com/2004/08/10/stories/2004081003470300.htm "Kunhamman' on Kairali TV soon"]. ''The Hindu''. 10 August 2004.</ref> and on [[Indiavision]].<ref>[http://www.indiavisiontv.com/programme/kunjamman.htm "Kunjamman on Indiavision"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713025520/http://www.indiavisiontv.com/programme/kunjamman.htm |date=13 July 2011 }}. [[Indiavision]]. Undated. Retrieved 1 January 2011.</ref> Kunjamman has completed 2000 episodes.

===''Tintumon''===
{{Main|Tintumon}}
The equivalent of [[Little Johnny]] for [[Malayalees]], ''[[Tintumon]]'', was originally created by Gafoor. Though it was not popular in print, it reached the peak of popularity during the year 2009 through mobile [[SMS]] and [[e-mails]].<ref name="Tintumon">{{cite web|url=http://expressbuzz.com/Cities/Kochi/it%E2%80%99s-time-to-start-kidding!/139237.html |title=It’s time to start kidding! |date= |publisher=Expressbuzz }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> There were issues of copyright regarding its publication between Gafoor's BMG Group and another animation company, which led to a legal war in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://malayalam.oneindia.com/news/2010/08/16/kerala-bmg-group-ready-fight-tintumon-copyright.html|title=പിതൃത്വം ആര്‍ക്ക്? ടിന്റുമോന്‍ കോടതി കയറുന്നു | first=Ajith | last=Babu | trans-title=Kerala BMG Group fight for Tintumon copyright|date=16 August 2010 |publisher=One India | language=ml | accessdate=28 September 2018}}</ref> Later, its copyright was retained by the BMG Group, who in 2010, released an animated version of ''Tintumon''. The animated version is also telecasted in [[Jeevan TV]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131027161005/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/extras/cartoon/gafoor.html B. M. Gafoorinte Varayum Jeevithavum (Mathrubhumi feature)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131213071558/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/article/art/2698/ Memoir by B. M. Gafoor's son]
{{Cartoonists from Kerala}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gafoor, B. M.}}
[[Category:Indian cartoonists]]
[[Category:People from Thalassery]]
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian comics artists]]

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B. M. Gafoor