What began as a personal reckoning with cultural disconnect turned into a creative mission for Arnav Anand. As the founder of VrindKavi, he’s on a quest to bring Indian mythology, lok katha, and forgotten folklore back into the mainstream—this time through deeply thoughtful, visually rich comic books. With an eye on authenticity and a heart set on relevance, Arnav isn’t just reviving stories; he’s reimagining how we experience them. From Comic Cons to conversations with artists, he’s building a storytelling universe where tradition meets today—and where readers, young and old, are invited to rediscover their roots.
What inspired you to start Vrindkavi and focus on reviving Indian comics and ancient stories?
Growing up, I was quite the anglophile. I was drawn to English films, Western music, and foreign authors, while rarely engaging with Indian art or literature. My interest in global mythology eventually led me back to Indian stories, and that’s when I truly realised how rich and profound they are. But what really shifted my perspective was a light-hearted comment from a friend who said, “We’re coconuts, brown outside but white inside.” It made me reflect on how disconnected I, and many others have become from my own roots. That moment stayed with me and became one of the reasons I started Vrindkavi, to reconnect with our stories and share them in a way that’s authentic, meaningful, and relevant to today’s generation.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in bringing these stories to a modern audience? How did you overcome it?
People have been incredibly warm and open to our work, which has been very encouraging. The biggest challenge, however, is visibility, getting our stories in front of more people across India. I genuinely believe that once someone engages with our books, they’ll connect with them. But in a crowded and fast-moving digital world, cutting through the noise and reaching the right audience remains an ongoing effort. We’re tackling this by steadily building our presence, collaborating with like-minded creators, and focusing on meaningful outreach.
What’s your vision for the future of Vrindkavi and its role in the Indian comic book industry?
Our vision for Vrindkavi is to become the go-to destination for Indian stories. Whether someone is discovering these narratives for the first time or revisiting them with fresh eyes, we want Vrindkavi to be the name they trust for authenticity, depth, and quality. While comics and graphic novels are our foundation, our aspirations go beyond the comic book industry. We see Vrindkavi growing into a broader storytelling platform, venturing into films, television, and other forms of entertainment media. Our aim is to bring Indian stories to life across formats, while staying true to their essence and making them accessible to audiences both in India and around the world.
How do you select which ancient stories or lok kahaniyas to adapt into comic books? What criteria do you use?
Our selection process is quite straightforward, we look for stories that offer a meaningful message. For us, every story we adapt must have a purpose. It should prompt the reader to think, reflect, or see the world a little differently. While visual appeal and aesthetics matter, the heart of our work lies in the story’s depth. We’re not just looking to entertain but also to say something of value. Once we choose a story, we focus on crafting it in a way that brings out its deeper meaning with clarity and emotional resonance, while staying true to its cultural roots.
How do you balance staying true to the original stories with making them appealing to a contemporary readership?
We stay true to the core structure of the original stories. What happens must still happen. If Rama goes into exile, he must go. If Arjun hesitates before the battle of Kurukshetra, that moment of doubt remains. What we focus on is the how. How the characters experience these events, how they process their dilemmas, and how they grow through them.
Our aim is to explore the emotional and psychological layers of these characters in a way that feels more grounded and relatable to a contemporary audience. We ask: What are they feeling? What internal conflicts are they wrestling with? By humanising these iconic figures without altering the essence of the narrative, we bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and modern sensibilities.
What is your approach to working with artists and writers to ensure the stories are visually engaging and culturally accurate?
Our approach is rooted in trust and creative collaboration. We begin with a meaningful, in-depth discussion with our writers and artists, one that goes beyond the plot and explores the deeper themes and messages of the story. It’s important to us that they truly understand not just what happens, but why it matters. Once that foundation is in place, we give them the freedom to interpret and express the story in their own way whether through words or visuals. We do provide guidance along the way to ensure cultural accuracy and narrative clarity, but we believe that giving creators room to explore is what leads to truly high-quality work. That creative freedom, grounded in shared understanding, is at the heart of everything we do.
What’s the process of publishing a comic book from concept to completion at Vrindkavi?
At Vrindkavi, the journey of publishing a comic book begins with story selection. Once we’ve identified a story we feel is worth telling, we immerse ourselves in reading scriptures, folk accounts, and any other relevant texts, while also studying how the story has been represented in other media. Next comes a collaborative brainstorming phase, where we explore how best to present the story with its tone, structure, visual style, and the key themes we want to highlight. Once that vision is clear, the scriptwriting begins, followed by the illustration phase, where the story is brought to life visually. After the artwork and text are finalised, the book goes through a final round of checks before being sent to print. That marks the completion of the production process, though for us, the story really begins when it reaches the hands of the reader.
How do you market and distribute your comics to reach a wide audience, both in India and internationally?
At the moment, our focus is primarily on reaching readers within India. We actively participate in conventions like Comic Con and Indie Comix Fest, travelling to different cities to engage directly with our audience. These events give us a chance to connect with readers, gather feedback, and build a strong community around our work. On the digital front, we share short-form content based on Indian stories across social media platforms to spark interest and curiosity. We also run targeted ad campaigns to reach new readers and introduce them to our books.
What kind of feedback have you received from readers, and how has it influenced your work?
The feedback we’ve received from readers has been incredibly encouraging. One of the first things people often mention is the artwork. They’re struck by the quality and detail as soon as they open the book. But what truly stays with them is the depth and maturity with which we present the stories. Many readers have told us that our books made them think differently about stories they thought they already knew. This kind of response has given us the confidence to experiment more, whether that’s in the form of longer narratives or new storytelling techniques. It’s also reaffirmed our belief that audiences are ready and eager for stories that treat our cultural heritage with both creativity and seriousness.
What makes Vrindkavi unique compared to other Indian comic book publishers?
What sets Vrindkavi apart is the way we engage with the stories themselves. We don’t just retell them, we dig deep to understand what each story is truly trying to say, and why it was told in the first place. Our adaptations are rooted in respect for the source material, but we also approach them with maturity and creative honesty. We’re not afraid to explore complex themes or portray difficult moments like violence, if they are essential to the story’s message. Our goal is always to bring out the deeper meaning behind the narrative and plant a seed of thought in the mind of the audience.
Beyond that, we don’t see ourselves as just a comic book publisher. While publishing is our starting point, our vision extends to other forms of media like films, series, and more. We want to take Indian storytelling to new heights, across formats, while staying true to its essence.