Illustrated books to give real-life account of Mario Miranda, Dadasaheb Phalke

New Delhi: Two illustrated books on the life and times of cartoonist Mario Miranda and father of Indian cinema Dadasaheb Phalke aim to introduce children to the Indian greats in their respective creative fields.

"Humour with Mario Miranda" and "Tenacity with Dadasaheb Phalke", written by award-winning poet Pervin Saket and illustrated by Devika Oza and Neeti Banerji, respectively, is published under AdiDev Press's 'Learning To Be' series.

"Pursuing art or music or film can be every bit as rewarding as more traditional jobs! We hope the example of Phalke and Miranda will help kids think differently about what they want to do when they grow up," said Chitwan Mittal, founder and editorial director of AdiDev Press in a statement.

While Miranda was known for his trademark stylish strokes -- which told detailed colourful stories with shades of humour -- Phalke, beside directing India's first full-length feature film, "Raja Harishchandra" in 1913, made over 90 movies and 26 short films in his illustrious career of 19 years.

Today is also the 97th birth anniversary of the late cartoonist. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002 and was conferred the Padma Vibhushan posthumously in 2012.

"It was a delight to work on Mario Miranda's story and translate his visual humour into verses for kids. His caricatures are as affectionate as they are biting — as a creative artist I know how difficult it is to achieve that balance. Dadasaheb Phalke is inspiring not just for his vision but also his energy and uncompromising worth ethic! Journeying with him in the course of these books has been a privilege," said Saket, author of the books.

Both the books are currently available for purchase across online and offline stores.