In the run-up to Sidharth Malhotra-starrer Yodha‘s theatrical release on 15 March, the film’s producer Dharma Productions along with Pratilipi Comics launched the comic book Adventures of Yodha: The Case of the Missing Ship as part of the production house’s Yodha Universe. Present at the launch were the Pratilipi team and Malhotra.
The adventure-thriller comic Adventures of Yodha: The Case of the Missing Ship written by Akash Pathak and visualised by Ayantika Roy, spans eight episodes. Readers can get their hands on the limited-edition English paperback, featuring all eight episodes of the comic. Following its grand launch, the first three episodes are now available to read in both Hindi and English languages on the Pratilipi Comics App, with subsequent episodes releasing weekly on the platform. “We wanted to make sure the comic reaches the lengths and breadths of the country, so we decided to release it in both English and Hindi languages,” explained Pratilipi founder and CEO Ranjeet Pratap Singh.
Adventures of Yodha: The Case of the Missing Ship takes protagonist Arun Katyal on a life-altering mission to a phantom island. He embarks on a journey to uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of a ship in the expansive waters of the Arabian Sea. But how will Arun navigate through the challenges to get to the bottom of the mystery?
On the comic book launch, Malhotra expressed, “I am absolutely stoked about the launch of the Yodha Universe with Adventures of Yodha: The Case of the Missing Ship. The name itself – Yodha – can be interpreted in so many ways; established in so many settings. For this very reason, I believe it was only fair to not limit it to a feature film but expand it to a full-blown franchise – one that resonates across mediums. Comics continue to remain widely popular around the world, so there couldn’t be a better way to set the Yodha franchise in motion than a standalone comic. I can’t wait to jump into the adventures of Yodha myself and look forward to seeing how the franchise pans out in the coming years.”
Pratilipi Comics head Dr Rajeev Tamhankar said, “We take immense pride in fostering a loyal community of comic fans, and we’re grateful for their support, to say the least. Together with Dharma Productions, we’ve worked hard to deliver an immersive reading experience with Adventures of Yodha.”
Speaking about building the Yodha franchise, Dharma Productions producer and owner Karan Johar shared, “Yodha has been a passion project from the word go for everyone associated with it. Right from the beginning, we’ve been driven by our ambition to build a universe that hits home for people of the Indian subcontinent, and Adventures of Yodha: The Case of the Missing Ship is the first step towards achieving that goal. With Yodha, we strived to create an Indian counterpart for some of the globally renowned multimedia franchises. The comic, much like the film, follows our hero, Arun Katyal, on an adventurous mission – though this one is entirely different from the film’s plot. It’s incredibly engaging, full of suspense, and maintains an ongoing theme of mystery that keeps you hooked until the end of the eighth episode.”
Dharma Productions producer and CEO Apoorva Mehta added, “We aim to break new ground with the launch of Adventures of Yodha: The Case of the Missing Ship, and we’re certain that it will prove to be a game-changer for the film as well as the franchise at large. Akash Pathak has expertly woven themes of adventure, mystery and thrill into the comic, which is artfully illustrated by Ayantika Roy. They’ve totally nailed it in keeping the excitement going throughout all eight episodes. The comic serves as the perfect introduction to the world of Yodha. It will also pique audiences’ curiosity to watch the film unfold on the big screen.”
Starring Malhotra, Disha Patani and Raashii Khanna in the lead roles, Yodha is presented by Amazon Prime and Dharma Productions, in association with Mentor Disciple Entertainment. Directed by the debutant duo of Sagar Ambre and Pushkar Ojha, the film follows Arun Katyal, the commanding officer of an elite unit, Yodha Task Force, on a rescue operation. It is produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Mehta.
Pratilipi Comics offers comics in the popular vertical webcomics format. With more than 13.6 million downloads on Play Store, it boasts best-selling comics like Shaitani Rasmein (adapted into a television series), Mera Khadus Pati, and Pret Bandh.