Bhubaneswar, Jan. 11: A comic, Sound of Joy, has become popular among people of various age groups at the ongoing Rajdhani Book Fair.

Ahead of National Youth Day held to celebrate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, which falls tomorrow, The Telegraph spoke to the creator of the comic, Sukankan Roy, who has been propagating the teachings of Vivekananda through various mediums.

The comic aims to create self-belief among people with the help of real life heroes.

Roy's tryst with Vivekananda started with an animation film of the same name. The film won three National Awards in 2015. With the publication, he wants to propagate ideas on the importance of the "superhuman".

"Our children have been exposed to fictional superheroes. But their influence vanishes once the child grows up. But, a superhuman ensures that a child is fed with truth and its impact is everlasting," says Roy.

The comic was published in May last year and more than 6,000 copies have already been distributed.

Odia animator and filmmaker Ranajit Mohanty, who is also involved in the project, says, "The process of making the comic was encouraging. We felt that readers in Odisha should also get a taste of it and the response has been very good. We have been selling around five to six copies daily," added Mohanty.

While the comic is priced at Rs 150, you can also get an activity book for the same price. At Rs 200 one can get a copy of the animation film along with the pack.

The second edition of the book will be released in three months. "It will be based on how Vivekananda addressed religious harmony," says Roy, founder of Calcutta-based Aura Cinematics.

Roy wants to turn Sound of Joy into a movement. "Apart from films and comics, other offerings will include TV series, toys, games and cultural activity centres. Children in our country are acquainted with this process of learning the truth from an icon of imagination. But, the idea has to change and an icon whose virtues do not change with time needs to be nurtured," added Roy.

The book fair is witnessing a huge turnout. Two hundred individual sellers and publishing houses from 15 states have set up their kiosks at the fair, which ends on January 15.