The Magic of Growing Up with Pran Comics

How Pran Comics Pulled Me Into the Real World

Do you remember those slow, sleepy summer afternoons from childhood—when lunch was followed by a nap (even if you swore you weren’t sleepy), and the only screen in the house was the family TV?

Lazy summer afternoons: ceiling fans spinning above, the scent of old paper in the air…And nothing made me happier than flipping through a Pran comic.

I couldn’t buy them all (pocket money had its limits!), but that little bookshop that rented them for ₹2 always came to my rescue.

It was my secret library, tucked between a general store and a paanwala, where time stood still. One comic a day. That was the rule.

Now, you have to understand—I was a die-hard introvert. Socialising wasn’t my thing. Just the thought of asking a shopkeeper for something made me want to hide under a table.

But mention Pran comics, and suddenly I was out there—dodging aunties with grocery bags, ignoring traffic, and acting like ₹2 was the most important investment of my life.

For me, choosing the comic was just as exciting. I couldn’t just grab any one—I had to feel it. I’d take my time, flipping through the pages slowly, savouring every moment.

Billoo: The Boy with the Legendary Flick

Billoo was your regular boy-next-door. His hairstyle (if you could call it that) made him stand out. That flick of hair had a mind of its own, floating above his forehead. I used to wonder quietly, “Without it, would he still be Billoo? Would Jozi dump him?”

Billoo’s world was simple—roaming around with his loyal dog, Moti; watching TV; and hanging out with his usual gang of friends: Jozi, Monu, Gabdu, and Bishamber.
He loved playing street cricket- which usually meant broken windows, furious neighbors, and epic escapes.

If Archie Grew Up in Delhi, He’d Be Billoo

Honestly, the more I think about it, the more Billoo feels like our very own Archie. He had the same charm and the same messy friend circle. Even his crush, Jozi, was part-Betty, part-Veronica. And Colonel Three-Nought-Three? Imagine Mr. Lodge with a rifle and a temper.

Billoo’s World: When Simple Jokes Made Our Day

I still remember one of the episodes, Billoo aur Sabse Bada Murkh, where a tourist is on a mission to find the biggest fool in the world for the Guinness Book of World Records. Someone eagerly points to Billoo, who’s busy sawing off the very branch he’s sitting on.
Ironically, that person is standing right under the branch. And sure enough, Billu falls- right on him. While he groans in pain, the tourist calmly announces, “I’ve found the greatest fool.” 
The man, expecting Billu to win the title, proudly asks, “Billo, right?” And the tourist goes, “No. You. You knew he was going to fall, and yet, you stood right under him.”

As a kid, I laughed my heart out at this scene. But now, reading it again, I wonder how it ever made me laugh—but hey, this is what childhood is all about. It’s not just the joke—it’s the simplicity of it. That kind of pure, simple fun is hard to find in today’s world.

Pinki: India’s Dennis the Menace 

If Billoo was our Archie, then Pinki was, undeniably, Dennis the Menace in a frock. She was always up to something, full of energy, and even her kind intentions turned into little disasters. She came with a cute pet squirrel named Kut-Kut, two loyal friends Bhiku and Champu, and a poor, suffering neighbor named Jhapatji, who was always the first victim of her innocent mischief.

And oh, how Jhapatji reminded me of Mr. Wilson, Dennis’s poor, grumpy next-door neighbor. All they really wanted was a calm life with their tea and newspaper, but life had other plans. While Mr. Wilson had Dennis crashing into his flower beds, Jhapatji had Pinki knocking over his calm, his groceries, and, often, his furniture. 
They both looked the same—eyes wide, then a long sigh like, “Here we go again.”

But just like Mr. Wilson, you could tell Jhapatji cared about Pinki. He’d shout and get angry, but the next day, there he was again—stuck in her latest “helpful” plan. It was messy, funny, and full of love—and we enjoyed every bit of it.

Artwork and Illustration 

One of the best things about Pran comics was the artwork—it was comic, yes, but it also felt real. The characters weren’t picture-perfect people; they were perfectly imperfect. They had potbellies, worn-out slippers, missing buttons, and expressions that were straight out of our everyday mohalla.
Jhapatji’s wide eyes, Billoo’s floating flick, Pinki’s wild energy—we didn’t just read them, we saw them come alive. The settings looked like our own homes: plastic chairs, wall clocks, paan stains, and pickle jars on windowsills.

How Pran Comics Taught Me English

Believe it or not, I learnt a lot of English from Pran Comics. I’d read the Hindi version first, then the English one, learning new words, sentence patterns, even slang.

I never thought “Teri toh!” and “Oh my God!” could go together. That’s how I picked up English, without even realizing it.

Hindi Had More Tadka

Billoo in English is like chai without adrak-something’s missing.

As kids, we didn’t realise it, but those Hindi comics taught us more than just jokes—they gave us words like ढीठ and कमीना, and the right comic timing to use them with flair.

A Nostalgic Connection

Even now, when I hold these comics, it feels like home. The feel of the paper, the bold colors, the speech bubbles- they pull me back to a time when life was simple. It’s like stepping into a world that never really left me.

They weren’t mere stories—these comics were a whole universe in themselves. That’s what pushed me to step out into the world. They pulled me out of my comfort zone, making me laugh and wonder.

Something Sweet I Had to Share With You

Recently, I discovered a YouTube channel called Vijay Mehra Creations, which brings old Billoo and Pinki comics to life with engaging voice-overs and playful background music. I really appreciate the creator’s effort to keep those lovely memories alive. If your old comics are lost or too worn out, this is a lovely way to enjoy those tales all over again.

There’s still a part of me that smiles at those old comics—some stories just never leave you. What about you? Which one made you smile the most? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to read about it.

Still holding on to stories that once held me,

Harleen