Illustrator Athulya Pillai’s silent comic, ‘Nanavu’, tells the story of tidal flooding in Kochi

In Kochi, India, a silent comic titled "Nanavu" by illustrator Athulya Pillai sheds light on the daily struggles faced by residents due to tidal flooding. The story is set in the coastal regions of Kochi, where life is constantly in a battle with the tides. Athulya, who is from Kochi herself, first experienced the impact of tidal flooding during her time working with Common Ground, India, a collaborative initiative focused on enhancing ecological, social, and economic wellbeing in rural India.

To gather information, Athulya collaborated with Equinoct, a Kochi-based modelling solution provider, and visited Ezhikkara, one of the regions worst affected by tidal flooding. This experience led her to create "Nanavu," a 28-page book that is published by Studio Niyat. The book vividly depicts the culture and geography of Kochi's coast, using a palette of powder blue that represents the shrimp farms, Pokkali fields, the moon, and the tides.

Athulya decided to keep the comic silent, using no dialogues, in order to convey the quiet nature of the water's arrival and the unheard cries of the affected people. The lack of words highlights the loss and resilience present in the story. The book serves as an open invitation to understand how people in Kerala's coastal landscapes monitor moon phases, fishing cycles, and high tides to prepare for and mitigate the impact of flooding.