Sarnath Banerjee Releases Graphic Novel 'Absolute Jafar'

Sarnath Banerjee, the acclaimed Indian graphic novelist known for 'Corridor' (2004), has released his latest work 'Absolute Jafar' in February 2026 through HarperCollins India. The book follows the adult Bhrigu as he navigates Delhi, Kolkata, Karachi, and Berlin, exploring themes of nostalgia, migration, and the passage of time. Banerjee, born in Kolkata in 1972, describes himself as an 'oblique chronicler of insignificant things.' His previous works include 'The Barn Owl's Wondrous Capers' (2007), 'The Harappa Files' (2011), 'All Quiet in Vikaspuri' (2016), 'Doab Dil' (2019), and as co-author of 'The Moral Contagion' (2024). In an interview with Marta Varini for NERO Editions, Banerjee discusses his creative process, his use of color versus monochrome, and the influence of music on his work. He notes that his style has become simpler and more essential over time, and that 'Absolute Jafar' is less performative than earlier works. The novel's title references a cricket term for a flawless delivery. Banerjee currently lives between cities, with his son born in Berlin to a Pakistani mother and Indian father.