National Cartoon and Caricature Festival from May 22

The programme will be staged from May 22 to 25 and field cartoonists of national repute and their illustrious characters, the Academy said.

Along with entertaining people by way of introducing the fast-fading art forms of Kerala worthy of clean laughs, the festival will also try to 'sensitise people' about their duties as citizens, it said.

"The Academy will also bring on stage those national leaders who become subject of cartoons for a unique face-to-face with inquisitive public. This will also offer an opportunity to the new generation to have that rare close encounter with cartoonists and cartoon characters," it said in a release.

"Kochi will be animated as the Humour Hub of Kerala with so many colourful avenues... ," it added.

Noting that for over half a century cartoons, especially political cartoons, have sent across powerful messages, it said with a little flourish of their pens and brushes, the cartoonists make important statements.

"There are many stalwarts in the field of cartooning. (Former prime minister) Jawaharlal Nehru is said to have been a great admirer of cartoonist Shankar's caricatures. One cannot forget the rich history of cartooning in regional language newspapers and journals," it said.

"That many of the best cartoonists of the country are Keralites is something that Kerala can be proud of," a senior Kerala Cartoon Academy official said.