SUPERHEROES FROM INDIA

This weekend’s escapist, light-hearted superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog looks at some of India’s characters.

FAULADI (Ironclad)

Secret Identity: None

Debuted: 1979

Origin: Fauladi was an android created by an Indian scientist named Dr. John (no relation to the rock singer, of course). The doctor crafted Fauladi with the capacity for human emotions and he first unleashed him publicly to fight an alien invasion.

Powers: This hero possesses greater than human strength, can fly on Earth and in space, and can shoot energy beams from his hands. Fauladi’s android body can withstand space travel. His series ran for over 75 issues and was India’s most popular during the 1980s.

KANGA

Secret Identity: Aadhi

Debuted: 1980s

Origin: Kanga came from an enchanted realm in the clouds where bird-beings could descend to the Earth and take human form. Becoming stranded on Earth, Kanga of the crow-people took to using her powers to battle the forces of evil. Her human friends who took her in gave her the alias Aadhi.

Powers: This superheroine was stronger than human men and could fly via the wings on her back. She was incredibly agile and was fierce in battle. Her fingernails and toenails could be used like talons in a fight.

SUPREMO

Secret Identity: Amitabh Bachchan

Debuted: 1980s

Origin: Amitabh Bachchan was a real actor in Indian cinema. He was such a superstar that a comic book was eventually launched in which the screen idol turned out to be just as heroic when the cameras weren’t rolling. When trouble arose, he would don his visor & costume and take action as the mysterious superhero called Supremo with no one dreaming he was really a movie star.

Powers: This hero was in peak human condition and excelled at armed and unarmed combat. He was more agile than an acrobat. He was wealthy in his civilian identity as a movie star and could obtain gadgets and equipment as needed. Supremo’s series ran for two years until its creator married. He had two young male sidekicks, Vijay and Anthony, as well as a trained falcon named Shaheen.

SHAKTI

Secret Identity: Chanda

Debuted: 1998

Origin: Chanda was a normal human woman married to a cruel man who kept murdering the daughters had by Chanda. The husband’s crimes against women reached the breaking point and the goddess Kali fused with Chanda and used her powers to end the vile man. From then on, Chanda could turn into Shakti when needed to fight the forces of evil.

Powers: Shakti can fly and run at the speed of light. She has a degree of super-strength and invulnerability. Shakti can generate bodily heat which lets her melt and restructure any metal objects into weapons, most often swords. The Third Eye on her forehead can shoot flames more destructive than any Earthly blaze.  

KOUSHIK

Secret Identity: None

Debuted: 1960s

Origin: Already one of the most capable secret agents of India’s government, Koushik surged to the next level when he was given a cyborg arm to replace his real arm that he lost in the line of duty.

Powers: Koushik is multilingual, a master of armed and unarmed combat and is a talented disguise artist. His cyborg arm can shoot bullets, lasers and paralyzing gas, plus functions as a communications device. This hero fought criminals, terrorists, supervillains and on occasion – dinosaurs.   

NAGRAJ (Serpent-King)

Secret Identity: Raj 

Debuted: 1986

Origin: Raj, a Public Relations Officer for Bharti Communications, is really the mystical entity Nagraj. His parents ruled the realm called Nagdweep. (Think of the Nagas from Indian mythology)

      His evil uncle Nagpasha killed his parents in a coup, following which Nagraj defeated him. He appointed his friend Visarpi to rule on his behalf while he adventured among humanity. In his secret identity he pretends to be terrified of snakes.

Powers: From the collective of enchanted snakes that dwell within him, this hero can literally shoot some as weapons, plus shoot chains of snakes to swing around on like Spider-Man. He can also project specific snake entities to help him fight demons.

      Nagraj also possesses bodily serpent abilities like a venomous bite, poisonous breath and the power to blend unseen into his background like a chameleon. This hero’s Rogues Gallery includes many femmes fatale like Nagina, Miss Killer, Vishkanya, Polka and the Queen of the Pyramids.

DEVI (Goddess)

Secret Identity: Tara Mehta

Debuted: 2006

Origin: Social Worker Tara Mehta was dating a gangster whose rivals abducted her. Those rivals also employed Indian mysticism in their crimes and injected Tara with divine Soma. That substance granted her powers and made her more powerful than they had counted on. She defeated them and from then on Tara would combat evil as the superheroine Devi.

Powers: Devi has Wonder Woman level strength, can fly and has a measure of invulnerability. She can shoot lightning blasts from her hands as well as Soul Energy which damages the wicked but can heal the righteous. 

DOGA (Dog)

Secret Identity: Suraj

Debuted: 1992

Origin: The child Suraj grew up a penniless orphan on the streets of Mumbai. He was raised by the cruel criminal Daku Halkan Singh, who treated him horribly and called him a dog. As a teen, Daku abandoned him and he was eventually taken in by the Khan Brothers, who taught him boxing and other martial arts plus marksmanship.

      When gangsters slaughtered the Khans in order to move in on their business, Suraj snapped and went vigilante. He called himself Doga, wore a doglike mask and killed the entire gang who butchered the Khans. He’s been a merciless executioner of criminals ever since. 

Powers: Doga has a never-explained supernatural ability to communicate with Mumbai’s feral dogs, who serve as his figurative “informants” on the streets. He is in peak physical condition and excels at armed and unarmed combat. Doga wears body armor and wields an enormous arsenal of guns and explosives.

PARMANU (Wonderman)

Secret Identity: Inspector Vinay

Debuted: 1991

Origin: Professor Verma secretly gave his newly invented atomic power suit to New Delhi police Inspector Vinay for use in extreme situations. He adopted the costumed identity Parmanu.

Powers: Through the power suit he wore, Parmanu could fly, shoot energy bolts from his gloves and shoot a very fine “atomic rope” from his wrist attachments. In addition, the power suit enabled this hero to shrink in size.

KAALI BILLI (Black Cat) 

Secret Identity: Richa Raman

Debuted: 1987 

Origin: Professor Raman used cat DNA in his extensive experiments designed to grant his daughter Richa superpowers. She went on to use them as the costumed heroine Kaali Billi throughout Rajnagar, India.

      Kaali Billi frequently clashes with the cyborg crimelord known as Master Robo.

Powers: This superheroine has cat-like agility, speed and reflexes, can see in the dark and has claws plus a prehensile tail. She is also able to control and communicate with cats.   

TIRANGA (Tricolor)

Secret Identities: Abhay Deshpande, Satya Prakash

Debuted: 1995

Origin: Abhay Deshpande was a trained spy for India’s intelligence agency called X. When some of his family members who worked in the New Delhi police department were killed by an evil organization he donned a costume and used his skills as the superhero Tiranga to bring the villains to justice.

      This hero still goes on Indian governmental missions plus divides his time between his other identities – police investigator Abhay Deshpande and lawyer Satya Prakash. 

Powers: Tiranga was trained by X as a master of martial arts and he wields an unbreakable shield provided by India’s government.   

VINASHDOOT (Destroyer)

Secret Identity: None

Debuted: 1986

Origin: Vinashdoot is the last survivor of his home planet Vajra. He and his android horse Chetak relocated to the Earth where they take on assorted menaces both terrestrial and extraterrestrial.

Powers: This hero can shoot energy beams from his hands and eyes and also has x-ray vision. Vinashdoot can fly under his own power or by riding Chetak.

REKHA

Secret Identity: None

Debuted: 2011

Origin: Several hundred years ago, Princess Rekha undertook a quest through a land of volcanic mountains to obtain and wield the golden Mahakal Chakra (Miracle Power). She succeeded, even slaying a huge demon in the process. After using the Mahakal Chakra to defeat the evil Ranvir, who had overthrown her father the Rajah, Rekha had further adventures with the power. 

Powers: The Mahakal Chakra kept Rekha alive to the present day and while holding it she could fly, undo even the most powerful tantric magic, project energy beams, conjure up protective force fields and more.  

ANTHONY

Secret Identity: Anthony Gonsalvez

Debuted: 1996

Origin: Guitar-playing Anthony Gonsalvez was a rising entertainer in India. Music industry criminals tortured him to death when he refused to sign his songs and music over to them. 

      Due to the heinous nature of his murder, Prince, Anthony’s pet … uh, crow … guided his spirit back from the afterlife to reanimate his mystically preserved dead body. Rising from his grave Anthony avenged himself on his killers then returned to his grave. Whenever criminal atrocities happen around India, Prince the crow summons Anthony, who again rises from his grave to punish the wrongdoers.

Powers: Anthony can fly and possesses the strength of several men. His touch brings cold fire and he can control crows. Because he is already dead weapons can slow him down but not kill him. Obviously, Anthony’s an imitation of the Crow but comic books around the world borrow from each other. 

PRIYA

Secret Identity: None

Debuted: 2014

Origin: Priya was the victim of a gang rape. Her own family cast her out, saying she had brought shame to them. The Hindu goddess Parvati visited the emotionally reeling Priya and granted her powers to deal with crimes against women and girls.

Powers: This heroine possesses enough strength and skill to defend herself, even against multiple opponents, until her power to influence people’s emotions (like Starfox) can subdue them.

      Rather than beat the hell out of people Priya strictly defends herself or women under attack, then uses her other powers to enlighten oppressors of women. Parvati also gave her Sahas, a flying tiger on which Priya travels and which helps protect her from the enemies she makes.

COMMANDO DHRUVA

Secret Identity: Dhruva Mehra

Debuted: 1987

Origin: Dhruva was orphaned as a child and was taken in by the Jupiter Circus. He mastered a number of skills as he grew up and at age 19 started a career fighting crime as the superhero Commando Dhruva.

Powers: This hero is in peak physical condition, is more agile than an acrobat and has mastered multiple forms of unarmed combat. Commando Dhruva is a top tier criminologist and investigator. He has other powers which have never been explained like his ability to communicate with all animals except for gorillas and his ability to breathe underwater.

        Dhruva also uses a variety of weapons and gadgets. He drives a custom motorcycle and throws star-shaped bladed weapons that are similar to shuriken. In addition, this hero’s wristlets can fire projectiles as well as shoot coiled lines that let him swing around the city like Spider-Man and Daredevil.

CHANDIKA (Spitfire) 

Secret Identity: Shweta Mehra

Debuted: 1988 

Origin: Shweta Mehra is Commando Dhruva’s younger foster sister. She is a technological genius who adopted the costumed and blonde-wigged identity Chandika to fight crime without Dhruva or her parents worrying about her, since she keeps them ignorant of her alter ego. 

Powers: Chandika has invented and uses even more weapons and gadgets than Commando Dhruva does. Many of them are plot-specific or villain-specific so think of it that she can come up with tech to deal with any adversary or situation. In general they deal with projectiles, tracking or electrical shocks. She is also an expert computer hacker.   

VIRANGANI (Dragoness)

Secret Identity: Princess Visarpi

Debuted: 1990

Origin: This heroine was born with her powers. She is the warrior-princess daughter of the emperor of Serpent Island. Her romantic relationship with the superhero Nagraj prompted her to get involved in adventures beyond just safeguarding her father’s empire.

Powers: Virangani is far stronger than human, is very skilled at armed & unarmed combat and can transform her lower body into a long, thick serpentine shape. She also possesses telepathy and psychic danger senses.     

*** FOR MY REVIEW OF THE MOVIES ABOUT HUNTERWALI, INDIA’S FEMALE ZORRO, CLICK HERE. Indian superstar Fearless Nadia starred in the first Hunterwali film and several more followed.