What do you think?
Rate this book
Absolute Jafar
Brighu is getting older. Badminton has replaced judo, irritation has replaced anger, metabolism has slowed down. Yet some things the inability to take a cab, anxieties about the digital universe, and panic for the future. So Brighu walks. Unceasingly, through known and unknown terrains, with the pointlessness of a detective without a case.
An Indo-Pak romance withstands years of toxic nationalism between two hostile countries, only to unravel in a third, foreign land. Jafar, born of that romance, inherits a history he has no control over. As he grows up in Berlin, his father, Brighu, desperate to hold on to the fantasies of a fading home, tells him bedtime of sultans and jinns, of street food and eccentric cousins, of Delhi, Calcutta and Karachi.
Set in a world where bureaucracies and borders shape human relationships, Sarnath Banerjee's Absolute Jafar is a poignant meditation on belonging and becoming. Perhaps the author's most personal work yet, it is a bittersweet rhapsody, rich in humanity, wit and imagination.
An Indo-Pak romance withstands years of toxic nationalism between two hostile countries, only to unravel in a third, foreign land. Jafar, born of that romance, inherits a history he has no control over. As he grows up in Berlin, his father, Brighu, desperate to hold on to the fantasies of a fading home, tells him bedtime of sultans and jinns, of street food and eccentric cousins, of Delhi, Calcutta and Karachi.
Set in a world where bureaucracies and borders shape human relationships, Sarnath Banerjee's Absolute Jafar is a poignant meditation on belonging and becoming. Perhaps the author's most personal work yet, it is a bittersweet rhapsody, rich in humanity, wit and imagination.
- GenresGraphic Novels
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2026
6 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Sarnath Banerjee
10 books54 followersSarnath Banerjee (born 1972) is an Indian graphic novelist, artist, and film maker and a co-founder of the comics publishing house, Phantomville.
(from Wikipedia)
(from Wikipedia)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 7, 2026
A man named Brighu (yes, not Bhrigu. Brighu, because some clerk messed up his birth certificate). Brighu, fond of walking; Brighu, who lives in Delhi and falls in love with Mahrukh, who’s visiting the city. Mahrukh loves Brighu back, but there’s a glitch: Mahrukh is Pakistani, and Brighu, of course, is Indian. And neither of them is really welcomed by the other’s government, at any rate, for any length of time; so what do they do? Where do they go?
Absolute Jafar is a whimsical graphic novel, meandering through a range of cities and countries: Delhi and Karachi, Chicago, Tokyo, Berlin, London… Brighu walks, seeing sights up close, experiencing places, meeting interesting characters, forming bonds that last, sometimes years. There are helpful taxi drivers here, and enterprising lawyers who will whip up an affidavit for any conceivable purpose; friends and relatives, people who couldn’t care less and people who care deeply. There is Jafar, too, Brighu and Mahraukh’s son, and his relationship with his father.
The story here is a simple one of a man’s emotional connections with not just people, but with places, especially highlighting what the German call heimat: a sense of home, both comprising homesickness as well as an understanding of where one’s home truly is. The small things that make up one’s sense of home and of familiarity come through in a subtle sort of way: through, mostly, what’s happening in the backdrop by Brighu walks. Salwar-clad women exercise in an outdoor gym; on a German beach, a plump couple disrobes; people rush by on a busy Tokyo street.
There is so much happening here. Insights into history (Aurangzeb, Mir Jafar). Into the tension between India and Pakistan. The corruption in the Indian bureaucracy: all of these, and more, form the backdrop to Brighu’s life. And yet, not very much happens, really. It is, as I said, a simple story, but richly told, with lots of delightful, often quirky vignettes and observations all along the way.
An enjoyable, thoughtful combination of words, images, and thought. If you like graphic novels, don’t miss this one.
Absolute Jafar is a whimsical graphic novel, meandering through a range of cities and countries: Delhi and Karachi, Chicago, Tokyo, Berlin, London… Brighu walks, seeing sights up close, experiencing places, meeting interesting characters, forming bonds that last, sometimes years. There are helpful taxi drivers here, and enterprising lawyers who will whip up an affidavit for any conceivable purpose; friends and relatives, people who couldn’t care less and people who care deeply. There is Jafar, too, Brighu and Mahraukh’s son, and his relationship with his father.
The story here is a simple one of a man’s emotional connections with not just people, but with places, especially highlighting what the German call heimat: a sense of home, both comprising homesickness as well as an understanding of where one’s home truly is. The small things that make up one’s sense of home and of familiarity come through in a subtle sort of way: through, mostly, what’s happening in the backdrop by Brighu walks. Salwar-clad women exercise in an outdoor gym; on a German beach, a plump couple disrobes; people rush by on a busy Tokyo street.
There is so much happening here. Insights into history (Aurangzeb, Mir Jafar). Into the tension between India and Pakistan. The corruption in the Indian bureaucracy: all of these, and more, form the backdrop to Brighu’s life. And yet, not very much happens, really. It is, as I said, a simple story, but richly told, with lots of delightful, often quirky vignettes and observations all along the way.
An enjoyable, thoughtful combination of words, images, and thought. If you like graphic novels, don’t miss this one.
February 18, 2026
I just finished Absolute Jafar and it is such a vibe. Sarnath Banerjee has this way of making you feel like you are just walking around Berlin or Delhi with him. It is a graphic novel but it honestly feels more like a long talk with an old friend over several cups of tea.
The story is about a dad named Brighu who is living in Germany but his heart is still back in India and Pakistan. He is trying to explain his complicated life to his young son Jafar. Because Jafar is growing up in a totally different world Brighu tells him these wild bedtime stories about ancient kings and weird relatives to help him understand where he comes from.
It covers everything from an Indo-Pak romance trying to survive in a new city to the simple struggle of getting older and feeling tired. It is a beautiful look at how we try to hold onto our roots when we are far from home.
If you have ever felt a bit out of place or wondered how to tell your own family story this book is for you. The art is messy and real and the humor is so sharp. It is easily a five star read for me.
The story is about a dad named Brighu who is living in Germany but his heart is still back in India and Pakistan. He is trying to explain his complicated life to his young son Jafar. Because Jafar is growing up in a totally different world Brighu tells him these wild bedtime stories about ancient kings and weird relatives to help him understand where he comes from.
It covers everything from an Indo-Pak romance trying to survive in a new city to the simple struggle of getting older and feeling tired. It is a beautiful look at how we try to hold onto our roots when we are far from home.
If you have ever felt a bit out of place or wondered how to tell your own family story this book is for you. The art is messy and real and the humor is so sharp. It is easily a five star read for me.
February 19, 2026
Art is political. And Sarnath's latest, also perhaps his best yet and one of the best graphic novels to ever come out of India, shows that the political is also often personal.
February 4, 2026
Absolute Jafar by Sarnath Banerjee
Absolute Jafar is not an easy book, but it is a meaningful one. It made me realise and to think many times while reading, not because it was confusing, but because it carries layers of people, places, memories, and unanswered questions. This book feels less like a story and more like a reflection on life, identity, and where we belong.
The book revolves around Brighu and his son Jafar. Through them, author talks about growing older, carrying the past, and raising a child in a world divided by borders and politics. Jafar’s life is shaped by an Indo-Pak history he did not choose, and that itself becomes the heart of the book. His existence quietly questions ideas of nationality, home, and inheritance.
What I loved is how the book moves between cities, memories, and thoughts. Delhi, Calcutta, Karachi, and Berlin appear like emotional spaces rather than locations. The illustrations add depth without explaining too much. They allow the reader to feel instead of being told what to feel.
This book also speaks about loneliness, masculinity, ageing, and the pressure of modern life. Brighu’s thoughts feel raw and real, especially his fear of becoming irrelevant in a fast-changing world. Jafar, on the other hand, represents a generation that lives between cultures, carrying mixed identities and silent questions.
This book is not meant to entertain , It is meant to stay with you. It asks you to think about family, history, and the stories we pass on knowingly or unknowingly. It is a thoughtful, artistic book that rewards emotional attention.
If you enjoy books that make you reflect , this one deserves a place on your shelf. It's absolutely gorgeous.
Absolute Jafar is not an easy book, but it is a meaningful one. It made me realise and to think many times while reading, not because it was confusing, but because it carries layers of people, places, memories, and unanswered questions. This book feels less like a story and more like a reflection on life, identity, and where we belong.
The book revolves around Brighu and his son Jafar. Through them, author talks about growing older, carrying the past, and raising a child in a world divided by borders and politics. Jafar’s life is shaped by an Indo-Pak history he did not choose, and that itself becomes the heart of the book. His existence quietly questions ideas of nationality, home, and inheritance.
What I loved is how the book moves between cities, memories, and thoughts. Delhi, Calcutta, Karachi, and Berlin appear like emotional spaces rather than locations. The illustrations add depth without explaining too much. They allow the reader to feel instead of being told what to feel.
This book also speaks about loneliness, masculinity, ageing, and the pressure of modern life. Brighu’s thoughts feel raw and real, especially his fear of becoming irrelevant in a fast-changing world. Jafar, on the other hand, represents a generation that lives between cultures, carrying mixed identities and silent questions.
This book is not meant to entertain , It is meant to stay with you. It asks you to think about family, history, and the stories we pass on knowingly or unknowingly. It is a thoughtful, artistic book that rewards emotional attention.
If you enjoy books that make you reflect , this one deserves a place on your shelf. It's absolutely gorgeous.
February 6, 2026
“Remembering is important for me. It is true that photographs give visual information, but they don't give me a fuller sense of the moment. It is what happens outside a photograph that matters to me.”
— Sarnath Banerjee, Absolute Jafar
The story portrays the life and times of Arvind Desai by comparing and contrasting it with the lifestyle of the author's alter-ego, Brighu. Desai was a true-blue walker, usually stepping out of his home to visit hotels, bars, and railway stations. The sights and sounds that greeted him along the way seemed to narrate stories he had learned to read without words.
“Apart from that, walking is usually pleasurable, unless you belong to certain castes, races, or religions.”
This quote is illustrated with a powerful example of a police officer rounding up a man solely because of his religion. The dry humour woven into the plot serves as a potent reminder of how satire can make the loudest noise.
The panels are meticulously drawn, providing a layered representation of the text while also reflecting the characters’ moods. Monochrome sketches depict melancholy, whereas colored ones offer a ray of hope, hinting at the easing of Indo-Pak tensions. The narrative spans Delhi, Calcutta, Berlin, and Karachi—regions that act as poignant plot devices and reservoirs of memory. The way bureaucracy and internal politics shaped Mahrukh's and Brighu's tender romance filled me with pangs of pain.
In a world plagued by wars, threats to freedom of expression, and climate change, Sarnath Banerjee's novel unquestionably deserves a re-read.
February 12, 2026
Sarnath Banerjee's Absolute Jafar is an "absolute treat". I had no idea what I going to explore apart from melancholy that I could surmise from the blurb. This stunning picture book is about Brighu, who loves walking. He falls in love with Mahrukh who is a Pakistani citizen and the couple decide to get married and live together. Moving homes and countries. There's Jafar, their son who inherits their history and grows up in two homes in a country that's a home chosen by his parents. Heimat, the German term for home is explored, rather felt through these sketches and drawings.
Absolute Jafar feels like a book of memories. Some sequential some absurdly remembered and placed. Memories that evoke love, joy, sorrow and a thrill to start afresh, explore the unknown along with fears of uncertainty. Through mere words and pictures it portrays the struggles of a couple trying to cope with bureaucracies, while trying to make it all work.
Immensely enjoyable and brilliantly portrayed. This book is a collectible, that can be explored repeatedly and enjoyed everytime.
Absolute Jafar feels like a book of memories. Some sequential some absurdly remembered and placed. Memories that evoke love, joy, sorrow and a thrill to start afresh, explore the unknown along with fears of uncertainty. Through mere words and pictures it portrays the struggles of a couple trying to cope with bureaucracies, while trying to make it all work.
Immensely enjoyable and brilliantly portrayed. This book is a collectible, that can be explored repeatedly and enjoyed everytime.
February 15, 2026
A chance pick-up of Absolute Jafar, and suddenly I'm hooked on Sarnath Banerjee's universe. I've only just discovered his works, but I really want to read his other books really soon. This graphic novel is pure magic, blending sharp satire with soulful moments.
Banerjee's artwork is extraordinary, thought-provoking brilliance at its finest. His pages burst with meticulous inkwork, full of twisted architecture echoing colonial ghosts and expressive faces dripping with sly humor. It's like wandering a bustling Indian bazaar where every stall hides a political punchline. The story weaves a beautiful tapestry of absurdity and heart, blending political farce with everyday human folly in a way that's equal parts hilarious and haunting.
The story is beautifully layered and extremely clever. The characters are utterly endearing! Banerjee breathes such vivid life into them, making their triumphs and follies hit right in the feels. For anyone dipping into Indian graphic novels, Absolute Jafar is an absolute must.
Banerjee's artwork is extraordinary, thought-provoking brilliance at its finest. His pages burst with meticulous inkwork, full of twisted architecture echoing colonial ghosts and expressive faces dripping with sly humor. It's like wandering a bustling Indian bazaar where every stall hides a political punchline. The story weaves a beautiful tapestry of absurdity and heart, blending political farce with everyday human folly in a way that's equal parts hilarious and haunting.
The story is beautifully layered and extremely clever. The characters are utterly endearing! Banerjee breathes such vivid life into them, making their triumphs and follies hit right in the feels. For anyone dipping into Indian graphic novels, Absolute Jafar is an absolute must.
February 19, 2026
Absolute Jafar is a reflective graphic novel that quietly exposes how politics enters personal lives.
At its center are Brighu and his son Jafar. This book explores how private existence is shaped by public politics through their lives.
The way this book shifts between cities feels effortless. It's like turning pages in someone's diary. The tone of the book is quietly satirical, respecting the reader's intelligence.
The illustrations do all the emotional lifting. The monochrome panel creates heavenliness, and the color appears almost like emotional relief. The art never overexplains and leaves room for interpretation.
In essence, this graphic novel feels like standing in a city where borders exist on paper but also inside the people. It offers quiet reflection.
At its center are Brighu and his son Jafar. This book explores how private existence is shaped by public politics through their lives.
The way this book shifts between cities feels effortless. It's like turning pages in someone's diary. The tone of the book is quietly satirical, respecting the reader's intelligence.
The illustrations do all the emotional lifting. The monochrome panel creates heavenliness, and the color appears almost like emotional relief. The art never overexplains and leaves room for interpretation.
In essence, this graphic novel feels like standing in a city where borders exist on paper but also inside the people. It offers quiet reflection.
February 10, 2026
Discovered this book in an airport bookstore and picked it up on a whim. The book turned out to be whimsical, randomly put together in a way that makes sense. Intrusive thoughts come to life? It's part travelogue, part history, part pop culture all told through the story of Brighu, Mahrukh and Jafar by way of these insane sketches. I've gotten into the habit of reading one graphic novel a year. I'm glad I picked this one up for 2026
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews