Stills from 1943, Paradise Locked

The charismatic quacks of old Delhi, who sell potions promising miracles to the gullible, formed the central characters of Sarnath Banerjee's 2001 short animation film, Hakim Tartoosi's Potency Oil. But it is today, says the graphic novelist and artist, that the film has reached its final relevance. "It is a symbol of our time. Some of these charlatans have been legitimised in today's India. The general gullibility of people and lack of criticality are being utilised by those who are more charismatic than them. Flair is what matters," rues Banerjee, over a phone call from Berlin, where he is based.