Puppetry of India

By Subashini. Pathmanathan

Several hundred years ago Puppetry originated in India as an entertainment art form. It derives its theme from various religious epics. It imparts, and cultivates various religious values and truths of religious philosophy. In earlier times the puppeteers move from place to place to earn their livelihood. Yet it is considered as a folk art.

Names of these puppet shows vary from region to region, and from place to place. For instance, in Andhra Pradesh, leather puppets were made, the theme or the story was depicted through the movements of these puppets. Some times the shadow of these puppets are allowed to fall on the back curtain. The manipulators manipulate the puppets through sticks. This type of puppetry is called Nillal Attam (shadow puppet show).At other cultural shows, the main theme of these shows are based on epics. These puppet shows take place in the nights. Andhra Pradesh is very popular for this shadow puppetry and yet certain communities preserve it. Similarly, another shadow puppet show was performed in the modern Kerala state, called Pavaikuthu of Malabar.

Puppetry performance

Earlier, this art was started for entertainment purpose, later it gained more popularity and recognition among the common masses. Originally, the puppets were made out of leather, that's why it was called Tholpavai Attam or Bomalattam. In Andhra Pradesh, it is called Tholu Bomalattam. Moreover, later the puppets were made out of various other materials such as cloth, wood, and paper pulp.

In Tamil Nadu the Bomalatta, puppets are manipulated through strings. This art form was very popular in the Tanjore district, and it originated during the period of Tanjore regime. Originally, mere platforms were used to display the art, but now, covered stages are used and manipulators stand closer to the stage to manipulate the puppets. Puppetry was originally performed in the royal courts in Tanjore of Tamil Nadu. Strings are tied to various limbs of the puppets and the strings manipulate the puppets even today.

Generally, the selected theme was explained, and revealed through dialogue, narration, and music. Different Indian states named the puppetry differently. In Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, it is called as Bomalattam. Earlier the puppeteers travelled to various places to earn their livelihood. Mainly they have these shows during the carnivals, temple festivals, and social functions.

In Rajasthan, this puppetry was called Kathputali. They also believed that their ancestors were responsible for the origin and development of Indian puppetry. Later they migrated to different states and wherever they migrated, they introduced this art form. Beautiful puppets are made with traditional touch. Earlier the rational theme of the story was the life history of one ruler king Amar Singh who ruled some hundred years ago. Later numerous techniques were introduced to keep the interest of the audience alive.

In Orissa state, the Odissi puppetry was based on the Radha and Krishna themes and Vaishnava cult. Earlier this art form was called, Sakhi and Kanchi Nat. Sometimes folklore or popular legends are also selected for this. The size shape and even the figure of the puppets differ from state to state.

The emotional facial expression of each character is not accurately portrayed in each puppet. According to the selective character, of each scene the puppets are made. Indian puppetry strove to maintain the traditional standards and traditional costumes.

In Bengal , it is strictly dedicated to goddess Kali and performed during the religious functions of the temples. Some of the puppetry were vested in the hands of a few classes or in the hands of certain communities, alone. A few puppet shows have gained popularity within a particular regional level alone due to various factors such as linguistic and cultural differences. Gulabo Puppets of Uthra Pradesh is one of the best examples.

To activate the puppets commonly the strings are used and modern technology is added to some extent to give effect to each scene according to the needs (by sounds, by colour lights). Due to the arrival of modern technological innovations like television, and video, and home video system, the old traditional art forms like puppetry have lost their vitality to some extent, and those who totally depended on this for their livelihood faced lot of difficulty for their survival. Yet at the village levels, it has some entertainment value.

Puppet shows have once again gained popularity through the television media. Now various social themes, and political based themes and lively subjects are taken for television puppet shows to impart certain ideas in the minds of the people. By seeing these television puppet shows, the present younger generation has an opportunity to gather some ideas about this old traditional folk art. In some of the television puppetry shows the puppets are activated through modern remote control equipments.

Like other Indian art forms, the Indian puppetry has its influence in the South East Asian region, mainly in Java and Bali. Wayang Golek is one of the popular puppet shows of this region. Ramayana and Mahabharata are some of the themes of these puppet shows.