![]() ![]() Bommalattam was patronized by several kings, especially in the court of Thanjavur. Bommalattam is actually a mixture of rod and string puppetry. All the strings are connected to a band, that is worn as a crown by the puppeteer. These are the largest and heaviest puppets used among all the forms. It has been mentioned in the ancient texts of Thirukkural.īommalattam puppets here are around four feet high. It is believed to have a history of more than four thousand years. This Indian puppetry form is native to Tamil Nadu and employs the techniques of rod and string puppets. Bommalattamīommalattam means ‘the dance of the dolls’. A single musician accompanies the group and he sings as well as plays an instrument. There are interludes that are comic or religious in nature with appearances of Lord Ganesha or Goddess Saraswathi. Most of the Kalasutri Bahulya performances include scenes from the Ramayana. The puppets are small but elaborately decorated with huge headdresses, ornaments, and attire. The puppeteers were originally migrants from Gujarat and Rajasthan. The Kalasutri Bahulya puppetry form belongs to Maharashtra. Each show has a duration of around thirty minutes. The narration is in Bengali and for performances outside Bengal, they include Hindi songs as well. Tarer Putul Nach act is accompanied by musical instruments like flute, gongs, harmonium, and cymbals. ![]() Jatra is the musical and folk theatre of Bengal.Įach puppet has six strings while a special acrobatic puppet called Bhanumathi requires eighteen strings. Their clothing bears resemblance to that of the Jatra actors. The Tarer Putul Nach puppets are around forty centimeters high. This puppetry is the traditional puppet theatre of West Bengal wherein the puppeteers travel in large groups similar to a circus. Yakshagana Gombeyata is highly reflective of the culture and folklore of the native people. The story is narrated through a song sung by the vocalist according to which the puppeteers manipulate the strings. Most of the acts are derived from the Mahabharata. They made of light wood, and are adorned with rich fabrics, sparkling headdresses, and jewelry. The Yakshagana puppets are generally eighteen inches. The puppets are dressed in the same fashion as that of the real-life Yakshagana actors. The puppetry division of Yakshagana is called Yakshagana Gombeyata and was widely practiced and popular in the coastal region of Karnataka. Yakshagana is the ancient theatre form that is native to Karnataka. Along with acts from popular mythology, Kathputli mainly narrates the stories of Rajputs and is accompanied by dramatic music. No event in Rajasthan, be it a festival, a fair or public gathering is complete without an act of Kathputli. There are references for this form of puppetry that can be traced back around a thousand years ago. ![]() ![]() It is held by a metal string from the top of its body. The clothes are reflective of the traditional Rajasthani attire. All the puppets used are completely made from wood and dressed in cotton clothes. Kathputli in Rajasthani means a wooden doll. The most popular and predominant form of Indian puppetry is Kathputli which is native to Rajasthan. These string puppets are popular throughout the country, with each region having its own version. String puppets are usually made of lightweight materials like wood. The number of strings usually varies with each version. While some puppets require only three strings, some may require up to twenty strings. These puppets are commonly known as marionettes and as the name signifies, the puppets are held and manipulated by strings. A brief description of these four types along with important puppetry styles is given below. There are four major forms of puppetry in India- string puppetry, rod puppetry, shadow puppetry, and glove puppetry. They move along with their family to different places, performing their art. From a young age, the children act as apprentices to the family elders and learn the art. Like most occupations in ancient times, puppetry was also a family tradition. However, some Pan Indian groups use Hindi or Sanskrit. Each Indian region has its own version of puppetry and hence they follow the respective regional language while narration. Sometimes they might be of current issues, moral values, or comedies. The core themes found in any form of Indian puppetry revolve around the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas just like other major art forms like dance or music. ![]()
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