Indian Puppetry Art
Indian Puppetry Art is one of the ancient forms of entertainment, the suggestive element of the puppet controlled by the artist gives it a captivating experience, the animation of the exhibition and the low cost of production make it independent art popular. Its format renders the artist unobstructed in terms of form, design, colour, and dynamism, making it one of mankind’s simplest inventions.
Originating in Indian history or India
Indian Puppetry Art has long been a subject of interest in entertainment and academic India from abroad. Indian Puppetry Art containing sockets have been found from the excavation site of Har Mohenjodaro which revealed the presence of puppetry in a form.
Some references to puppet theatre have been found in the period around 500 BCE, written references to Indian Puppetry Art are also found in the Tamil texts Shilpa Adikara and Mahabharata preserved around the 1st and 2nd centuries BCE.
Additional Indian Puppetry Art as an art has had philosophical significance in Indian culture.
In the Bhagavad Gita, God is described as the facilitator of the puppet who controls the universe by the three sutras of Satya, Raja, and Tam. In Indian theatre, the narrator is also called the sutradhar or the holder of ‘sutras’.
The tradition of Indian Puppetry Art developed in different parts of the whole. Each puppet had its own distinct form. Stories adopted according to mythology, folklore and local legends Puppetry assimilated elements of painting, sculpture, music, dance and drama Created unique opportunity for artistic expression Lack of dedicated audience and financial security paved the way for the continued decline of this form of art in modern art.
There are seven types of Indian Puppetry Art
- Thread Puppet
- Kandhei
- Gombeyaata
- Bommalattam
- Shadow Puppets
- Rod puppets
- Tholu Bommalata
- Shadow Puppets
- Ravana Chhaya
Thread Puppet
Thread puppets or marionettes, the characteristics of thread puppets are as follows: Indian Puppetry Art are usually eight nine inches of miniature sculptures carved from wood.
Initially, oil paint is used for painting the wood and combining other facial features like eyes, lips, nose etc. Small wooden pipes are attached along the body to make the limbs. Miniature jewellery and other materials are attached to give a realistic sensation The thread is attached to the hand, the head is attached to the small hole in the back of the body. It is then controlled by the puppeteer.
Some popular examples of thread Indian Puppetry Art are:
The traditional formula of Rajasthan is known as puppetry, its name derives from ‘kath’ meaning wood and ‘putli’ meaning doll. The puppets are dressed in traditional bright Rajasthani dress. These are performed with dramatic folk music. A unique feature of puppets is the absence of legs. The thread is attached to the finger of the puppet performer.
Kandhei
Odisha’s formula puppets are known as kandhei They are made of light wood and wear long skirts. These Indian Puppetry Art have relatively joints. Thus, the puppeteer gets more flexibility, the threads are connected by a triangular base, the Khandei pupil is a notable influence of the ODC employer on performance
Gombeyata
It is a traditional Indian Puppetry Art performance of Karnataka, they are prepared and designed according to different characters of Yakshagana theatre, a unique feature of this puppet art is that more than one puppeteer is used to dance the puppet.
Bommalattam
Bommalattam is an indigenous puppet of a region in Tamil Nadu. It has a combination of rod and thread puppet characteristics. The threads are attached to the iron tread worn on the head by the puppet dancer.
These puppets are the largest and heaviest Indian Puppetry Art found in India. Some of them grow as high as four points five feet and weigh 10 kilograms. There are four distinct stages of Bommalattam theatre: Vinayaka Pooja Komali Amaan Attam, Pusenkanttam
Shadow Puppets
India has a rich tradition of shadow Indian Puppetry Art which is going on till now. Some of the features of shadow puppetry are as follows: Shadow puppetry or flat figures made by cutting out of leather. The figures on either side of the leather are painted uniformly.Puppets are placed on the screen with it. Light is shined from behind it which becomes a shadow on the screen. The shapes are moved as follows. The silhouette formed on a blank screen forms the image telling the story.
Some popular examples of shadow puppetry are as follows:
Togalu Gombeyaata
This is the popular shade theatre of Karnataka Togalu gombeyaata A unique feature of puppets is also found in the shape of puppets depending on the social status Kings and religious attractions are characterized by large puppets. Commoners and servant wheelers are shown by peak puppets.
Ravan Chhaya
This shade is the most dramatic in puppetry and is a popular entertainment disease in Odisha. This puppet is made of deer skin and depicts bold theatrical postures. So, it becomes a more complex art. Puppets are also used in the form of trees and animals; thus, Ravana Chhaya artists are highly trained in their art while creating lyrical and sensitive dramatic narratives.
Tholu Bommalata
It is the shadow theatre of Andhra Pradesh with performances and a background of classical music. And it revolves around the epic and mythological and devotional tales of pranas that the puppet is large in size and both colourful.
Glove Puppets
Glove puppets are also known as sleeve hands, or palm puppets It is a small figure with hands to the head wearing a long flying skirt as a dress. These are puppets made of cloth or wood, but some adaptations of paper puppets are also visible.
The puppeteer wears the puppet as gloves and dances the head with his index finger, both hands are moved using the thumb and middle fingers thereby giving life and expression to the basically inanimate puppet. Exhibition glubs with the rhythmic beat of drums or dholak are famous all-over.
The popular example of glove Indian Puppetry Art in India is as follows:
Paavakthu
It originated around the 18th century AD. These puppets are decorated with colourful scarves, feathers and face colours.This is the Kathakali dance style that is highly influenced in which the play is based on the stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Chad (Stick) Puppets
Chad Puppets Glove is a relatively large adaptation of puppets and controls the puppeteer from behind the screen by the stick itself India. Some popular examples of Chad puppets are as follows.
Yampuri
These are the traditional chad puppets of Bihar. The puppets are made of wood and do not have any joints. They are carved from a single piece of wood and then painted and decorated with bright colours.
Putul Nach
This is Bengal, Odisha, Assam, now the traditional moment of the region, the puppet certainty, in which the figures are usually three to four feet tall and dressed like the characters of the Jatra, they have three joints in common, at the waist and on the shoulders.
Each puppeteer is behind a high curtain, all of them control one puppet through a stick attached to their waist. The puppeteer moves around the back of the curtain and provides similar motion to the puppets. But there is a group of three to four musicians playing harmonium cymbals and tabla along with philosophy.
Conclusion
Indian puppetry art is a vibrant narrative medium that goes beyond simple entertainment thanks to its rich diversity and deep cultural roots. The values, folklore, and religious epics that have molded the country’s cultural consciousness are reflected in it, making it the essence of India’s oral traditions.
Every kind of puppetry, whether it’s the glove puppets of Kerala’s Pava Kathakali, the shadow puppets of Karnataka’s Togalu Gombeyaata, or the string puppets of Rajasthan’s Kathputli, provides a different window into the local way of life and creative expression.
In addition to being visually stunning, these artistic mediums are also effective educational and social commentary tools that frequently view modern issues through the prism of tradition.
Indian puppetry art has persevered in the face of competition from contemporary entertainment channels because of the hard work of artists and cultural aficionados who keep these ancient customs alive.
the art form is currently experiencing a renaissance, with initiatives underway to incorporate it into traditional tourism and education programs, guaranteeing its survival for upcoming generations. In summary,
Indian puppetry offers timeless wisdom and a strong sense of cultural identity, and it is more than just an artistic expression. It is a living legacy that bridges the past and present.