PUPPETRY OF INDIA Flashcards
KATHPUTLI (Rajasthan)
z Kathputli derives its name from ‘kath’ meaning wood, and ‘putli’ meaning doll.
z Carved from a single piece of wood, these puppets are like large dolls that are colourfully dressed in medieval
Rajasthani-style outfits.
z These puppets wear long trailing skirts and do not have legs
z Distinct facial features include Oval faces, large eyes, arched eyebrows and large lips
z The Kathputli is accompanied by highly dramatised regional mus
KUNDHEI (Odisha)
z Made of light wood, the Odisha puppets have no legs but wear long flowing skirts.
z They have more joints and are, therefore, more versatile, articulate and easy to manipulate.
z The puppeteers often hold a wooden prop, triangular in shape, to which strings are attached for manipulation.
z The costumes resemble those worn by actors of the Jatra traditional theatre.
z The accompanying music is regional and often inspired by Odissi.
GOMBEYATTA (Karnataka)
z The Gombeyatta puppet figures are highly stylized and have joints at the legs, shoulders, elbows, hips and
knees. They are manipulated by five to seven strings tied to a prop.
z They are styled and designed like the characters of Yakshagana, the traditional theatre form of the region.
Episodes are based on the Prasangas of the Yakshagana plays.
z Some of the more complicated movements of the puppet are manipulated by two to three puppeteers at a time
BOMMALATTAM (Tamil Nadu)
z The Bommalattam puppets are the largest, heaviest, and most articulate of all traditional Indian marionettes,
up to 4.5 feet tall and weighing up to 10kgs.
z Bommalattam combines the techniques of both rod and string puppets.
z They are made of wood, and the strings for manipulation are tied to an iron ring which the puppete
TOGALU GOMBEYATTA (Karnataka)
z Togalu Gombeyatta puppets are mostly small in size.
z A unique feature of the Togalu Gombayetta puppets is the variation of puppet size based on social status, for
instance, large sizes for kings and religious characters and smaller sizes for common people or servants.
THOLU BOMMALATA (Andhra Pradesh)
z Tholu Bommalata puppets are large in size and have jointed waists, shoulders, elbows and knees.
z They are coloured on both sides. Hence, these puppets throw coloured shadows on the screen.
z The music is influenced by regional classical music, while the puppet play themes are drawn from Ramayana,
Mahabharata and Puranas.
RAVANACHHAYA (Odisha)
z Ravanachhaya puppets are in one piece and have no joints. Thus, the manipulation requires great dexterity.
z The puppets are made of deer skin and are conceived in bold dramatic poses.
z Although smaller in size (<2feet), Ravanchaya puppets create very sensitive and lyrical shadows.
z They are not coloured, hence throw opaque shadows on the screen.
z Props such as trees, mountains, chariots, etc. are also used along with human figures.
PUTUL NAUTCH (West Bengal)
z The Bengal rod puppets are about 3 to 4 feet in height. They are carved from wood and follow the various
artistic styles of a particular region.
z The music, costume and verbal text closely follow the Jatra theatre style. In the Nadia district of West Bengal,
rod puppets used to be of human size like the Bunraku puppets of Japan. This form is now almost extinct.
z These puppets have mostly three joints. The heads, supported by the main rod, are joined at the neck, and both
hands attached to rods are joined at the shoulders.
z A bamboo-made hub is tied firmly to the waist of the puppeteer on which the rod holding the puppet is placed.
z The singing puppeteer is accompanied by a group of musicians with a drum, harmonium and cymbals.
PUTUL NAUTCH (West Bengal)
z The Bengal rod puppets are about 3 to 4 feet in height. They are carved from wood and follow the various
artistic styles of a particular region.
z The music, costume and verbal text closely follow the Jatra theatre style. In the Nadia district of West Bengal,
rod puppets used to be of human size like the Bunraku puppets of Japan. This form is now almost extinct.
z These puppets have mostly three joints. The heads, supported by the main rod, are joined at the neck, and both
hands attached to rods are joined at the shoulders.
z A bamboo-made hub is tied firmly to the waist of the puppeteer on which the rod holding the puppet is placed.
z The singing puppeteer is accompanied by a group of musicians with a drum, harmonium and cymbals.
YAMPURI (Bihar):
Unlike the traditional Rod puppets of West Bengal and Orissa, these puppets are in one piece and
have no joint, thus requiring greater dexterity.
ORISSA ROD PUPPETS:
These are much smaller in size. Thus elements of rod and string puppets are combined in
this form of puppetry
