The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Puppet show enthrals

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Sunday, Jan 23, 2011
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Puppet show enthrals

Staff Reporter

— Photo: C. V. SUBRAHMANYAM

Leather puppets displayed on a screen during a demonstration organised by SPIC MACAY in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.

VISAKHAPATNAM: Students of L.B. College of Engineering had a unique experience watching ‘Tholu bommalata' (leather puppet show) presented by SPIC MACAY (Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth) at their college on Saturday.

The traditional artistes – Kumara Tiripalu, Kale Srihari, Kumara Pullayya, Kale Chinna Pullayya and Kumara Ranga Rao (men) and Kumara Ammani, K. Vasundharamma and Kale Dhanalakshmi (women) – presented ‘Sundarakanda' from ‘The Ramayana'. The colourful puppets dancing on the screen caught the imagination of the students.

The craft of leather puppets originated in Nimmalakunta village in Andhra Pradesh. It was a popular form of entertainment in the olden days not only to the people of villages but also those from towns and cities. The patronage of the art has declined after the advent of television. Holes are made on the leather puppets and a thin bamboo stick is attached to them so that they remain straight. Strings are attached to the various joints of the leather puppets to facilitate controlling of their movements.

A white screen (cloth) is hung across the stage and the puppets are made to dance by the puppeteers, who stand behind the screen. Beautiful designs are drawn on the light brown coloured leather.

Earlier, college Principal Sambi Reddy welcomed the gathering.

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