Andhra's leather puppetry enthralls

It is not every day that you get to see Andhra’s exotic leather puppet theatre Tholu Bommalata in Delhi. So, when one of the most celebrated Tholu Bommalata groups from Andhra – Chithrakari Theatre – performed in the city, puppetry lovers, especially expat Andhraiites, lapped up the opportunity. The Azad Bhavan auditorium at IP Estate was choc-a-bloc with audience as Chithrakari Theatre staged the Sundar kaand from Ramayan.

A simple, white fabric screen is illuminated by old-world halogen bulbs from behind. Then wafer-thin puppet characters made of leather are pressed against it to unveil the story. Hanuman meets lord Ram and learns about Sita’s abduction. Jambvant reminds Hanuman of his long-forgotten powers and finally, the monkey God sets upon a long journey to Lanka. On the way, he meets several demons like Sursa and Lankini but defeats each of them.

On reaching Ashok vatika, he sees Ravan threatening Sita to marry him. After the demon king leaves, Hanuman presents lord Ram’s ring to Sita and offers to carry her back, but Sita insists on her husband rescuing her. Mischievous Hanuman plunders Lanka but is caught and his tail set on fire. The mighty Hanuman, however, burns Lanka with the same fire and flies back to deliver the good news to Ram.

Each puppet has at least 14 movable joints and they are constantly exercised to reflect action. The puppets are vigorously tossed about, especially during fight scenes, making for a very enjoyable show. In the meanwhile, artistes give a befitting narration of shloka and dialogues, music through tabla and harmonium and special sound effects to create the ultimate folk puppet theatre. Even those who didn’t understand Telugu agreed that this is far more pleasurable than even a film.

The troupe head, Dalavai Kullayappa informs Metrolife, “There is a saying in our village that even if one has to travel for 90 km to see Tholu Bommalata, it is worth it. This form of theatre is practiced in three other States – Kerala, Orissa and Karnataka but the Andhra version is the most delightful due to the use of colourful leather puppets. Goat skin is treated, coloured and tiny perforations created to imitate jewellery. In the other States, Tholu Bommalata becomes merely shadow puppet theatre.”

Dalavai further says that as compared to popular perception, Tholu Bommalata did not originate in Andhra Pradesh but Maharashtra, “My family, traditional Tholu Bommalata practitioners, have been residing in Andhra for five generations but we still speak Marathi. As per my forefathers, we were original inhabitants of Maharashtra but on the orders of Shivaji Maharaj, came to South India to educate people about our epics and legends.”
Several centuries later, it is heartening to see that Tholu Bommalata continues to spread the magic of Mahabharat and Ramayan.