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Puppetry is an ancient art form in India, blending storytelling, performance, and craft. This article celebrates the contributions of four renowned Indian puppeteers—Suresh Dutta, Ranganatha Rao, Dadi Pudumjee, and Ramdas Pandhye. These masters have not only preserved traditional puppetry but have also introduced innovative techniques, bringing the magic of puppetry to global audiences. Discover their remarkable journeys, achievements, and the unique styles that define their legacy in Indian puppetry.

The genesis of puppetry in India lies in folk theatre. The term Sutradhar , or puppeteers, commonly used in traditional theatre, refers to the narrator and literally means "holder of the strings." Puppeteers bring inanimate objects to life, making them perform and interpret scripts with the same degree of integrity as actors. They work with a variety of different puppets, and some puppeteers even make their own. Producing a puppet play can place enormous demands on the puppeteer, who must cope with poor physical conditions, such as working in unusual positions on, under, or above the set, while also operating a variety of puppets. They must deliver scripted dialogue in character while managing often unwieldy puppets.

Themes in Indian Puppetry Puppetry is the mother of folk theatre. For ages, puppetry has been one of the most popular sources of entertainment in India. Puppet shows are viewed and liked equally by children and adults, providing mirth to both. India, with its rich history of creativity, has slowly become renowned in the timeline of Indian 'natya' with the emergence of puppetry as a typical visual art form. In Indian puppet shows, dolls come alive, simulating life and reality while giving meaning to the creator’s ideology. It is one of the most sophisticated enactments with boundless possibilities for creative revolution.

India, as the homeland of puppetry, has four traditional types of puppets. These traditional puppets derive their repertoire, costumes, and music from the folk theatre of their respective regions. The presentation of puppet shows involves the creative collaboration of many individuals. The types of puppets are differentiated based on the various methods used to manipulate them.