SHADOW PUPPETRY IN INDIA

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Shadow play, also known as shadow puppetry, is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment which uses flat articulated cut-out figures (shadow puppets) which are held between a source of light and a translucent screen or scrim. The cut-out shapes of the puppets sometimes include translucent color or other types of detailing. Various effects can be achieved by moving both the puppets and the light source. A talented puppeteer can make the figures appear to walk, dance, fight, nod and laugh.

This tradition of shadow puppets survives in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Though the shadow puppetry has distinct identity, languages and dialects in which they are performed, they share a common world view, aesthetics and themes.


👉The narratives are mainly based on the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata, Purans, local myths and tales.
        1. Togalu Gombeyatta – Karnataka

The shadow puppet art practiced in Karnataka is called Togalu Gombeyatta. The size of the puppets used is relatively small. The size of the puppets generally defines the social status of the character. Larger the size of the puppet, greater is the social status of the character. For example, large sized puppets are used for Kings and religious characters while smaller sized puppets for servants and common man.




              2.Tholu Bommalata – Andhra Pradesh

The shadow theatre of Andhra Pradesh, Tholu Bommalata is known for its strongest and richest tradition. The shoulders, wait, elbows and knees of the puppets are jointed and are coloured on both the sides. The size of the puppets is large. The themes for the show are usually drawn from the epics Mahabharata and Ramayana or from the Puranas. The background music for the theatre show is influenced by the classical music of the region.

                        3.Ravanachhaya – Odisha


The shadow puppet form practiced in Orissa, is the most theatrically exiting form of shadow puppetry prevalent in India. The puppets do not have joints and are in one single piece. They are not coloured on either sides, therefore opaque shadows are thrown on the screen. The manipulation and movements of puppets requires great dexterity as there are no joints. The puppets are conceived in bold dramatic poses and are made of Deer skin. Apart from human and animal character, various props such as mountains, trees, chariots, houses are also used. The puppets create very sensitive, lyrical shadows on the screen. The Ravanachayya puppets are not more than two feet tall and are relatively smaller.

 4. Chamdyacha Bhaulye – Maharashtra
Shadow Puppetry of Maharashtra
The shadow puppetry and play in Maharashtra is known as Chamdyacha Bhaulye meaning puppets made of leather. The tradition is almost on the verge of extinct and only one group of traditional Chamdyacha Bhaulye puppeteers has been located at Kundal Village in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. As does Ravanachhaya , chamdyacha Bhulye deals exclusively with the Rama legend and also have no jointed limbs and cast black and white shadows. Many puppets have group figures or a single characters with a highly stylized setting. The stage of Chamdyache Bhaulya looks like cubicle. Only one puppeteer squats inside the stage and manipulate the leather puppets arranged in order their presentation. On the left side of the stage , sitting in full view of the audience , the vocalist and the other musical accompanists and they sing the traditional text.

Conclusion

Shadow puppet play is also found in pictorial traditions in India, such as temple mural painting, loose-leaf folio paintings, and the narrative paintings.Dance forms such as the Chhau of Odisha literally mean shadow.The shadow theatre is usually performed on platform stages attached to Hindu Temple. The Shadow puppet plays communicate significant messages to the rural community besides entertainment. The performance begins with an invocation on a ritually set up stage in a village square or a temple courtyard. Shadow puppets performances are a part of festivals, celebration of special occasions and rituals, and sometimes staged to ward off evils sprits. Shadow theatre are dying slowly because people prefers “ modern entertainment” like movies and television.


Please do read my other blogposts, link below:⏬

ORIGIN OF PUPPETRY IN INDIA

DIFFERENT TYPES OF PUPPETS FOUND IN INDIA

THEMES OF PUPPETS SHOWS IN INDIA

FAMOUS PUPPETEERS IN INDIA.

ROLE OF PUPPETEER IN PUPPETRY SHOWS

KATHPUTLI-THE TRADITIONAL FOLK ART OF RAJASTHAN

PUTUL NAACH(DANCE):THE FOLK PUPPETRY OF WEST BENGAL

SHADOW PUPPETRY IN INDIA

ADVANTAGES OF PUPPETRY AS A MEDIUM FOR EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION

PUPPETRY AS MEDIUM FOR DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION

EXPLORING THE COMPLEX CHARACTER OF NOBITA NOBI IN DORAEMON

MY VISIT TO ALIPORE JAIL MUSEUM

EXPIRED DOMAIN ABUSE











Location: Kolkata, West Bengal, India

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