Puppetry has been one of the most ancient forms of entertainment in the Indian subcontinent. With passing of time, several forms and versions of puppetry evolved and were mainly communicators of Hindu mythology and moral values. However, they have been fading given the current digital generation.
Lack of coordination
Slow and tedious dispensation of government grants is proving to be a stumbling block in the revival of puppetry, says puppeteer Anurupa Roy. Roy says despite the government's support, puppeteers, especially in rural areas, have been struggling to keep the art form alive. "The government has fantastic provisions as well as revenues for the art form through Ministry of Culture's Sangeet Natak Akademi. They fund it on different levels like that of production, training, building spaces, and research. "But the lack of coordination in dispensation of these funds has led to several problems. The government needs to be more aware of what are the needs of puppeteers on ground," says Roy.
Having worked extensively with the traditional artists, she, however, says the art form was not dying. “Lack of research in puppetry is what forces us to call it a dying form of art. Only thorough research can help reveal the actual situation on ground. It is a vibrant form of practising art in states like Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. The artistes there are rewarded with food, money, and several other essentials.They earn their living from this art," Roy says.
Lack of knowledge and language limitation are among other major barriers preventing the uplift of traditional puppeteers, notes Shobha Saxena, consultant of puppetry at the Sangeet Natak Akademi. "There are not many traditional puppeteers left in our country. And the ones in states like Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura refuse to come and perform in New Delhi," Saxena says.
She also mentions that the traditional artistes are also affected by a rising number of individuals who pursue puppetry solely as a passion, while earning their livelihoods from regular jobs. While puppeteer Puran Bhaat admits that the community is offered support by organisations like Sangeet Natak Akademi, he says their major grievances lie in the fact that its impact remains limited to certain individuals.
Types of puppets
String puppets: String puppets or marionettes, can be made of different materials such as wood and terracotta; they are tri-dimensional and are moved through strings attached to the head and limbs. The number of strings can vary according to the tradition. Marionettes are widespread in India from North to South, celebrated traditions are reported from Rajasthan, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana .
Rod puppets: Rod puppetry was traditionally practiced in Eastern India (Odisha and Bengal), besides the mixed string-cum-rod bommalattam puppets from Tamil Nadu. Rod puppets are manipulated from below, with one or multiple sticks of different size.
Glove puppets: In glove puppetry the puppeteer operate from below slipping his hand in the puppet; usually the forefinger operates the head, while the thumb and third finger move the hands. Also known as hand puppets, glove puppets are widespread in Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Shadow puppets: Shadow puppetry is widespread in South India, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
