iii. String Puppet

UPSC Full Course [English]

About Lesson

In Indian tradition, string puppets are commonly known as marionettes.
These puppets are usually carved from wood, with a typical size ranging from eight to nine inches in length.
The wooden figures are painted with oil paint to add color and enhance their facial features, including the eyes, mouth, nose, and other distinct traits.
Little wooden pipes are connected to the body to create the limbs.
The body is then stitched together and covered in brightly coloured little clothing.
To make it look more lifelike, tiny diamonds and other decorations have been added.
The strings that are tied to tiny holes in the hands, head and back of the body are moved by the puppeteer.
Either leg, arm, and shoulder, as well as the lower back and each side of the head, are connected by strings. A hand controller in the form of the letters H or X is attached to the strings. In other instances, additional strings are connected to various parts of the marionette’s body.

The most prominent examples of string puppets are:

Kundhei	Kundhei is the name of the string puppets of Odisha. They are made of light wood, and their skirts are long. The puppeteer can move around with more ease because the puppets have more joints. The strings are held together by a triangular prop. The Odissi dance is prominently featured in Kundhei puppet shows.
Kathputli	Kathputli, a traditional string puppet from Rajasthan, derives its name from the Hindi terms for wood and doll, respectively, “Kath” and “putli. The puppets wear colourful traditional Rajasthani clothing. The presentation is accompanied by a dramatic folk music score, and the puppeteer’s finger is attached to the strings. The absence of legs on the puppets is a defining characteristic.
Bommalattam	Puppetry called “bommalattam” has its roots in Tamil Nadu. It combines elements of rod puppetry and string puppetry. The puppeteer wears an iron ring on his head that is attached to the strings. With some standing up to 4.5 feet tall and weighing up to 10 kilogrammes, the Bommalattam puppets are the biggest and heaviest marionettes in India. The four distinctive stages of the Bommalattam theatre are Vinayak Puja, Komali, Amanattam, and Pusenkanattam.
Gombeyatta	It is a traditional puppet show from Karnataka. They are modelled after the many characters from the Yakshagana Theatres. One noteworthy feature of this puppet is the use of more than one puppeteer to control the puppets.