iv. Shadow Puppetry

UPSC Full Course [English]

About Lesson

Shadow puppetry has a long history in India and has been handed down through the generations.
Flat figures made of leather are used as shadow puppets.
The miniatures are painted identically on both sides of the leather.
On a white screen, puppets are positioned, and light is flashed on them from behind to cast a shadow.
The figurines are altered such that the silhouettes they produce on the white screen tell a compelling story.
Shadow puppet tradition is still prevalent in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Odisha. a few well-known examples of shadow puppetry are-

Togalu Gombeyatta	It is the renowned shadow theatre of Karnataka. A distinctive feature of Togalu Gombayetta puppets is the variation in puppet size based on social rank, with enormous puppets portraying monarchs and religious leaders and smaller puppets representing the underprivileged and slaves.
Ravanchhaya	This style of shadow puppetry is the most dramatic, and it’s very well-liked in Odisha. The puppets made of deer skin are posed in dramatic and bold. Since they don’t have any joints, learning this art is very challenging. It is common to employ puppets that are not human, such trees and animals. Because they have acquired in-depth instruction in their field, the Ravanchhaya artists are able to produce poetic and delicate theatrical narratives.
Tholu Bommalata	It is the shadow theatre of Andhra Pradesh. With a classical musical background, the presentation focuses on legendary and holy stories from the Epics and Puranas. The puppets have different colours on both sides and are larger.