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Traditional
Puppeteers - A vanishing tribe
Mrs.
S. Seethalakshmi Mr.
Ranganatha Rao
(Leather
Puppeteer) (String-rod
Puppeteer)
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Traditional
puppetry in India is a family occupation, which is followed
for several generations without any alternate means of livelihood.
In some regions / states, the puppet artists also work in
agricultural fields.
Being
a family tradition the children start practicing this art form at
an early age under the supervision of the head of the troupe who
is also the head of the family. Early initiation and training is very
important because of the lack of formal literacy knowledge. Thus great
skill is required not only in preparing and operating the puppets, but
also in memorizing the dialogues, which are sometimes in the form of
verses. These verses are taught through oral communication in the
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absence
of a written text. Due to the influence of modern communication media
like cinema,T.V. and video, many traditional puppeteers are slowly changing
into other occupations like making decorative utility articles like
lampshades, wall hangings, etc. from leather. Besides traditional puppeteers,
there are many individuals who have successfully taken contemporary
puppetry as a full time occupation.
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Mrs.
S. Seethalakshmi
(Leather
Puppeteer)
Ms.S.Seethalakshmi
who hails from
Andhra
Pradesh learnt the art from her
uncle,
Shri.M.V.Ramanamurthy, a well-
known
leather puppeteer. She has
staged shows and participated in
number of puppet festivals, workshops
and
seminars both at National and
International levels. She is presently working in the Central Leather
Research Institute (CLRI), as an artisan and instructor of the puppet
section. Besides, traditional leather puppet shows, she also occasionally
performs contemporary puppet shows on social issues. Her repertoire
includes stories from Ramayana, Mahabarata, Lord Ayyappa and also
from Panchatantra. She performs in temple festivals, birthday parties,
rotary and lions club functions, puppet festivals, etc. Ms.Seethalakshmi
is the receipt of several honours, medals, awards, etc. including
the coveted Kalaimamani award of the TamilNadu state Government in
1987.
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Mr.Ranganatha
Rao
(string-rod puppeteer)
Mr.Ranganatha
Rao, a world renowned puppeteer, received training in the
art
of traditional string-rod puppetry from his grandfather who was a
traditional puppeteer. He conceived new puppets with indigenous raw
material and resurrected plays of traditional repertoire. He
also devised
special kinds of puppets for use as visual aids in schools in
the rural
areas
of Karnataka. After teaching in secondary schools for over two decades,
Mr. Rao turned professional to devote all his time and energy
towards
the art and science of the rod puppet. Mr.Rao attended a number of
puppet festivals at the national and international levels. In recognition
of his contribution to rebuild this dying art form, he was awarded
the
Sangeet Natak Academy
National Award in 1981.
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