LEATHER PUPPETS
 DCPalli in Nellore
district, Nimmala Kunta in Anantapur district and Narasaraopet in Guntur district are the
main centers for leather puppets. Colorful puppets are made out of the flat raw hide of a
buffalo. The puppets, apart from being used for various regular puppet shows, are widely
used for presenting the folk theatre form "Tolubommalata". The hide of goat or
deer or any stiff parchment is used as a substitute to buffalo hide in this case.
The making of the puppets involves a long
process. Wet skin is first soaked in warm water and its inner side cleaned with a sharp
instrument. It is then placed on a gunny mat to prevent stiffening or wrinkling. Outline
of the figure is drawn with charcoal on it after bleaching and the different parts of the
figure are then hinged together as needed. The puppets are finally tinted with local
paints. Typical vegetable dyes were once used for the purpose.
 The most popular figures made include the heroes and villains from
mythology. Owing to the changing interests in the market support, the art has now
diversified into Lamp Shades in different shapes and sizes which has really picked-up well
in the market. |
