Leather Craft of Andhra Pradesh; CraftsBazaar

Leather puppets of Andhra are made from translucent goat skin are painted in bright colors and perforations are added and are used as shadow puppets. Vijayanagara rulers in 16th century were the main patrons of the leather puppet theatre or Tolubommalata and have since become a part of a cultural heritage. The artisans originally from Maharashtra migrated to Andhra Pradesh f during the Maratha rule and were working as fishermen and farmers. The popular themes were episodes form the epics from of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The puppetry show commences with the entry of Ganesha puppet whose blessings are sought for a smooth performance. The chariots and horses and jokers are introduced for an effective performance besides the main characters. A thin white cloth measuring 12 x 9 feet lit from the back with a bulb or oil lamp functions as a screen Both sides of the puppet which range from 3 to 6 feet are painted to enhance projection of the figure.