(The above picture of a leather puppet was shot in DhakshinChitra, Chennai, India. The old world charm is brought alive in this place with representations of all art forms)

Shadows are myterious and they trigger and magnify imagination. There cannot be anyone who has not enjoyed watching shadows in childhood. Shadows as a medium to dramatise stories was the first step taken towards making movies. Shadow plays with hands and objects created a more defined art form, the shadow puppet show. Shadow plays have not been given up and it is practised with astounding skill  by some.

The shadow puppet show is an interesting art form in India. It has evovled independently in every state and stories with  religous and historical  themes is presented by the artists. In South India, it is called as the ‘Tholu Bommalattam’, which means ‘Leather Puppet Show.’ The puppets are made of leather, processed for a few days, made very thin and translucent. The leather is perforated in some states and not perforated in others. The leather of animals like goat and deer are used depending on their availability.

The show is normally performed in the open with tightly stretched white cotton cloth between bamboo poles, serving as screen. The light source is kept behind the screen. In the old times, oil lamps were used and with the advent of electric bulbs, they have taken the place of the oil lamps. Behind the screen are eight to ten artists with musical instruments, mostly harmonium, cymbals and drums.

The puppets are made with joints at their necks, shoulders, elbows and knees. The puppets which are made to dance, have their hands, feet and waist made movable with joints. The puppeteers manipulate them with thin bamboo sticks and leather strings attached to them. Only profile of the puppets are dipicted and perforation for eyes of the character shows bright white in the shadow figure. Ornaments are also made by perforations. Vegetable dyes were used in those days to colour the puppets bright. Nowadays other kinds of dyes are also used. The shadows of the puppets appear colourful on the screen. In some states black and white shadows are presented. Apart from human forms, demons, spirits, animals, plants and trees are also made for the shows. Arms and ammunition are made and are joined to the hands of the puppets to make warriors. Sometimes the same puppet is made to perform two or more characters by changing its attire and ornaments.

A particular group in the society performed this art but later on other interested persons also took it up. Women do the manipulations in many states. The artists are literate and possess knowledge in scriptures. They are trained in music, both vocal and instrumental. There is  the narrator and comical characters who appear in all the plays. They make the puppets walk, dance and fight with their skillful manipulation. The techniques of manipulating are taught from childhood. The temple trustees being the patrons for these shows, during temple festivals and other religous functions shadow puppet shows are performed.

This is one of the folk arts that has stood the test of time.