History of Traditional Indian Puppetry

The word puppet derived from the latin word ‘pupa’ or French word ‘poupee’ both means doll. But puppet is not a doll. There is no definite definition of puppet. But some artisits and scholars describe it in different ways. Here we know some definitions:

paul macfharlin in his “puppet theater in America” says – “theatrical figure moved under human control”.

Helen Binyon in “puppetry today” says “puppetry is man made actor, inanimate object to which human being have found a means of giving an appearance of life”.

Margarata Nichulese, Director of the Taundarica Theater in Bucharest says “a Plastic picture endowed with ability of acting and presenting somebody”.

In Webster’s New school and office dictionary-“a small doll or image especially one moved by wires in a mock drama, one who is under the influence and control of another”.

Bil Baird in “Art of the puppet” says- An inanimate figure, that is made to move by effort before an audiences”.

Puppet is a part of man’s ancient urge to recreate life that results in this many layered art. It is also a means of communication, an extension of human expression. When a person finds in the world around him a man, an animal, a shape of a situation, and something strikes him, a funny or frightening (or) sad (or) awkward about it, he picks out the essence and builds it into puppet.

A variety of innovations in puppetry in different parts of the world have resulted in professional puppet theater groups performing on international forums.

In modern times educationalists all over the world have realized the potential of puppetry as a medium for communication. Many institutions and individuals in India are involving students in the use of puppetry for communicating educational concepts.

Puppetry has been successfully used to motivate emotionally and physically handicapped students to develop their mental and physical faculties awareness programmes about the conservation of the natural and cultural environment have also proved to be useful.

These programmes aim at sensitizing the students to the beauty in word, sound, form, color and movement. The aesthetic satisfaction derived from making of puppets and communicating through them helps in the all round development of the personality of the child.

Stories adapted from puraanic literature, local myths and legend usually from the content of traditional puppet theater in India which, in tutu, imbibes elements of all creative expressions like painting, sculpture, music, dance, drama, etc.

The presentation of puppet programmes involves the creative efforts of many people working together. Almost all types of puppets are found in India. Puppetry throughout the ages has held an important place in traditional entertainment.

Like traditional theater themes for puppet theater are mostly based on epics and legends. Puppets from different parts of the country have their own identity regional styles of painting and sculpture are reflected in them.