Introduction: Indian Puppets

Man must have created a puppet with animation long ago. Since puppet-like masks and cave-paintings formed part of the magical rituals of ancient men living in caves, an urge to create his likeness (or caricature) and give it movement might have been a compelling factor for the creation of a puppet.


A puppet is one of the most remarkable and ingenious inventions of the man. It has been said that a puppet has to be more than his live counterpart for it is definitely the suggestive element that is more captivating and enduring in a puppet.

Step 1: Bommalattam

Puppets from Tamil Nadu, known as Bommalattam combine the techniques of both rod and string puppets. They are made of wood and the strings for manipulation are tied to an iron ring which the puppeteer wears like a crown on his head.

A few puppets have jointed arms and hands, which are manipulated by rods. The Bommalattam puppets are the largest, heaviest and the most articulate of all traditional Indian marionettes. A puppet may be as big as 4.5 feet in height weighing about ten kilograms. Bommalattam theatre has elaborate preliminaries which are divided into four parts - Vinayak Puja, Komali, Amanattam and Pusenkanattam

Step 2: Make One Yourself

It is relatively easy to make one puppet of this kind .
the procedures are as follows
                              Take a print out of a person\god\cartoons of a good size .
                              Cut its body and limbs separately.
                              Attach it with something like a rivet or something so that it can move around.
                              Attach strings or sticks\rods and


                                                                           make your own show......................................

 In south India it is mainly performed behind a white screen with a lamp in a dark room.