Tholpaavakoothu (leather puppet show) is an art form performed in connection with the rituals in the temples in Kerala. This form of art is on the verge of extinction. This is a type of shadow puppetry. The most famous of the contemporary shadow puppetry artists, also known as puppeteers, is K K Ramachandra Pulavar who is a native of Koonathara, Palakkad. He has given training to several artists in this art of creative skill for 5 years at Sawantwadi, Maharashtra, and has received several awards including the Folklore Academy Award. Shadow play, which was earlier limited to being a temple art form, was made known to the outside world by this artist. In some districts of Kerala, like Palakkad, Thrissur, and Malappuram, shadow puppetry is very popular. The figures used in puppetry are generally made of deer skin. However, nowadays, the material used is goat hide. The theme of the performance is mostly based on history or mythology. Currently, society-based stories are also taken as the subjects for performing tholpavakoothu. Below are some of the pictures of K K Ramachandra Pulavar during his shadow puppet performance at his house.
Read more about this, and watch Tholpavakoothu videos here.
