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October – December 2024

Bommalaattam (The Puppet Show) by Saranya Vishwanath

Introduction

Bommalaattam பொம்மலாட்டம் – or Puppet show is a folk art that is used to tell stories and enact them to people, with the help of dolls, whose movements are controlled by strings attached to them, by a master standing behind the screen. This is one of the ancient arts, performed by people all over the world in their localities. The origin of this art is traced back to 2000 BC.

Vedas, our ancient texts, which are the oldest of all, have emphasized that Bhagavan i s the one who controls everything in this Universe. They refer to Him as sUtradhAri or the one who holds the thread and controls everything. References to puppets as used in other texts are given at the end.

Types of Puppets:

  1. Wood Puppet – Dolls are made out of wood obtained from Fig tree (atthi) and Indian Coral tree (kalyAna murungai). The criteria for selecting the wood are based on its weight. The wood of these trees is of light weight and suitable for carving figures. They are named as marap paavai (maram – wood). The dolls are attached to strings and are placed in front of a black screen, wherein the master stands behind the black screen and shakes the thread and controls the movement of the dolls.
  2. Leather Puppet – The dolls are painted on leather (usually made out of goat’s skin) and held in position through sticks and a white screen is placed in front of the dolls, so that the audience could see the shadow of the dolls and enjoy the show. The controller stands behind the white screen. This is called as thOl paavai (thOl – leather).
  3. Glove Puppet – Small sized dolls are painted on gloves and the performer wears them in his / her hand and enacts the story. This is known as kai paavai (kai – hand). This originated in China’s Quanzhou / Zhanzhou region in the 17th Century.

Regions where puppet shows are dominant:

  • Tamil Nadu – Tamil Nadu is said to be the forerunner for Puppet shows. Earliest references to Puppet show appears in the Tamil epic – silappadhikaaram. They use wood This art is called as marappaavai kootthu or bommalaattam in Tamil Nadu. We shall focus on this marap paavai in this article.
  • Karnataka – In Karnataka, this form of art is known by the name Gombyaatta.
  • Andhra Pradesh – In the 17th century at Nimmalakunta, leather puppets were introduced.
  • Kerala – In Kerala, they call this art as thOl paavai kootthu as leather puppet shows are predominant
  • Rajasthan – In Rajasthan, this art form dates back to 1500 years ago, where the people of Bhat community perform Kath They perform the stories of Emperors through this art.

People involved in Puppet show performance:

Minimum 7 people and maximum 12 people are required to conduct a puppet show. It is decided based on the budget involved and the time frame of the performance. If the revenue earned is less and more time is allotted for the performance, then three persons for managing the dolls on the stage and four persons for singing songs with accompaniments will be deployed. If the time frame is less and subsequent scenes are to be played in quick succession, then more people are involved in making the dolls to be ready side by side during the performance.

Now a days, they record the songs and the scripts required for the play and just take the dolls alone with minimum human resources to the performance place. Earlier men were only allowed on the bommalaattam stage. Now women too have found their place in the performance. It is also to be noted that the Tamil Nadu Government Music College has plans to introduce a Certificate Course for Bommalaattam in the near future. The Government is also giving a pension of Rs. 3000/- per month for aged bommalaattam artistes as a token of support.

Stories enacted in puppet shows:

Stories from the epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata were enacted earlier. Then as a Social awakener, stories taken from the life history of kings like Manu Needhi Chozhan, Raja Raja Chozhan were enacted. Excerpts from Tirukkural and other moral works are also taken and enacted in puppet show. There was a significant rise in puppet show during the Indian Independence movement, where the life of freedom fighters and other stories of freedom movement are taken for performance.

Performances are also given at schools and colleges to spread the awareness about Cleanliness, Discipline, Environmental Conservation, Historical characters etc.

Music and Scripts for puppet show:

Sri Sankara Das Swamigal is a great scholar who has written scripts for numerous theatre dramas. People normally reuse his work for traditional plays. As per the need of the hour, scripts are also written afresh and music is also composed for them accordingly.

Carnatic Music and Folk Music are used in the performances. When it comes to enacting about Rishis or Bhagavan or Bharatanatyam performance by the doll, the former is chosen. The latter is chosen if a clown comes for giving some message in a lighter vein or folk dances like karagam (having a pot on head and dancing) or kaavadi (a stick with load on either side carried to Murugan Temples during festival) etc.

Role of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in supporting the art:

Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam which is known for supporting the traditional arts and artistes, has held bommalaattam during the occasion of Veda Sadas at the Mutt. In the morning, the vedic scholars will assemble for the Sadas and in the evening there will be bommalaattam or villu paattu and other performances by the artistes. This practice has been there from the times of Sri Maha Periyava, continued under the auspices of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal then and now also by Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal.

Renowned Bommalaattam expert Kalaimaamani Mayiladuthurai Sri Somasundaram (Third generation Bommalaattam performer of Sri Gananathar Bommai Nataka Sabha, Kumbakonam, established in 1946 by his maternal grandfather) says that the patronage given by Sri Kanchi Sankara Mutt can never be forgotten and for generations they have been performing at the events for the Mutt in many places. He fondly recalls an incident which he still cherishes. Once, he and his father Kalaimaamani Sri A.S.Manickavasagam went to Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh for a performance. Sri Maha Periyava was there in that place. He passed by the side of the stage where the bommalaattam is to be performed. Sri Maha Periyava suddenly came up to the stage and inspected all the dolls that are kept ready for the performance and touched few dolls and blessed the entire bommalaattam group. Sri Somasundaram strongly feels that it was Sri Periyava’s blessing which gave them success and recognition and the state in which they are today.

References to Puppets:

  1. Shrimad Bhagavatam states:

“इशास्य हि वशे लोको योषा दारुमयी यथा”.

(Ishasya hi vashE lOkO yOshaa dhArUmayI yathA)

The world is under the full control of the Supreme Lord; therefore everyone is like a wooden doll in the hands of a puppet master)

  1. Tiruvalluvar in his Tirukkural refers to the dolls in puppet show as marappAvai.

நாண்அகத் தில்லார் இயக்கம் மரப்பாவை
நாணால் உயிர்மருட்டி அற்று. (Kural 1020)

naaN agaththillaar iyakkam marappaavai naaNaal uyir marutti aRRu

The actions of those who are without modesty at heart are like those of puppet moved by a string.

இரப்பாரை இல்லாயின் ஈர்ங்கண்மா ஞாலம்
மரப்பாவை சென்றுவந் தற்று. (Kural 1058)

irappaarai illaayin eerngaN maa gnaalam marappaavai sendRu vandhaRRu

If there is none to feed the needy, then actions done in the wide world would only resemble the movement of a puppet.

There are also references in Thevaaram – 6th thirumurai by Appar.

ஆட்டுவித்தாள் யாரொருவர் ஆடா தாரே

aattuvitthaal aaroruvar aadaathaarE. (Who would not dance, if You make them dance)

  1. Arunagirinathar in his Tiruppugazh sings:

[oLi peRave ezhubu mara pAvai thundridum kayiRu vidhamena maruvi Adi] – I looked like a flashy puppet made of wood, dancing in compliance with the manipulation of the attached strings.

  1. Ramalinga Swamigal also known as Vallalaar in his Tiruvarutpaa sings:

[aattuviththaal aadugindRen andhO ich chiRiyEnaal aavathu ennE – If you make me to dance, I will dance; after all what could a mere creature like me do?]

Conclusion:

Bommalaattam is not just an art. It reminds us of an important philosophy – World by itself is an illusion; He alone is the truth (jagat mityaa – brahmmaiva satyam).

[vinaippayan enum kayiReduththu viral nuniyil aattuvikkum avan kaiyil aaduginRa nAmellAm uyiruLLa bommaigaLE]

We are mere dolls with life who dance in the hands of the Almighty holding our past deeds as the strings.