Tholpavakoothu is a form of shadow puppetry that is practiced in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India. It is performed using leather puppets and is performed in temples or in villages in specially built theatres. This form of art is especially popular in the Madurai and nearby districts of Madurai in Tamil Nadu and also in Palakkad,
Thrissur and Malappuram districts of Kerala.
A scene from Tholpavakoothu
A scene from Tholpavakoothu
Puppet of Seeta, under the Asoka tree
Ramachandra Pulavar preparing the puppets before the show, Mumbai, 2017
Shadow play, also known as shadow puppetry, is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment which uses flat articulated cut-out figures which are held between a source of light and a translucent screen or scrim. The cut-out shapes of the puppets sometimes include translucent color or other types of detailing. Various effects can be achieved by moving both the puppets and the light source. A talented puppeteer can make the figures appear to walk, dance, fight, nod and laugh.
A performance of wayang, an Indonesian shadow puppet form
Cambodian shadow puppet depicting Sita
This Chinese shadow puppet is illustrative of the ornate detail that goes into the figures. From the collection of The Children's Museum of Indianapolis.
Chinese shadow puppetry is a form of theater whereby colorful silhouette figures perform traditional plays against a back-lit cloth screen, accompanied by music.From Kaifeng Prefecture.
