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The Tholpavakoothu is an ancient art form That comes from its roots in Kerala, India. It is the world’s first form of art. It is a Puppet or Kathputli making art. The Pulavar community in Kerala preserves it. It is the most peculiar ritual art form dedicated to Bhagwati worshipped by Keralites. As the mother goddess, Tolpava Koothu is a performance from January to May. The performances of Tholpavakoothu take place at the theatres especially constructed for the same. These theatres are referred to as Koothu madam, present in the front of Bhagavathi Temple.
About Tholpavakoothu kerala
Tholpavakoothu Kerala, or shadow puppetry with leather puppets, is a ritual art practised in Kerala’s northern regions, Palakkad and Malappuram. Thol (leather), pava (doll), and koothu (play) are all Malayalam words. The origins of Tholpavakoothu Kerala, an ancient ceremonial art form, are unknown. Tholpavakoothu, which has a position among Kerala’s oldest art forms, is usually offered as a gift to temples devoted to Goddess Bhadrakali for seven, fourteen, or forty-one days. Pulavar is the puppeteer in charge. Late in the evening is when the art genre is frequently performed. When it becomes dark, the koothu madam, a specially built stage, is being used to stage the play. Puppets are performed in front of a large curtain lit by ancient clay lamps. The puppets are flat and fashioned of flexible Deerskin, and their shadows are cast over the koothu madam by a white fabric pulled tautly.
It is often believed that it originally started in the 19th century AD and used Kamba Ramayana as its basic scripture. These Kathputlis are crafted from Deerskin. The figures are sketched on the skin, cut out, and ornamented with dots, lines, and holes. After the skin has been thoroughly dehumidified, all of the hair is scraped off using a sharp-edged piece of bamboo. Then, an exact puppet figure is drawn on it and carved out with a sharp chisel. The eyes, noses, and lips are also sketched and carved out on the puppet.
Tholpavakoothu Puppets
Various types of holes in the skin are drilled with particularly pointed chisels to create ornaments and clothing. Puppets are painted in varied colours. The original way of creating natural colours was to boil wooden pieces of various woods. The resultant puppets turn out to be good, powerful, and long-lasting. These puppets become highly appealing when shades of other colours mix with them. Deer hide is utilised when constructing the puppets since it is sacred and heavenly.
The skin’s hair is removed, and the puppets’ silhouettes are drawn over it. Then it will be meticulously chopped to size to create suitable face expressions and add ornamentation to the puppets using various chisels. It should be carried out with extreme caution. The puppet is then given flexible deerskin hands. A bamboo stick is fastened vertically, and the puppet and the performance will be regulated based on the conditions. Over 150 puppets must be built in various positions such as standing, fighting, sitting, and laying.
Puppets of Rajasthan
Rajasthan is a state known for its celebrated handmade arts such as sandal woodworks, carpets, metalwork, Lac work, weaving etc. One such art form is Kathputli. This renowned form of ancient folk entertainment is the main tourist attraction. As the name suggests, Kathputli refers to a doll made up of wood. The crafting and performance are all performed by the Bhatt community. These beautiful kathputli puppets have a wooden head with a height of not more than 2 feet. These dolls have distinctive features such as huge eyes and a large nose. The most famous kathputli dance and performance is a major source of attraction. Jaipur and Jodhpur are the cities where craftsmen craft these dolls. Following them, leading families in the state began to pursue this technique, becoming well-known in the region. These puppets were not only a source of amusement at the time but also of moral and social teaching. Various shows address problematic issues such as the dowry system, women’s empowerment, illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, and sanitation. These shows help people become more conscious of the social issues they face and present solutions to these issues.
Conclusion:
These puppets or kathputli form of art performed is widely practised in Kerala and Rajasthan. Tholpavakoothu is an old Indian art style that has its roots in Kerala. It is the oldest form of art in the world. It’s a puppeteering or Kathputli art form. It is kept alive by the Pulavar people in Kerala. Beautiful puppets from Rajasthan feature wooden heads that are hardly more than 2 feet tall. These dolls have unusual characteristics, including enormous eyes and a large nose. The most well-known kathputli dance and performance is a big draw.
