Nimmalakunta Leather Puppetry Craft
The Art of Leather puppetry craft is an ancient form of folk Arts in Andhra Pradesh, India. It was an Art of Livelihood in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, while Nimmalakunta, a remote village in Dharmavaram Mandal is famous for it. Many puppetry Artists from this village have shown extraordinary efforts in this Art. This art was famous by the name “ Tholu Bommalata” and now the ancient form of this Art has been transformed in to Craft Art by the way of interior designing and giving livelihood opportunities in the region. Primarily these craft items are made with goat leather. The main reason behind it is that the process of this Art is done traditionally using naturally available material, natural dye colours as well as iron frames. This professional art is being made by the Artists using traditional tools with skilled workmanship by designing the pictures and designs on the leather and then dying with beautiful colours. The carving, holing and crafting as well as designing on leather give looks like living things. At present the items made through this craft are Lamp Shades, Paintings, Wall hangings, Door hangings, partitions and modern puppets which are very popularly used in interior designing now a days. Nearly 150 types of items are made in this village as household activity and marketed locally and outside markets. Importance is being given for Indian epics like Ramayana, Maha Bharatha and Bhagavatha in preparation of models and puppets as well as modern designs as a back ground theme. Western designing also practiced by this village artists keeping in view of the tourists who visit regularly to nearby pilgrim sites.
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The origin of this craft is the Art of “ Tholu Bommalata” which is the traditional cultural art of the region. The material used for this craft is taken from this art form only, thus it has the background of this traditional art. The Art of “ Tholu Bommalata” is very ancient one in the state of Andhra Pradesh. This folk Art was used by the people who migrated from the state of Maharashtra around 700 years back. This art was very interesting one which was displayed in the streets when there were no dramas or films for entertainment. This play was demonstrated whole night with the theme of epics. This art was honored and encouraged by the Kings of that time. These plays which belong to the stories of Ramayana, Mahabharatha were liked very much by the people as well as rulers of Maharashtra. Likewise this Flok Art was very famous at that time in the state of Maharashtra. Due to some circumstances, our ancestors who were depending for livelihood on this Art were migrated to the state of Andhra Pradesh and also to some districts of Karnataka as Gypsies and were playing this Tholu Bommalata in the villages. By doing that kind of work some people lead by our Grand Father about 90 years back came to this village Nimmalakunta and settled here itself demonstrating this Art in surrounding villages. After some years as there was a decrease found in the honor of this Art due to the Film industry, our Father D. Chinna Narayana and some other Artists have started this Craft with their own Tholubommalu method. They have been supported by the organization DCH and some of the designers. They have started making the items like Lamps, Paintings and Wall hangings and started selling them. Gradually this Craft has become one of the famous crafts in India today.