Tolpava Koothu - The Shadow Puppet Theatre of Kerala
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Tolpava Koothu, the unique shadow puppet theatre form of Kerala, South India,
is preserved as a family tradition by the Pulavars.
It is an ancient peculiar ritualistic art form dedicated to Bhagavati, worshiped by the people of Kerala as the Mother Goddess. As a ritualistic art form, Tolpava Koothu is performed during the months of January to May at the especially constructed theatre called Koothu Madam in front of the Bhagavati temple. The performance starts at about 10 p.m. and goes on till day-break. It will be enjoyed by the general public as a popular entertainment while it will be received as a religious offering by the devotees. The puppet plays are based on selected verses from the famous Tamil Epic '’Kamba Ramayana'. The language used is a dialect of Tamil with an admixture of Sanskrit and Malayalam words. The Puppets are made of deer skin and are held by a thin stick in one hand while the limbs are manipulated by a thinner stick held in another hand of the puppeteer. About 160 puppets are used for the complete version of the "Kamba Ramayana", representing 71 characters in four main categories (sitting, standing, walking, fighting) besides puppets to depict nature, battle scenes and ceremonial parades. The screen is illuminated by 21 lighted lamps, made out of coconut shelves, filled with coconut oil, provided with cotton wicks and placed equidistant from eachother on the Vilakku-madam (wooden beam) behind the curtain. Ezhupara, a cylindrical drum made out of jack-fruit wood and covered with calf-skin on both ends and Ilathalam (cymbals) are the main accompaniments. Shankha (conch), Chenda and Maddalam (drums), Chengila (gong) and Kurum-kuzhal (a short pipe) are further instruments to be used on special occasions. Depending on the temple tradition, the performance lasts 7, 14, 21, 41 or 71 days. Tolpava Koothu is still performed in more than 100 temples all over Palghat, Trichur and Mallapuram district. The troupe is made by at least eight artists. Although the |
training
is not confined anymore to the Pulavars, all the puppeteers have to be
experienced in all branches of knowledge, as the presentation of the story
will be full with references to present events and wisdom.
The
troupe at Koonathara was founded generations back and revived by the
renowned and award winning Tolpava Koothu artist late Guru
Krishnan Kutty Pulavar and is now the only surviving puppetry
community in Kerala to preserve the art form and train new artists in the
traditional repertoire as well as in new productions. The name Pulavar itself
is a title bestowed on such a person who has gone through an intensive
training in puppetry and puppet making that includes an in-depth knowledge of
Tamil literature and especially the Kamba Ramayana. The name is thus
used as a prefix like Sir, Lord, Shree like the Pandit
in Sanskrit and Hindi.
While during the season the artists are fully engaged to present the art form in its ritualistic context, the Koonathara troupe has started to explore the aesthetics of the art form outside its ritualistic context by introducing new plays and new characters based on contemporary issues and performed outside the Koothu Madam.
The leader of the present troupe is K.K. Ramachandra Pulavar,
eldest son of the late Guru Krishnan Kutty Pulavar, assisted by his
brothers K. Viswanatha Pulavar and Lakshmana Pulavar.
Koonathara is a village in Palghat district in the middle-east Kerala and close to the world famous Center for Indian Performing Arts & Culture, Kalamandalam, in Cheruthuruthy. Located about 130 km from the Cochin International Airport it can be reached by bus or car from the railway junction Shoranur (7 km) |
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 Krishnankutty Pulavar Memorial Tolpavakoothu& Puppet Centre Centre for Performances & Research in Traditional Shadow Puppet Theatre
Director: K.K.Ramachandra
Pulavar
puppetry.org.in |tholpavakoothu.org /tholpavakoothu@gmail.com
|puppetry@mykerala.net
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| teaching Class about puppetry |
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| keralafilm festival logo -ramachandra pulavar |
Tholpava koothu is believed to have originated
the 9thor 10th century A.D. this traditional puppet play
of Kerala state is still being conducted annually in so many considered as a
temple festival and it will last from 7days to 14,21,41,71 days .without any
break according to the temple customs prevailing in each temple for 6 to 8
hours .the show start 10pm every night and will be continued till 5.30am. All
theatres are being constructed adjacent to the temple of the goddess Bhadra kali. It is believed that the
goddess will be pleased to watch the show and bless the devotes. This
Tolpavakoothu is completely based on “Kamba Ramayana “and the language used in its
performance is also Tamil. The fight between Sree Rama and Ravana and the fight
between Bhadra kali and Darikasura (demon king) took place at the same time.
And hence the goddess Bhadra kali could not see the war between Sree Rama and
Ravana this was brought to the notice of lord Shiva in turn told her to go the earth and remain in temples. Being
in the puppet show in which the fight between Sree Rama and Ravana will be
shown.
Stage: These are permanent high stages for the
conduct of the show in all the Bhagvati
temples. It is known as “Koothu Madam” meaning shadow play theatre. usually the
length of “Koothu
Madam” will be 42 feet and 8 feet in there will be curtain through out
in front of the madam and the puppet show behind will conduct the shadow play
with the help of burning oil wick lamps . Usually the curtain should face the
deity of the temples. The upper portion of the curtain will be white in color
and the lower part will be black. Puppets are held or mobilized between the
lamps and the curtain so as to develop the sharp shadows on the curtain. The
puppets are fixed on the screen. It is done using thorns of a native plant, The
stage Kerala had over 200 puppet theatres in the past days. We still pre serve
about 90 theatres for one to come out as an expert puppeteer. One has to go through
a rigorous training of nearly 15 years. A puppeteer should be well educated in
Ramayana, Vedanta, Astrology, Auyur Veda, and Temple architecture, Puranas, Agamas and
Sasthras. He must have a good working knowledge of the languages like
Malayalam, Tamil, and sanskirt, puppeteer is known as “Pulavar “. The name Pulavar it self is a title best
owed on such a person who has gone through an intensive in puppetry that includes an in-depth knowledge of Tamil literature and especially
Sanskrit .The name is thus used as a prefix
like sir, lord ,shree,like pandit in Sanskrit and Hindi. In ancient days
the verses were written on palm leaves and their interpretations were orally
transmitted from generations to generations. The Gurukula systems thus still preserved and the palm leaf Manu
scripts are still prescribed in many puppeteers house.
Puppet
making: Deer skin is used to make the puppets as it is considered as
sacred and divine while making the puppets the hair of the skin is removed and
the outline of the puppets is drawn over it. Then it will be cut carefully to
size for setting proper facial expression with decorations to the puppets the
different types of chisels are used this being dedicate job. It should be done
with utmost care. Then flexible hands made of deer skins are attached to the
puppet. A bamboo stick is fixed vertically along the puppet and lay holding
this stick, movement of the play will be controlled according to the
circumstances. There must be above 150 puppets made in different posture standing,
fighting, sitting and lying etc to conduct this play based on “Kamba
Ramayana”.
To become a puppet show man one has to study for 15 years under a
scholar. Natural colours are using for colouring the puppets.
The instruments used:
Chenda, madahalam,
kuzhal, elathalam, conch, chilanka, and ezhupara are used ………….
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| Ramachandra pulavar |
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| Ramachandra pulavar |
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| Ramachara Pulavar |
Tholpavakoothu,
literally meaning 'leather puppet play', is a ritual art performed
during the annual festivals
in the Kaali temples of
Palakkad district. The theme of the play is based on the Kamba Ramayana, narrated
in a diction that is a mixture of Malayalam and Tamil dialectical variations.
The play covers the whole gamut of events from Lord Sree Rama's birth to
his coronation as the King of Ayodhya. The shadow play
is presented in the 'Koothumadam',
a specially constructed oblong play house on the temple premises. The puppets
are fashioned out of the hides of buffaloes and deer, the former for evil
characters and latter for noble ones.
Each puppet is of an average height of 80 cms and is cut out in different postures. The puppets are arranged behind a long white curtain stretched across the Koothumadom. Behind this, on a split bamboo pole, is placed a row of wick lamps burning inside coconut halves. The light from these lamps cast the silhouettes of the puppets on the curtain. The chief puppeteer is known as 'Pulavan'. At present this ritual art is confined to Ottapalam and Kavalappara in Palakkad district...............
Each puppet is of an average height of 80 cms and is cut out in different postures. The puppets are arranged behind a long white curtain stretched across the Koothumadom. Behind this, on a split bamboo pole, is placed a row of wick lamps burning inside coconut halves. The light from these lamps cast the silhouettes of the puppets on the curtain. The chief puppeteer is known as 'Pulavan'. At present this ritual art is confined to Ottapalam and Kavalappara in Palakkad district...............
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