To start with the theatre craft in the Indian states, Orissa has a history of folk theatre. This is also known as 'jatra'(type of puppet show) in local parlance. The characters of these 'jatras' are made of wood and are vividly painted. The characters are dressed accordingly and are controlled by strings. Orissa often hosts play by the nomadic performers based on the epics and other historical characters. Masks are used according to the characters. These masks, a part of the theatre craft, are made of wood that is predominantly light drift wood, sholapith and paper-mache. The artisans, who are mostly from Puri, use bright colours on the masks. ![]() Another form of theatre craft is the leather shadow puppets. The shadow play or puppet show with leather figures is an art form of ancient times. Goat or sheep leather is extensively used in the manufacture of these puppets. The skin is first stretched tight and is nailed at the corners to keep it intact in the shape. The puppet figure is then traced on the leather and cut out with a very fine chisel. The leather puppets are decked with all possible ornaments and clothing which are designed by drilling different kinds of holes in the skin. The leather puppets are painted with colours obtained from vegetable and mineral sources. There are puppets for birds, trees, animals and even the sea counter parts. Another Indian state where theatre craft flourished is Karnataka. The local and popular folk drama 'Yakshaganga' is conducted through string puppetry shows which are famous among the locale of Karnataka. The dolls or the puppets used in this form of Indian art are an outstanding example of Indian theatre craft. Besides these, there are the 'Kiritams,' the expressive headgears worn by Kathakali dancers. This particular item is designed for the part played by the dancers. The Indian craftsmen take care of minute details while making such theatre crafts. For instance, the colours, sizes, girdle, designs etc are taken care of. On the other hand, different headgears are made to represent different characters. The headgears of religious figures, strong, gentle, devoted, and loyal differs from the headgears of vicious and destructive characters. ![]() |