VIJAYAWADA: Around 700 to 800 years ago, 300 families practising leather puppetry in Maharashtra moved to Anantapur and introduced the new land to their art. The people of Andhra Pradesh took a liking to their talent and helped the migrants build their name over decades.However, for the past three decades, TV serials and Tollywood have gripped the attention of viewers like never before, stealing away leather puppetry’s audience.
In order to make ends meet, the puppeteers have now shifted to making utility items out of goat skin. “We decided to shift to making utility items like lampshades, hanging lamps, hand bags and table lamps a decade ago. But we could not find ways to market our products,” said Devalai Kullayappa, a leather puppeteer.
Some organisations have started to notice their products and have come to the artisans’ rescue by promoting them in various cities across the country. “We have been allotting them space in various exhibitions across metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata. We trained them in making these items. We ensure each family gets to exhibit their products in at least two exhibitions per year. We also provided them ID cards which are linked to their bank accounts and Aadhaar cards,” said DV Srinath, Additional Director of Office of Development Commissioner for Handicrafts, which works under the Ministry of Textiles.
Private entrepreneurs too are coming forward to help these puppeteers. Founder of Koyakkal, Bengaluru-based entrepreneurs who promote tribal products, K Goverdhan said “We have made new designs for lampshades to help them market their products.”