Sindhe
Sreeramulu
Sindhe Sreeramulu comes from a family of traditional leather puppetry. He learnt the art at the age of 15 from his father Sindhe Kullayappa and his mother Venkatamma. He has learnt how to make a puppet from leather, puppet paintings, designing, and shadow puppetry — everything from his father.
National Award (2006), Kala Nidhi, Kala Mani, and Kala Shri etc. He has spread this art by performing shadow puppetry shows in different parts of the world.
What is Leather Puppetry?
Leather puppets, known as "Charma Chitrakara," are an ancient and intricate form of shadow puppetry found in various parts of India. This traditional art involves creating detailed puppets from animal hides, commonly goat skin, which are processed to become translucent.
The puppets are meticulously cut and painted with natural dyes to depict characters from folklore, mythology, and epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Once crafted, these puppets are used in shadow plays, manipulated against a white screen illuminated from behind, casting vibrant shadows.
The performances are accompanied by music, narration, and dialogue, bringing the stories to life. Leather puppetry is a blend of visual art and performance, showcasing skill in both crafting and storytelling.
Process of Making
Skin Processing
Goat skin is cleaned and soaked in water to remove residual flesh and hair. It is then treated with lime for a few days to make it soft and translucent.
Sun Drying
The skin is stretched and pinned to a wooden frame, then left to dry under the sun until it becomes stiff and translucent, perfect for making puppets.
Sketching & Cutting
Artisans draw intricate designs directly onto the leather. Using special knives, they cut out the shapes with precision, ensuring delicate details.
Natural Coloring
The pieces are painted with natural dyes derived from vegetables and minerals to give them their characteristic vibrant hues.
Assembly
Joints are connected with threads or small metal pins for movement. Finally, the puppets are mounted on bamboo sticks, ready for performance.
Experience the Shadow
Studio Address
DR.NO 5-92/A, Nimmalakunta Village,
Dharamvaram Mandal, Sri Sathya Sai Dist,
(A.P). PIN: 515651
Contact Number
9390012248
Available for Studio Visits