Use of Puppets in Indian Cinema- an Observation

Purandara Dasa (1484–1564) was a Haridasa (a devotee – servant of Lord Hari (Vishnu)), great devotee of Lord Krishna and Lord Rama (an incarnation of Sriman Narayana-Maha Vishnu) and a saint. He was a disciple of the celebrated Madhwacharyar philosopher-saint Vysasaraja Thirtharu, and a contemporary of yet another great Haridasa Sri Kanakadasa.


One of his noble and well known keertana on "Puppets"

"Bombeyata vaiya,

Brahmandave

Aa Devanadauva

Bombeyata Vaiya"

Here, he says-the whole universe is a Puppet play.. The Almighty is playing it.

So was the words of the William Shakespeare "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant, mewling and puking in the nurse's arms".

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant, mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English poet, playwright and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist.

I took part in "Bharath Scouts and Guides" and also took part in 10th National-International Jamboree in Bangalore in 1985. There I was selected for the group dance and it was "Puppet Dance". The whole dance was like to enact like a puppet to a Hindi Song. Unfortunately I don't remember the wordings, lyrics and the tune of the song. Had I known that I would be taking up Puppetry in the rest of my life I would have remembered it perhaps.

This takes my memories back to the  famous song "Junior Junior" from Avargal  (1977)- Tamil film and also remade in Telugu was one of my favorite songs that I loved to listen over a Radio short wave programme called "Madhurageetam". In this song a talking doll-  puppet named Junior is used by Ace Actor Kamal Hassan.  The director Sri  K.Balachander as used it in "Puppet-Ventriloquism style".  

Well, prior to this the popular song sung by Indian' Nightingale Lata Mangeshkar "Bol Ri Kathputli Dori Kaun Sang Baandhi" from a movie named "Kathpulti" (1957), picturised on Vyjayanthimala.  "Kathputli"-meaning "Puppet/s". On same name in 1971, a film was made with Jeetendra and Mumtaz on lead roles. I am not sure about the use of puppets as such. 

Song from film Kasauti (1974) "Hum Bolega To Bologe ke Bolta Hai" picturied on Actor Pran and also seen Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini. In the song Pran uses "Finger Puppets" throughout the song. 

In 1983 Mahaan film-Amitabh Bachchan  in Triple roles uses the talking doll- puppet. Recently, Aamir Khan took up training in the art of Ventriloquism for Tata Sky Ad.

Puppet "Rangeela" used in the Hindi  film "Dil Hai Tumhaara" starring Jimmy Shergill & Preity Zinta directed by Kundan Shah

The Puppet from the film "Zapatlela" directed by Mahesh Kothare. The Puppet from film "Ammo Bomma" the Telugu version of "Zapatela"

NEE ENGEY, film by R.V.Ramani which is about  2 Hours 38 minutes inquiries into the performing and technical aspects of shadow puppetry. At the same time also give us information on the Time Record of the shadow Puppeteers.  It also seeks to identify useful comparisons and areas of common interest between shadow puppetry and cinema.

The puppet actions were something similar to the song "Phir Raat Kati" from Film "Paheli" (2006) picturised on Shahrukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee directed by Amol Palekar.  The movie is narrated by two puppets.

Falguni Pathak in  song "Maine Payal Hai Chhankai"  use of Puppets to convey the love is amazing and touching too.

Yet another famous song from the Telugu Film Khaidi No 786 starring Mega start Chiranjeevi garu and Beautiful Bhanupriya garu in the song "Guvva Gorinka to adindile bommalata".. if closely observed the song is choreographed like a puppet dance style. Here,   they both dance like a pupppets tied to the strings. Here is the link of the song given below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW_L9EDh2C4&list=RDfF9pcuWQ4rc&index=9

I did notice in one of the scenes from Tamil film "Chandramukhi"-Superstar Rajanikant uses Socks puppet to scare his lover Durga played by Nayanatara.

The latest use of Puppets in the movie Dashavataram (2010) a song picturised on shadow puppetry using best of waste in "Mukhunda Mukhunda"song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfHnOxw_N0w

There are elevan very popular Kannada film songs on Bombe or Gombe- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTG_yrz9Pkg&list=PLadQPDa0Zg_N7TxJTUThHg4IeM9DHPy4j

Starting from "Akashadinda Daregilida Rambe", "Samayada Gombe Film Title Song-Chinnada Gombe Alla", and so on.

Last evening, I happened to watch on MAA TV channel-a Telugu film S/O Satyamurthy,2015 released - starring Allu Arjun, Prakash Raj, Rajendra Prasad, Upendra Rao Samantha and Nitya Menon on the lead roles. This film is directed by Trivikram Srinivas. Very happy to  see the glimpse of  Shadow Puppet play -"Tholu Bommlata" of Andhra Pradesh.

A scene enacted from Ramayana to the background song "Chal Chalo Chalo".  A beautiful motivationalsong with good music by Shri Devi Sri Prasad garu.  I was thrilled and and jumped from my chair with excitement. however, I was equally disappointed to see the puppeteers dressed in North Indian attire. The director  could have use the native traditional puppeteers in their costume.

The song can be watched by clicking the link : https://youtu.be/FRTUZZ-djxQ

Recent Telugu Film "Rangasthalam" there is a song "Ranga Ranga Rangasthalaana" in which there is a mentioning about "Aata bommalam" and "Tolu Bommalum". The film starring Ram Charan and Samantha in lead pair. In the song we can even see "Andhra Pradesh famous Tolu Bommalu-Shadow Puppets or Leather Puppets". These leather puppets made Sri. Chinnadalawai affectionately I call him "Mama"-meaning Uncle". He is a traditional Shadow puppeteer from Anathpur district of Andhra Pradesh State, India.

Here is the link of the song-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ah68MjWODE

https://youtu.be/9fO0MBF7HDA use of Puppets made.



So, I see wide use of puppetry in Indian films. So, also in Hollywood!