The Global Artisans - Sivakumar Sindhe

Leather Puppet making, locally known as ‘ToluBommalaata’ meaning ‘the dance of leather puppets’, is an ancient Folk art. It is an entertainment form of shadow play that reached its pinnacle during the rule of the Vijaynagara Empire. Originally the play depicted the tales from mythology like Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Presently, it is the livelihood of a remote village consisting of two hundred families in Nimmalakunta of Dharmavaram Mandal of Anantpur District, Andhra Pradesh.

The raw materials used are Goat hide and sheepskin and in addition to this, water proof colors, paint-brush and bamboo kalam is used for the craft.Today the Puppetry craft has become synonymous with decor arts. They create beautiful surroundings, in the form of wall art, lampshades, mirrors etc. They have also become a major attraction in the emerging market of leather jewelry.The craft lends itself today to a range of items created by the artisans with the help of modern designers and interior decorators.


This Leather Puppetry Art belongs to the traditional  families who are practicing this craft for many generations.One among the clusters is a family of four members consisting of senior Artist, Gangisetty and his wife Shankaramma as well as his sons Shiva and Mani who are involved in     this craft. Shiva is very skilled in detailing designs and adding colors to the puppet figures.Sriramulu is a master artist, whose expertise lies in trying out innovative ideas keeping mythological themes and characters intact. He conducts workshops in collaboration     with NGO’s.