D’source 1 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details D’source 2 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in Design Resource Introduction Gombe Atta - Agalkote, String puppets of Karnataka are usually called as Gombeyatta and are styled, modeled and designed after char- Karnataka acters of Yakshagana, the traditional theater form of this region. India has a long tradition of puppetry since it Puppet Show is one of the folk theater arts which have been practiced from ancient time. As per the artisan, Y. K Padhye was by the first Ventriloquist of India to introduce the form of puppets in the year 1920. Puppetry is a form of theater or Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., play performed to overcome new ideas of communicating and need of the human society. A puppet is one of the Lija M. G. and Vijay G. most extraordinary and creative inventions of mankind. Traditional puppetry is a famous folk art in India which NID Campus, Bengaluru spreads the stories and epic of mythology to the people. Puppetry was one of the entertainments given to the people of rural areas.

During the previous centuries the folk theater enjoyed social prominence and it kept the rural audiences enter- Source: tained and contributed to the growth of the modern theater in different languages. The simplicity and natural- http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ness of folk theater still entertain present society both urban or rural. Children are very receptive to puppetry ta-agalkote-karnataka/introduction and by instilling in them a taste for this art, which can mold them into citizens who conserve a fading part of their cultural heritage. Puppets are accompanied by scripts and other musical instruments which have been melodiously blended into folk song and the instruments are played by expert artisan’s team. The puppets have 1. Introduction rounded figures with legs, and joints at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. Five or more strings attached to a 2. Tools and Raw Materials puppet figure are tied to a rod-like wooden prop. The “Gombe Atta” is inspired by the “stories based on episodes 3. Making Process drawn from epics of Ramayana, and, ”. The highly dramatic music is a blend of folk and classical style. Generally thin strings are used to control movement of light puppets and heavier puppets are con- 4. Puppets trolled with rods for better manipulation, which has no life and made entirely from wood. Earlier puppetry shows 5. Video helped villagers to convey and popularize social themes on education, environment, savings and entertainment. 6. Contact Details There are three different ways to control the puppets which are commonly known as:

1. Suthrada Gombe (puppets handled with threads). 2. Shalake Gombe (puppets handles with rods). 3. Marionette (small puppets).

“Shalake Gombe” or “Traditional rod puppetry” is a third generation family puppeteers started (around 1920) in Agalkote (a small village near Magadi) in Karnataka and re-established in 1983 as “SUTHRMELA” by Shri Nara- hari Sastry in Bengaluru. Metal rods of diameter 2-3 millimeter are used to manipulate puppets. Height of each character is about 4-5 feet which is highest among other types of puppets. Shalake Gombe is rich in dress and ornaments with characters of god, goddess, king, queen and animals. Team consists of six people for music and dialogue delivery with musical instruments and five people for the puppet manipulation. D’source 3 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- Workplace of craftsman, displaying different stages Ravana (Demon King) puppet used in Ramayana puppet ta-agalkote-karnataka/introduction of puppet making. show.

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Characters of Lord and his associate Sudama. Puppeteer family. D’source 4 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/introduction

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Eye movement of the puppet is controlled using thread. D’source 5 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/introduction

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Ornamentation on plaited hair of Face of the puppet is carved from teak wood. puppet. D’source 6 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/introduction

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Puppet is decorated with the jewelries worn by women. D’source 7 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in Design Resource Tools and Raw Materials Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Following are the tools and raw materials required for Wooden Puppet Making: Puppet Show • Hammer (Suttige): Hammers of different sizes are used at different stages, for carving and for nailing. by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., • Chisel (uli): Flat big and small chisels are used for basic carving and intricate portions like eyes, nose, ears etc. Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru • Needle (Sooji): Needles ranging from small (1 inch) to big (4 inch) are used according to the requirement for stitching cloth and minor corrections while dressing.

• Sewing Machine (Holige Yantra): Puppeteers use hand operated sewing machines for stitching cloths of pup- Source: pets. http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/tools-and-raw-materials • Scissor (Katri): For cutting clothes.

• Files: Small wooden files are used for finishing the face profile. 1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials • HandSaw (Garagasa): Small hand saw is used for cutting wood. 3. Making Process • Brush (Kuncha): Applying basic coat on the puppet. 4. Puppets 5. Video • Paint Brush: Eyes, mouth and other fine detailing are done by paint brush. 6. Contact Details • Paint (Colors): The face of the puppets is painted with the main colors used in painting are White (for base of the face and eyes), Red (lips and Battu (binddi) for women) and Black (for eyebrows, hair and eyes) which are brought from the local market.

• Whetstone (Kallu mase): This is used for sharpening the tools.

• Teak/Milk Wood: Wood is used to sculpt face and hands of the puppet which is the most basic raw material in the process of puppet making.

• Plaster of Paris (POP): POP powder is used in molding the face of characters.

• Boorgada Tree (Local name): Wood is used to carve the body of the puppet. D’source 8 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource • Ribbon: Puppets are ornamented with bright shining ribbons which are brought from the local market.

Gombe Atta - Agalkote, • Jewelry: Small jewelries are used to decorate the puppets. These jewelries are made using beads, chains and dif- Karnataka ferent small shining bright items. The women of the house specially make these jewelries according to the need. Puppet Show by • Thread (Dhara): Threads are used to stich the cloths of the puppets and also to make the strings. Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. • Waste Cotton: Cotton is used as fillers. NID Campus, Bengaluru • Sand Paper (Maralu kagada): Sand paper is used for sanding the surface of the face.

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/tools-and-raw-materials

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Plaster of Paris (PoP) mold. Wooden rod to attach the mask. D’source 9 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- Saw Dust and Adhesive. Carving and marking tools. ta-agalkote-karnataka/tools-and-raw-materials

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Wooden piece to carve the face. Head ring is used to control the head of puppet. D’source 10 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/tools-and-raw-materials

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Twine is used to attach the body parts. Salaki (Rods) used to manipulate hands. D’source 11 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in Design Resource Making Process Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Fabricating a puppet has three steps namely carving, painting and dressing with ornaments. Puppetry carving Karnataka is usually made by two methods, one with wood carving and other with mold. Wood usually preferred for the Puppet Show making of Shalake Gombe is Teak wood or Bana wood as it is soft in nature due to this, there is less chance of by developing cracks. Generally hands and face of the puppets (Shalake Gombe) are carved on the teak wood and Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., body carved on the Boorgada’s wood (locally called). Wood piece of 4X4 inches is divided into three sections Lija M. G. and Vijay G. equally, which is further divided into forehead, eyes, nose, lips and chin. Usually to create the facial features like NID Campus, Bengaluru lips, eyebrow and nose, mixture of raw/saw dust and adhesive is used. For small face puppets like servant, mold- ing technique is used which acts as mask. Mixture of raw/saw dust and adhesive is filled in the mold with a plastic film as an ejector. Face from pop mold is dried in the diffused sunlight and the mask is attached with adhesive and raw dust to the (teak) wood cylinder. Gaps between the mask and cylinder are filled by raw/saw dust to even Source: the surface. http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/making-process Initially head is fixed to the middle (body), and then the three parts are attached to each other to form a hand and tightly attached to the wooden cylinder. For each character male or female are changed by altering the size of facial features like forehead, nose and cheeks, body parts like head and hands are attached using ropes and 1. Introduction knotted to the main body for better control. Soft cushion (ring made of cloth) is added in elbow and shoulder area that acts like intervertebral disc in spinal cord. Painting is the next process after carving. Natural colors 2. Tools and Raw Materials extracted from vegetables, trees and seeds were used earlier and oil based paints are used in current. Skin color 3. Making Process and black color are used as a base paint (for body and hair) and cloth is dressed followed by ornaments. Female 4. Puppets characters like queen are dressed with 6 meter silk saree suiting to the scene and show. Jewelries like maangtika, 5. Video nose-ring, mangalsutra, necklace, kasina-sara, earring, armlets, bangles, waist-band, toe-ring and kuchu-jade are some of the ornaments for preferred. Head and hand are attached to thorax using ropes and knotted by balanc- 6. Contact Details ing to manipulate using 2 rods (for hands) and 3 strings (for head) for each character.

Marking on wooden block (4x4 Inches). D’source 12 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- HSS (High Speed Steel) blade is used for carving. ta-agalkote-karnataka/making-process

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Wooden block is divided into forehead, eyes, lips and Block is craved according to the marking. chin. D’source 13 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- Saw dust is mixed with adhesive to form think paste. A thin layer of saw dust paste is applied on puppet face ta-agalkote-karnataka/making-process to level the surface.

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Facial features are shaped using custom tools on Another method of creating face is using PoP mold. wooden face. D’source 14 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- Plastic sheet is used to avoid the paste from sticking The cavity in the mold is filled with saw dust. ta-agalkote-karnataka/making-process to the mold.

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Plastic sheet is removed as the shape is formed. Facial details are created using custom tools on saw dust mask. D’source 15 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- Saw dust mask is dried for 2 days in diffuse sun light. Saw dust mask is coated with adhesive to fix on saw ta-agalkote-karnataka/making-process dust paste.

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Face of the puppet is fixed on wooden rod and gap is Semi-finished is allowed to dry for a day. filled with saw dust paste. D’source 16 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- Different parts of puppet are assembled using cotton ta-agalkote-karnataka/making-process threads.

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Puppet face is painted using oil color. Female puppets has only head thorax and body. D’source 17 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/making-process

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Saree of 6 meters is dressed to a queen puppet. D’source 18 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/making-process

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Thread is used to dress the Saree on waist of queen Mysore silk saree is used dress the queen puppet. puppet. D’source 19 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/making-process

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Hands of the puppet are controlled by rods (salaki). D’source 20 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/making-process

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Fully dressed queen puppet weighing about 15 Kgs. Puppeteer display the posture of manipulating the puppet. D’source 21 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in Design Resource Puppets Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Popular Puppets of Salaki Gombe: Karnataka Usually a show requires a stage size of 10 x 15 feet to run a show and it is famous for string and leather puppets. Puppet Show Artists for music, dialogue delivery, puppet manipulation and stage management are the four core teams for by every show. The script and music is written and composed by the seniors in the group. It takes about 2-3 hours Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., to play the puppets with their head and hands which are usually very hard to handle weighing about 10-15 kgs Lija M. G. and Vijay G. and substantiated with inserting rods to hands to play easily. Puppetry is played in various ways such as in Udupi NID Campus, Bengaluru (Yakshagaana), Tumkur (Eechanoor style) etc. Female characters are dressed with the same saree worn by Indian women [Eg: Satyabhama (wife of lord Krishna) dressed with ornaments]. In some districts, it follows Yakshagaana, the traditional live theatre (folk) form of the state. One of the puppets Satyabhama (wife of Lord Krishna) is an important character in the show of “Krishna Parijatha” turns her eyes (with an eye-ball turning mechanism) when Source: hero enters the stage. Garva, Krishna Tulabhara, Haridasa Krishna, Narakasura Vadha, Prahlada Charite and http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- Bhama Kalapa are other popular mythological based episodes. ta-agalkote-karnataka/puppets

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Puppet of Lord Narada. D’source 22 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/puppets

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Puppet of Lord Narasimha. Puppet of Lord Krishna. D’source 23 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/puppets

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Puppets are painted with bright colors. D’source 24 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/puppets

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Puppet of Lord Indra. One of the oldest puppets (80 Years) in the group. D’source 25 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in

Design Resource Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/puppets

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details

Puppet of Lord . D’source 26 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in Design Resource Video Gombe Atta - Agalkote, Karnataka Puppet Show by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru

Source: http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- ta-agalkote-karnataka/video

1. Introduction 2. Tools and Raw Materials 3. Making Process 4. Puppets 5. Video 6. Contact Details Gombe Atta - Wooden Puppetry D’source 27 Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in Design Resource Contact Details Gombe Atta - Agalkote, This documentation was done by Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S. Karnataka Lija M. G. and Vijay G. at NID Campus, Bengaluru. Puppet Show by You can get in touch with Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., • Prof. Bibhudutta Baral at bibhudutta[at]nid.edu Lija M. G. and Vijay G. NID Campus, Bengaluru You could write to the following address regarding suggestions and clarifications:

Helpdesk Details: Source: Co-ordinator http://www.dsource.in/resource/gombe-at- Project e-kalpa ta-agalkote-karnataka/contact-details R & D Campus National Institute of Design #12 HMT Link Road, Off Tumkur Road 1. Introduction Bengaluru 560 022 2. Tools and Raw Materials India 3. Making Process Phone: +91 80 2357 9054 4. Puppets Fax: +91 80 23373086 5. Video Email: dsource.in[at]gmail.com 6. Contact Details