Tholu Bommalata
Tholu Bommalata is the leather puppet art of Andhra Pradesh. In Telugu, tholu means leather and bommalata means puppet play. The tradition began as shadow theatre: painted leather figures were held against a lit screen while performers narrated, sang and played music behind it.
The figures are cut from thin leather that has been treated until it turns translucent. Artisans draw the design, perforate it with fine punched patterns and paint it in vivid colours. When light passes through, the colours glow and the perforations cast lace-like shadows, which is why these pieces look so striking as wall hangings.
Performances traditionally drew on the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and those epic heroes and deities remain at the heart of the craft. The pieces in this collection are made by Chinna Kullayappas and range from Ganesha, Rama, Hanuman and Krishna to dancers, Kathakali figures, peacocks and fish, along with larger narrative scenes such as the Sita Ram Swayamvar and the Kurukshetra chariot battle.
What Makes Tholu Bommalata Special
- Traditional leather puppet art from Andhra Pradesh
- Rooted in centuries-old shadow puppet theatre
- Made from thin, translucent painted leather
- Fine perforations that cast patterned shadows
- Vivid colours that glow when backlit
- Ramayana and Mahabharata themes, deities and folk motifs
- Lightweight and easy to hang
- Hand-cut and hand-painted, so every piece is unique
