The Glove puppeteers of Kerala who perform Pava Kathakali are distinguished from other forms of puppetry by their classical roots. It was prevalent in Palakad district in the 18th century. The Aandipandaras, (Telugu for Puppeteers), came to Kerala from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and sometimes Tamil Nadu and performed Aryamalas, Tamil puppet shows and had forms of Buddha till with the genesis of Kathakali, the puppeteers began to carve their puppets into figures of Kathakali. The Aandipandaras, who were wandering puppeteers no longer exist but Pava Kathakali once performed in homes and courtyards in rural villages lives on but largely in urban centres dedicated to preserving its form.
The Puppets they use are 1 to 2 ft in height. Made of wood and ornated with peacock feathers, transparent coral and such adornments.The wide Kathakali costume flairing at the waist conceals a bag through which the puppeteer manipulates the puppet. The puppet’s head moves to the index finger and the hands to the motion of the middle finger and thumb.
The performances draw from the epics depicting the story, for instance, of Duryodhan's end at the hands of Bheem from Mahabharata and Ravana ft the hands of Rama from Ramayan.
The performance takes place on a stage lighted by a traditional lamp before which the puppets come to life in front of a mini screen as a singer narrates the story in Malayalam set to music by an ensemble of 6 musicians.
Tailored for a younger audience now, Pava Kathakali unfolds over 1-2 hours whereas a Kathakali performance would last through the night.
Venu G. has been instrumental in reviving this lost art.Contact him for performances, training and purchasing puppets at:
Natana Kairali Ammannur Chakyarmadhom
Irinjalakkuda
Thrissur 680 121
Ph: 91 480 2825559
Email – venuji@satyam.net.in
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