THANJAVUR, INDIA, August 17, 2012 (The Hindu): As the puppets start dancing on the stage – thanks to the dexterity of artists pulling the strings from behind – the crowd at Sri Besant Lodge in Thanjavur on Sunday breaks into peals of laughter. Sri Gananathar Bommai Nataka Sabha from Mayiladuthurai presented the show Sivasakthi, a puppetry programme, as part of the music and dance festival organized by the Thanjavur Thyagabrahma Sabha. Thyagaraja Sharma, an English Professor, who introduced the show, said that the art dated back to Indus Valley Civilisation. Excavations of clay dolls from the site were an indication of this long tradition. Lots of information about puppetry was seen in Sangam literature too. Started initially as a medium of entertainment, puppetry became the media for propagation ideas, dissemination of information and educating masses.
Kalaisudarmani Somasundaram, director, Sri Gananathar Bommai Nataka Sabha, said that they have been performing the art for the past three generations. Started in 1946 by Velu Nair of Kumbakonam, it was continued by P.K.Ramamurthy Nair. Then his son-in-law A.S.Manikkavasagam continued the tradition for 47 years. His son Somasundaram is now conducting the shows. Initially puppetry was performed during temple festivals. Later it was used by Life Insurance Corporation of India, social security departments, tourism, and cooperative departments to spread the awareness of leprosy eradication, prevention of female foeticide and family planning.