A 15-day residential Puppetry Workshop was conducted to equip the traditional leather puppet show artists of South Tamil Nadu to participate in the “Sanmaththuvam Kaanbom” public awareness campaign. The primary objective of the workshop was to sensitise and prepare artists to develop a thematic puppetry performance centred on equality, social justice, and the thoughts of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. This specially designed play will be performed for school children across Tamil Nadu as part of the school-level awareness initiative.
The workshop was jointly organised by the Centre for Social Justice and Equity, Madras School of Social Work, and the Department of Folklore and Culture Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai. Over the course of the training, artists explored narrative development, character interpretation, and creative storytelling approaches to effectively communicate messages of human dignity, equality, and constitutional values through the traditional medium of shadow puppetry. Overall, 20 artists of leather puppetry show have participated from the southern districts of Tamil Nadu.
Objectives of the Campaign :
- To sensitise leather puppetry artists to the core ideas of equality, social justice, and Ambedkarite thought.
- To help artists reinterpret traditional puppetry narratives for contemporary social themes.
- To develop a child-friendly puppetry play for the “Sanmaththuvam Kaanbom” school campaign.
- To strengthen artists’ capacity in scriptwriting, character design, dialogue delivery, and value-based communication.
- To promote the revival and public relevance of traditional shadow puppetry through socially meaningful performances.
Workshop Plan
| Day 1–3 | Orientation on equality, human rights, caste awareness, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s key ideas. |
|---|---|
| Day 4–7 | Sessions on script development, thematic crafting, storyline flow, cutting the leather and making the “Paavai” and value-based messaging. |
| Day 8–11 | Practical training in puppetry techniques—movement, dialogue, rhythm, sequencing, voice modulation, and choreography. |
| Day 12–14 | Rehearsals, refining scenes, integrating music and visual elements, field-testing with small student groups. |
| Day 15 | Final review, showcase performance, and feedback session with trainers and coordinators. |
This was a 15-day residential workshop, enabling continuous learning, practice, and collaborative creativity among artists.
Participants’ Feedback
- Artists expressed that the workshop offered new insights into equality and Ambedkar’s ideology, helping them connect social themes with their art form.
- Many artists appreciated the exposure to modern storytelling methods while retaining traditional aesthetics.
- Participants felt that the collaborative environment helped them share experiences, experiment confidently, and refine their performance skills.
- Several artists mentioned that the school-oriented script helped them see puppetry as a powerful tool for social transformation, especially for young audiences.
Suggestions Submitted