Andhra Pradesh Leather Puppetry Wall Lamp Shade

The Art of Leather puppetry craft is an ancient form of folk Arts in Andhra Pradesh, India. It was an Art of Livelihood in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, while Nimmalakunta, a remote village in Dharmavaram Mandal is famous for it. Many puppetry Artists from this village have shown extraordinary efforts in this Art. This art was famous by the name Tholu Bommalata and now the ancient form of this Art has been transformed in to Craft Art by the way of interior designing and giving livelihood opportunities in the region. Primarily these craft items are made with goat leather. The main reason behind it is that the process of this Art is done traditionally using naturally available material, natural dye colours as well as iron frames. This professional art is being made by the Artists using traditional tools with skilled workmanship by designing the pictures and designs on the leather and then dying with beautiful colours. The carving, holing and crafting as well as designing on leather give looks like living things. At present the items made through this craft are Lamp Shades, Paintings, Wall hangings, Door hangings, partitions and modern puppets which are very popularly used in interior designing now a days. Nearly 150 types of items are made in this village as household activity and marketed locally and outside markets. Importance is being given for Indian epics like Ramayana, Maha Bharatha and Bhagavatha in preparation of models and puppets as well as modern designs as a back ground theme. Western designing also practiced by this village artists keeping in view of the tourists who visit regularly to nearby pilgrim sites.
Leather puppetry of Nimmalakunta in Andhra Pradesh got the geographical indication (GI) tag in 2008.