Hyderabad Event Revives Traditional Shadow Puppetry for New Audiences

A cultural initiative in Hyderabad is bringing one of India’s oldest storytelling traditions back into public view. Organisations Brass Lotus and Tree Huggers Club are collaborating to host a special shadow puppetry session that introduces audiences to the artistry and narrative power of this traditional performance form.

The event aims to reconnect urban audiences with a heritage art form that once served as a major medium for storytelling, education, and entertainment across Indian villages.

Preserving a Centuries-Old Storytelling Tradition

Shadow puppetry has deep roots in South Indian culture. One well-known form, Tholu Bommalata, dates back centuries and traditionally uses colourful leather puppets manipulated behind a translucent screen with a bright light source to create moving silhouettes.

Performances historically narrated episodes from epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata, along with regional folklore and moral tales. The puppeteers would control articulated puppets using sticks while also providing voices and music for the characters.

Interactive Cultural Experience

The Hyderabad session is designed as an interactive workshop rather than a conventional stage performance. Participants will not only watch the storytelling process but also learn about the craft behind shadow puppetry, including puppet design, lighting techniques, and performance methods.

Such sessions are increasingly used by cultural organisations to introduce younger audiences to traditional art forms that are gradually fading due to modern entertainment technologies.

Community Efforts to Sustain Folk Arts

Organisers say the collaboration between Brass Lotus and Tree Huggers Club reflects a growing movement among cultural groups to revive indigenous art traditions through workshops, exhibitions, and live demonstrations.

By placing these performances in contemporary urban settings, they hope to create renewed interest in folk arts and ensure that traditional storytelling practices continue to inspire new generations.