The Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) has roped in a renowned leather puppeteer from Kakinada, Thota Balakrishna, to mentor ten young puppeteers and preserve the art of leather puppetry (Tholubommalata), as part of the ‘Kala Disha’ project, according to an official release.
According to Raju Das, secretary of SNA, the academy would also extend support to performances, workshops and exhibitions of musical instruments and crafts associated with traditional art forms.
“I have been told to groom the young students in the leather puppetry and craft of making leather puppets in a traditional ‘Guru-Sishya’ method,” Mr. Balakrishna told The Hindu.
