Tholpavakoothu - the shadow pupperty of Kerala

Tholpavakoothu is the shadow puppetry of Kerala. In Malayalam, Thol means leather; Pava means puppet and Koothu, the play. This is performed as a ritual at the Bhadrakali temples in and around the district of Palakkad in the state.

This excerpt is taken from a performance made by the Krishnan Kutty Pulavar Smaraka Tholpavakoothu and Puppet Centre, a troupe founded by the descendants of the late Krishnan Kutty Pulavar, a doyen of this art form.