The Indian folklore was splendidly showcased through puppets on the second day of Putul Samaroh, here on Sunday. Bhopal’s puppeteer Dilip Masoom presented the Indian folklore ‘Vichitra Batwara’ leaving the audience, especially the kids, totally enthralled.
The story of Vichitra Batwara is about Maan Singh. Maan Singh is always worried that how he will divide his property among his four sons. One day, when Maan Singh felt really ill, there was no hope for him to live anymore. His sons tried hard and the doctor did his medicine. But, Maan Singh died.
As soon as Maan Singh died, his four sons started to fight over his property. But, later they realized that fighting over the property was worthless. The folklore was beautifully synchronized with the music. The movements of the puppets were also clean and next-to-perfect.
It is to be noted that the tradition of pull string puppets in India is very old. Some scholars believe that this art tradition is more than thousands years old. One finds its reference in Rajasthani folk tales, ballads and sometimes even in folk songs.
A pull string puppet is a puppet consisting of a cloth body where in the puppeteer puts his or her arm into a slot in the back and pulls rings on strings to make certain movements such as waving the arms.
Notably, Dilip Masoom has been performing this art for quite a long time. He has also campaigned in villages and villages through the schemes of advertisements accepted and approved by the Government of India. Dilip Masoom has exhibited puppet art in the art of puppet style on the Arts Forums.
He was accompanied by artists Rakesh Vishwakarma, Hemlata Jimbo, Jagdish Bhatt, Ram Dangi, Anil and Bhura.