Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets)
GI TaggedTholu Bommalata is the grand shadow-puppet theatre of Andhra, its large translucent hide figures painted in jewel colours and animated behind a backlit screen to enact the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The same craft now lights up homes as glowing lampshades.
- Region of origin:
- Andhra Pradesh
- GI registration:
- Andhra Pradesh Leather Puppetry (Tholu Bommalata)
- Materials:
- goat/deer hide; natural-dye
- Techniques:
- translucent hide cutting; perforation; dyeing
- HS code (customs):
- 4205
Products
About Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets)
Tholu Bommalata is the grand shadow-puppet theatre of Andhra, its large translucent hide figures painted in jewel colours and animated behind a backlit screen to enact the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The same craft now lights up homes as glowing lampshades.
- Region of origin
- Andhra Pradesh
- GI registration
- Andhra Pradesh Leather Puppetry (Tholu Bommalata)
- Materials
- goat/deer hide; natural-dye
- Techniques
- translucent hide cutting; perforation; dyeing
- HS code (customs)
- 4205
How it’s made
The makers
Crafted by Aryakshatriya puppeteers of Andhra Pradesh.
Why “GI-tagged” matters
Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) is registered under India’s Geographical Indication (GI) Act as “Andhra Pradesh Leather Puppetry (Tholu Bommalata)”. A GI tag legally certifies that a piece genuinely originates from its traditional region and is made by its rightful artisan community — your guarantee of authenticity.
GI-certified authenticity
Rooted in India’s registered craft traditions
Artisan-direct
Made by the makers — fair, direct earnings
Traceable provenance
Every piece carries its maker, region & origin