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
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
translucent hide cuttingperforationdyeing
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.
Buying Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) — questions, answered
- Are VedikCraft's Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) pieces hand-painted or prints?
- Every Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) piece is genuinely handmade by a named artisan — one of a kind, never a print or machine copy.
- Is this Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) authentic and GI-certified?
- Yes. Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) is a GI-protected craft (registered as “Andhra Pradesh Leather Puppetry (Tholu Bommalata)”). Every order ships with a signed Certificate of Authenticity and a QR code to verify its maker, region and GI status.
- What does an authentic Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) piece cost?
- Handmade Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) typically ranges from ₹800 to ₹40,000, depending on size, detail and the artisan.
- How do I care for a Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) piece?
- Keep Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) out of prolonged direct sunlight and damp, and dust it gently. Because each piece is handmade from natural materials, slight variations are part of its character.
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