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Authentic Puppetry Performances and Custom Puppet Making

byAakaar Puppet TheatreShips custom puppets across IndiaStarts from₹3,500 Per PuppetView full gallery

From traditional Rajasthani Kathputli to giant parade puppets, this collection captures the heart of my craft. Whether you need a performance for your event or want to learn the art of puppet making, I bring heritage to life through wood, foam, and strings.

This is Anarkali, a traditional Rajasthani string puppet, captured during a performance. Her face is hand-painted on wood, and her costume is stitched with great care to allow for graceful dance movements, bringing the character to life under the stage lights.

Here you can see some of our giant parade puppets on stage with our full troupe. We create these large-than-life characters, like the sun puppet and the Rajasthani man, from lightweight foam so they are easy to carry during festivals and events.

This video shows the very first step of making a giant mask puppet for a dance company. I am carving the main shape from a large block of foam, working from a concept sketch to create a custom, large-scale character piece.

Teaching is a very important part of my work. Here, I am guiding a student during a wood carving workshop, showing her how to shape the puppet's head using traditional tools and techniques passed down through generations.

This is a character from one of our traditional puppet plays. The dramatic expression is hand-painted to be visible from afar, and the unique stringing allows for complex movements like bowing, which is essential for storytelling.

People sometimes say our art is dying, but I believe art never dies. In this video from a conference with the ICCR, I am sharing my belief that this tradition will live on for generations to see and enjoy.

This is me in my element, surrounded by the characters I have given life to. Each puppet, big or small, is a part of my family and carries a piece of our heritage.

About Featured

Every puppet here starts with a concept, not a catalog. Whether you need a 1.5-foot string puppet carved from medicinal wood to resemble a specific person or a 10-foot foam giant for a festival parade, I personally oversee the carving, painting, and stringing to ensure each character has its own life.

Sangeet Natak Academy Award-winning artistry — Approved by the tribe
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Aakaar Puppet Theatre

Ships custom puppets across IndiaStarts from ₹3,500 Per Puppet

I am Puran Bhat, and I have dedicated my life to the strings that tell our stories. My work from Katputli Colony is a bridge between the ancient traditions of Rajasthan and your modern events. I do not just sell puppets; I share the heritage that has been in my family for generations.

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This is the stage for our production, "Vijayanagara Vaibhava," set against the magnificent Gagan Mahal in Anegundi. We believe in creating immersive experiences, where the performance setting is as grand and authentic as the stories we tell. This show brings to life the golden era of the Vijayanagara kings, celebrating a time when art and culture flourished.7
Here is a close-up of one of our handcrafted puppets representing the tribals of Malwa. Every puppet is a labor of love, meticulously carved, painted, and adorned with traditional attire and jewelry. We focus on these details to ensure each character on stage is not just a puppet, but a personality with its own story.
We often blend traditional string puppetry with classical dance, a unique fusion that brings a dynamic energy to our storytelling. In this scene from "Malavikaagnimitram," a live dancer interacts with the puppets, creating a beautiful dialogue between two distinct art forms. This combination allows for a richer, multi-layered performance.

Traditional Puppetry and Cultural Performances

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DhaatuShows at Mandala Cultural Centre; Travels across Bengaluru and India
It was an absolute honor for my team and me to be selected by Coldplay's management to perform with our puppets during their historic India tour. We brought 'The Weirdos' puppet band to life on stage alongside Chris Martin for the song "Good Feelings" across five incredible shows.8
I had the incredible opportunity to design "Vichaar Kar" (VK), India's first healthcare brand mascot, for Sahyadri Hospitals. Here I am with the legendary actor Anil Kapoor, who co-stars with VK in "The AKVK Show," a series of videos where we make healthcare conversations engaging and fun.
For the Paani Foundation's Farmer Cup, my team and I built these 11-12 foot tall giant puppets. This one, representing Bali Raja, was part of a large-scale dance drama that told the story of the farmer's movement to an audience of over 7000 people. Creating puppets of this scale is a challenge I love.
We designed and created these realistic crocodile puppets for a YouTube promo for the Netflix film 'Phir Aayi Haseen Dilruba'. This project involved detailed craftsmanship to build lifelike animal characters that could be operated by my team for the shoot.

Featured Puppetry Projects and Custom Designs

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Satyajit PadhyeVisit studio in Chembur; Ships across India
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A poster for our production of 'Harishchandra', the story of the noble king from the Solar Dynasty and his unwavering commitment to truth. This show, directed by Smt. Anupama Hoskere, is a powerful lesson in dharma.
Three characters from one of our productions, showcasing the expressive faces and detailed costumes of our string puppets. Each puppet is manipulated with skill to portray complex characters and emotions from our ancient texts.
A scene of dialogue between two characters, brought to life through the art of string puppetry. The subtle movements and gestures convey the entire narrative, capturing the essence of traditional Indian theater.

Grand Epic Puppet Shows for Events

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Dhaatu Puppet TheaterShows at theaters in Bengaluru; Travels across India for events
This is the moment I live for. The pure, unfiltered joy when a child connects with a story and a puppet becomes their friend. This is what my interactive puppet shows are all about, creating a space for imagination to run wild.8
Meet some of my furry co-stars. Each puppet has a distinct personality, and their playful arguments and conversations are a huge part of my shows. They aren't just props; they are the heart of the story.

Interactive Puppet Shows and Storytelling Performances

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Talking Turtles StorytellersTravels to venues across India
With just our hands and a light, we create entire worlds. Here, you can see multiple hands from our family working together to bring a family of deer to life on the screen.6

Hand Shadowplay and Traditional Storytelling

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Prahlad AcharyaTravels across India; Virtual shows available
The pure, unfiltered wonder on a child's face is why we do what we do. This is the magic we bring to every puppet storytelling event.10
Meet Popo, the star of our Bunraku-style puppet show. He tells a quiet, beautiful story of love and solitude that touches audiences of all ages.
Our team works in sync to bring stories to life. This is a peek at a live performance, where every string and movement creates a moment of theatre magic.
Sharing stories at St. John's hospital was one of our most memorable shows. Bringing smiles to these children was a priceless experience for our entire team.

Magical Puppet Theatre Shows in Bengaluru

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PuppeTreePerforms at your venue in Bengaluru and travels across India

More from Custom Puppet Design & Fabrication by Aakaar Puppet Theatre

Giant Puppets for Festivals & EventsTraditional String Puppets (Kathputli)Puppet Making WorkshopsOur Mission & Journey

More services by Aakaar Puppet Theatre

Puppetry Workshops & TrainingRajasthani Puppet Shows (Kathputli)
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