--- title: "Neralu-Belaku: Traditional Hand Shadow Art by Prahlad Acharya" description: "Experience the magic of Neralu-Belaku hand shadow play. Prahlad Acharya brings Indian mythology and Panchatantra tales to life for your events. Book now." canonical: https://mytribe.in/acharyaprahlada/magic-variety-shows/neralu-belaku-the-art-of-shadow-play last_updated: 2025-09-08 --- # Neralu - Belaku: Hand Shadow Artistry for Events Tribe Verified · Performed at cultural festivals across India. By [Prahlad Acharya](https://mytribe.in/acharyaprahlada) · Travels across India; Virtual shows available · ₹45K per show (60 mins) (estimate) Part of [Magic & Variety Shows](https://mytribe.in/acharyaprahlada/magic-variety-shows). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/acharyaprahlada/magic-variety-shows/gallery) We create stories using nothing but light, shadow, and our hands. This is Neralu - Belaku, a traditional storytelling art form my family and I bring to your celebrations, from festivals to private gatherings. ## Photos and videos - [Video: Here is a promotion for our television segment 'Neralina Aata' on Chintu TV. In this show, we present a new shadow play story every week for our young audience.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3196cd3a-5ee5-404b-966c-a2d3e28ee800) - [Video: A short clip from one of our shadow play stories. This ancient art of hand shadows allows us to create entire worlds with minimal props, focusing on the narrative.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/251a389c-d728-4b38-910d-7bff7661c660) - [Video: Our special shadow play tribute for Janmastami, depicting Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan Hill. We often create custom performances for festivals and cultural events.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/16bf739a-a670-4166-bb36-e273c50fd64d) - [Video: Wishing everyone a Happy Vishu with a special shadow art piece. This scene shows a family celebrating the festival, created entirely with hand shadows.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/45236b1f-1f3b-4147-90f4-53e3f72b780e) - ![This is a poster for our Neralu - Belaku shadow play performance for a Private Security Day event. Our shows are adaptable for corporate and community functions.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c9c6707a-c8a3-4aff-9a8a-fb03a3c2a4ef) - ![A poster from a cultural program in Bidar where we performed our Magic and Shadow Play. We love encouraging young artists and performing alongside them.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/beaca7fb-9840-49fd-b37b-034c166e3108) ## About Neralu - Belaku: The Art of Shadow Play For our shadow art to come alive, we have one critical requirement: the venue must allow for total darkness. Unlike standard magic where stage lighting is the focus, Neralu - Belaku relies entirely on the contrast between our hands and the screen. If your event space is outdoors or cannot be blacked out during our 90-minute segment, let us know early so we can discuss potential workarounds. ### Bringing Stories to Life We bring ancient storytelling into the modern age. My children, Pooja and Pratheek, join me on stage to weave tales from the Panchatantra and Indian mythology using only the silhouettes of our hands against a lit screen. This is not just a performance; it is a visual journey designed to engage both children and adults. ### Why Choose Neralu - Belaku? * **Authentic Artistry:** We use simple hand shapes to create complex characters, animals, and landscapes. * **Bilingual Storytelling:** We perform in both English and Kannada, making the stories accessible for diverse audiences. * **Minimal Footprint:** We bring our own specialized shadow box rig (approx. 8ft x 6ft) and lighting, requiring very little setup time. ### Perfect For Any Setting Whether you are hosting a cultural festival, a corporate team-building event, or an intimate private gathering, this act adds a unique, traditional touch that leaves people talking long after the lights come back up. We travel across Karnataka and India to share this heritage, so whether you are in a large auditorium or a private hall, we bring the story to you. ## About Prahlad Acharya I am Prahlad Acharya, and along with my children, Pooja and Pratheek, we turn light and shadow into stories. We don't just perform; we share a piece of our family heritage with you, whether it is for a festival or a corporate stage. [See all of Prahlad Acharya's services](https://mytribe.in/acharyaprahlada) ## More from Magic & Variety Shows by Prahlad Acharya - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/acharyaprahlada/magic-variety-shows/featured) - [Puppetry & Ventriloquism](https://mytribe.in/acharyaprahlada/magic-variety-shows/puppetry-ventriloquism) - [On the Road: Shows & Events](https://mytribe.in/acharyaprahlada/magic-variety-shows/on-the-road-shows-events) ## More services by Prahlad Acharya - [Shadowgraphy (Hand Shadow Storytelling)](https://mytribe.in/acharyaprahlada/shadowgraphy-hand-shadow-storytelling) ## Similar work from other experts - [Traditional Indian Puppet Shows and Epic Storytelling](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/our-puppet-shows-stories-on-a-string) by Dhaatu Puppet Theater · Puppetry & Craft Workshops · Workshops at theaters in Banashankari & Talaghattapura, Bengaluru - [Cultural and Mythological Sand Art Performances](https://mytribe.in/sandartisthegde/live-sand-art-performances/cultural-mythological-narratives) by Raghavendra Hegde · Live Sand Art Performances · Travels across India for live performances - [Interactive Puppet Shows & Theatrical Storytelling Events](https://mytribe.in/ourstoryshelf/children-s-library-membership/special-celebrations-puppet-shows) by Ourstoryshelf · Children's Library Membership · Visit Library at Rustam Bagh Layout, Bengaluru - [Sand Art for Cultural, Patriotic & Mythological Tales](https://mytribe.in/sandartistrajatkumar/live-sand-art-performances/cultural-patriotic-mythological-tales) by Rajat Kumar · Live Sand Art Performances · Travels across India for live shows; Studio in Sector 119, Noida - [Interactive Puppet Storytelling for Festivals & Public Events](https://mytribe.in/talking.turtles.storytellers/storytelling-puppetry-performances/on-the-big-stage-festivals-events) by Talking Turtles Storytellers · Storytelling & Puppetry Performances · Travels to venues across India - [Cultural & Mythological Sand Art Performances](https://mytribe.in/manisha.swarnkar/live-sand-art-performances/cultural-mythological-epics) by Manisha Swarnkar · Live Sand Art Performances · Performs live at venues across India ## Book To book Prahlad Acharya, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%20Prahlad%2C%20I%20saw%20your%20Neralu-Belaku%20shadow%20play%20gallery%20on%20mytribe.%20I'm%20interested%20in%20booking%20it%20for%20my%20event.%20Could%20you%20share%20your%20availability%3F)