--- title: "Anupama Hoskere: Award-Winning Puppet Theater in Bengaluru" description: "Explore the journey of Padma Shri awardee Anupama Hoskere and Dhaatu Puppet Theater. Discover traditional Indian puppetry shows and workshops in Bengaluru." canonical: https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/our-founder-s-journey-accolades last_updated: 2025-09-07 --- # The Art and Legacy of Dhaatu Puppet Theater Tribe Verified · Padma Shri Recipient for Puppet Arts By [Dhaatu Puppet Theater](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater) · Workshops at theaters in Banashankari & Talaghattapura, Bengaluru · ₹400 per participant (estimate) Part of [Puppetry & Craft Workshops](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/gallery) We preserve Bharat’s ancient storytelling traditions. See the journey behind our Padma Shri recognition and our commitment to bringing puppets to life. ## Photos and videos - [Video: We are humbled to be featured by the Ministry of Culture in this video honoring our founder, Anupama Hoskere, as a Padma Shri recipient. It highlights her work in puppetry and the establishment of our puppet museum.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3697564c-04c5-42b5-899a-a9fd3e81f75f) - ![A screenshot of the official announcement from the President of India, presenting the Padma Shri in the field of Art to Smt. Anupama Hoskere. A moment of immense pride for our entire Dhaatu family.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6507d133-76a3-489f-a309-492c121e7890) - [Video: Video footage of the Padma Shri award ceremony, where our founder director Smt. Anupama Hoskere receives the award from the Honorable President of India for her invaluable contribution to the art of puppetry.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/8e0ed975-0e7c-4034-8354-eb428b16866e) - ![Our founder receiving the Shivaratri Utsava Award at an event in Malleshwaram, Bengaluru. We are grateful for the local recognition of our efforts to promote traditional arts within our community.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/12f6a958-85ad-4c1c-bd34-d8dd63b492e4) - ![Smt. Anupama Hoskere being honored at the Shivaratri Utsava. Such events, which bring together artists and achievers, are vital for fostering a vibrant cultural ecosystem in the city.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/85ddd4a3-2a70-4bd0-9954-c5ff23854f22) - ![Another moment from the Shivaratri Utsava award ceremony. It is a privilege to be recognized alongside other stalwart artists and contributors to Bengaluru's cultural fabric.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/868146d2-2889-4031-a461-58d7ea58ac0a) - ![Our founder at a national conference for women in science and technology in Bhopal. Her presentation on puppetry stirred great interest, showing the universal appeal of art and storytelling across different fields.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b70e79be-45c9-456c-b64c-1577976823d6) - [Video: This video shows the materials from the STREE 2024 National Conference & Expo, where our founder was a speaker. The event focused on women as propagators of Indian knowledge systems.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/dd920cbd-f12f-468a-a61a-0923da51b4fc) ## About Our Founder's Journey & Accolades When I stepped away from engineering to dedicate myself to puppetry, my goal was simple. I wanted to ensure that the wisdom of our epics, like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, remains accessible to the next generation through the tangible, rhythmic movement of puppets. We do not just perform, we share a living connection to our heritage. Our journey began in 2004 with a desire to keep the rich tradition of Indian puppetry alive. What started as a passion project for my family has grown into Dhaatu Puppet Theater, a space in Bengaluru where old and new converge. Receiving the Padma Shri was an immense honour, yet for us, it validates the importance of this art form rather than the individual. We bridge the gap between traditional storytelling and modern audiences. Whether through our puppet museum, which houses a collection from across India and the globe, or our intensive workshops, we focus on hands-on engagement. We believe that when a child or adult crafts their own puppet, they form a deeper bond with the story it tells. Our work extends beyond performances. We host workshops that teach the mechanics of rod, shadow, and hand puppets, rooted in the principles of the Natyashastra. From simple finger puppets for toddlers to advanced two-week masterclasses in Pavakathakali, every session is designed to share knowledge systems from our past. We invite you to visit our center in Banashankari, explore our exhibitions, or join a workshop to experience how we carry our culture forward, from Adi to Amrit Kaal. ## About Dhaatu Puppet Theater I am Anupama Hoskere, and alongside my husband Vidyashankar and our daughters, I run Dhaatu. We are a family that has traded corporate life for the magic of strings and stories. Join us in our Bengaluru space to see how we keep our ancient traditions vibrant. [See all of Dhaatu Puppet Theater's services](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater) ## More from Puppetry & Craft Workshops by Dhaatu Puppet Theater - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/featured) - [Our Puppet Shows: Stories on a String](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/our-puppet-shows-stories-on-a-string) - [Workshops for Children & Families](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/workshops-for-children-families) - [Mastering the Craft: The Pavakathakali Workshop](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/mastering-the-craft-the-pavakathakali-workshop) - [Festivals, Conferences & Community](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/festivals-conferences-community) - [Specialized Cultural Workshops](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/specialized-cultural-workshops) ## More services by Dhaatu Puppet Theater - [Puppet Shows & Performances](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppet-shows-performances) - [Cultural Festivals & Exhibitions](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/cultural-festivals-exhibitions) - [Museum Tours & Educational Programs](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/museum-tours-educational-programs) ## Similar work from other experts - [The Art and Vision of Anupama Hoskere](https://mytribe.in/anupamahoskere/puppetry-performances-cultural-shows/the-artist-and-her-vision) by Dhaatu · Puppetry Performances & Cultural Shows · Shows at Mandala Cultural Centre; Travels across Bengaluru and India - [Awards and Recognition for Bharatanatyam Excellence](https://mytribe.in/nrithyadeepa/arangetram-rangapravesha-gejjepuje-training/awards-and-recognition) by Nrithyakuteera · Arangetram / Rangapravesha & Gejjepuje Training · Training available at studios in Chamrajpet and JP Nagar - [In the Spotlight: Our Journey & Recognition](https://mytribe.in/puppetreetheatre/puppet-show-performances/in-the-spotlight-our-journey-recognition) by PuppeTree · Puppet Show Performances · Performs at your venue in Bengaluru and travels across India - [Our Legacy: Awards and Guru Parampara](https://mytribe.in/nirupama_rajendra/dance-training-programs/our-legacy-awards-the-guru-parampara) by Nirupama Rajendra · Dance Training Programs · Classes online and at studio in Basavanagudi - [The Artist's Journey: Lineage, Inspiration & Accolades](https://mytribe.in/sharatprabhath/classical-indian-performances-productions/the-artist-s-journey-lineage-inspiration-accolades) by Sharat Prabhath · Classical Indian Performances & Productions · Based in Jayanagar; Travels across India for shows - [Stories, Theatre, and Folk Dance Performances](https://mytribe.in/snehakappanna/theatre-storytelling-workshops/featured) by Sneha Kappanna · Theatre, Storytelling & Workshops · Workshops in JP Nagar & shows across Bengaluru ## Book To book Dhaatu Puppet Theater, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%2C%20I'm%20interested%20in%20the%20Dhaatu%20Puppet%20Theater%20workshops.%20Could%20you%20share%20more%20about%20the%20upcoming%20sessions%3F)