The Legend of Tatya Vinchu: Bring Iconic Characters to Life

On the set of "Zapatlela 2" with director Mahesh Kothare and the late, great art director Nitin Desai. This photo captures a moment of collaboration between creative minds to bring the world of Tatya Vinchu to life.

My father, Ramdas Padhye, shares the origin story of Tatya Vinchu. He explains how he designed and built nine different puppets, each with a specific function, to meet the technical demands of the first 'Zapatlela' film.

A deeper dive into the technical challenges of the original film. My father explains how different types of puppets, including string, rod, and glove puppets, were used to create the illusion of a living, walking Tatya Vinchu.

Here, my father recounts the moment director Mahesh Kothare first approached him with the concept for 'Zapatlela'. It shows how the film's creation was dependent on the ability to create a believable puppet villain.

This behind the scenes clip shows the intricate work of puppeteering Tatya Vinchu for a photoshoot. It requires precise movements and teamwork to get the perfect, menacing shot.

My father shares some fun anecdotes from the sets of 'Zapatlela', recalling his experiences working with legendary actors like Viju Mama and Laxmikant Berde.

Even a villain can do some good. Here, my father and I use the famous Tatya Vinchu character in a public service announcement to encourage citizens to vote in the Lok Sabha elections.

Tatya Vinchu remains the original gangster of scary dolls. In this fun reel, he gives his take on the new trending Labubu doll, reminding everyone who the real OG is.

A short, fun clip for World Puppetry Day featuring Tatya Vinchu, who insists he is not just a puppet, but a force to be reckoned with. "Om Phat Swaha!"