Rajeev Pulavur
"Performing Tholpavakoothu behind the illuminated shadow screen during a temple ritual"
Shadow Puppetry, Leather Craft, Kamba Ramayana Narration
where it
began
Rajeev Pulavur
verifiedTholpavakoothu
Rajeev Pulavur is a shadow puppeteer based in Koonathara, Palakkad, working within the long-standing Pulavar lineage of Kerala. As a hereditary practitioner of Tholpavakoothu, his practice remains rooted in temple-based ritual performance and traditional knowledge systems. At the same time, he engages with the form as a living tradition, extending its scope beyond inherited narratives. His work reflects an ongoing negotiation between continuity and change within a deeply contextual art form
what is
done, daily
Nirthu (Standing Posture)
Static puppets used for characters in council or deep reflection. They feature a single movable hand for stylized gesturing .
Nadathu (Walking Posture)
Puppets with articulated legs and arms used to simulate movement across the white linen screen .
Yuddha (Combat Posture)
Highly articulated puppets with multiple joints used for the complex battle scenes between Rama and Ravana .
Nakshatrakothu (Star Carving)
A signature perforation technique where tiny star-shaped holes are punched to create the illusion of jewelry and fine textiles .
how the work
comes to form
The skin is treated with a paste of water and wood ash to remove hair and oils before sun-drying.[10]
Characters from the Ramayana or contemporary plays are drawn directly onto the dried leather.[2]
Using iron chisels to punch motifs like "Nakshatrakothu" (star-punches) to define jewelry and clothing.[10, 9]
Colors are extracted from tree barks and lamp soot, ensuring high translucency for shadow projection.[10, 8]
what the hands
have shaped
—
Chandalabhikshuki
—
Macbeth
—
The Bible Story (Jesus Christ)
—
Panchanana Punerjani (Resurrection of Lion)
—
Gandhikkoothu (The Story of Gandhi)
marks of
acknowledgement
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar
Sangeet Natak Akademi
State Handicraft Award
Government of Kerala
State Folklore Academy Award
Kerala Folklore Academy
what can be
made possible
Teaching
Traditional training rooted in the oral practice of Tholpavakoothu, centered on memorization and performance knowledge.
Collaboration
Artistic collaborations that extend the shadow puppetry tradition into contemporary narratives and platforms.
Commission
Handcrafted leather puppets created using traditional materials and techniques, adapted for both classical and custom contexts.
Workshop
Workshops introducing the making and performance processes behind shadow puppetry.
Why it matters
This practice sustains a form of knowledge that exists through memory, ritual, and collective participation rather than written record. It reveals how performance can function as a living bridge between the sacred and the social, holding cultural narratives within shared spaces of viewing and listening. By extending the form into new contexts, it also shows how tradition adapts without losing its core structure of meaning.
Connected Practices
This practice exists within a wider network of materials, processes, and cultural relationships.
shall we
shape something together?
“Tholpavakoothu is a visual offering — a way of creating a space where the human and the divine can meet through shadow and light.”
If you feel a connection to this practice, you’re welcome to reach out.