A lifelong attachment with strings and stories

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Hands holding the legacy and pride in heart. This is the true representation of Padma Shri. Both are complementing each other. Draped in simplicity and tradition, Bhimavva Shillekyathara slowly walked through and bowed to PM Narendra Modi and the PM in admiration bowed back to her. The hall went silent and was broken by applause and a standing ovation while she was receiving her award.

For nearly 80 years, Bhimavva has mesmerized audiences with her mastery of shadow puppetry. Her craft blends mythology, music, and movement, offering entertainment and a deep, soulful connection to India’s folk roots. Despite limited resources and fading public attention, she continued to travel, perform, and teach.


What is Togalu Gombeyaata?
Togalu Gombeyaata, meaning “a play of leather dolls” in Kannada, is a traditional shadow puppetry art from Karnataka. This performance style uses leather puppets to narrate mythological tales and folk stories. Culturally significant and symbolically linked to fertility, it also shares deep historical and communal ties with Tholu Bommalata, the shadow puppetry tradition of the neighboring states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Preserving their legacy

Despite facing many challenges amid the boom of modern cinema and social media, Bhimavva and her family are committed to preserving their heritage. She has also focused on training younger generations to carry the tradition forward. In today’s era, many rural sports are disappearing as the youth are busy with modern gadgets, and have little awareness of the importance of traditional modes of entertainment.

Bhimavva’s family is synonymous with the rural art of leather puppetry. Shankar Itagi, Ningappa Doddamani and other villagers of Moranal say, “Bhimavva’s family is known not only in Moranal but across Koppal district. She is a nonagenarian but is still active, and has the art of speaking on current issues with traditional puppetry. Many arts have disappeared but Bhimavva and her family should be saluted for saving this traditional art and passing it to the next generations.”


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