Puppeteer Maguni Charan Kuanr. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 23: The Bhanja Kala Mandap auditorium resonated with laughter, every time Ravan’s soldier was seen on stage during the puppet edition of Ramayan that was showcased on Thursday. Beautifully crafted puppets adorned with the perfect clothes and uttering humorous sentences — a signature style of legendary puppeteer Maguni Charan Kuanr — amused people here at Kendriya Sahitya Akademi’s programme “Loka”.

Kuanr, 75, better known as Dundu bhai, interacted with the viewers at the programme and entertained them with a number of puppetry items. He presented the kathi-suta kandhei nacha that uses rod and strings, a form that he had picked up from the “jhara” community in his village in Keonjhar and improvised over the years.

“Since the “jhara” community was less privileged, members of our community strictly opposed to my taking up puppetry as a career. My family was ostracised from the village for 15 years. But I knew that art has no caste. I was good at agriculture, art and carpentry and hence managed a living,” said Kuanr during the interaction before the puppet show.

“Thankfully, the art form — the responsibility of saving which was handed over to me by my guru —was recognised in India and abroad. Sadly, the art form again awaits passionate puppeteers who could save it in the age of television and cinema,” he said.

The puppet expert also demonstrated how the rod puppets are controlled from under the costume of the doll where the puppeteer holds the rod and strings for the movements. “Holding the strings and rod in one hand, while controlling the rod with just the thumb, needs expertise that takes at least a year for a beginner,” said Kuanr.

A winner of Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi award and Kendriya Sangeet Natak Akademi, Kuanr is also known for his mastery in painting, playing traditional percussion instrument Nisana, singing, mimicking, gardening and even making furniture and puppets out of wood and stone for which he has created a workshop at home. “I wish I breathe my last while performing a puppet show,” said Kuanr.

His troupe, Utkala Biswakarma Kalakunja, began the puppet show with a short piece of Mahisasura Mardhana by goddess Durga. The artistes then presented the Ramayan that was filled with rib-tickling dialogues accompanied with folk music and songs. Other humour-filled puppetry items like Sapua Kela (snake charmer) and another one that depicted a debate between a couple about the spending habits of modern men and women were also loved by the audience.

“I have been watching his puppet shows since childhood. I love them since no form of modern entertainment can match this,” said Naliniprabha Pati, a viewer.