This hybrid of visual, auditory, and linguistic art forms makes Bommalu Zip a multisensory narrative engine that can convey epic myth, social satire, and contemporary gossip within a single 45‑minute performance.
Theoretical framing – employ cultural memory theory (Assmann, 2011) and media hybridity (Jenkins, 2006) to conceptualise the interplay between oral tradition, puppetry, and digital video.
Methodological overview – three prongs: (a) textual analysis of 30 recorded Kathalu from the Andhra Pradesh Folklore Archive; (b) visual‑semiotic analysis of 40 Bommalu Zip videos (average length 45 seconds) posted between 2018‑2024; (c) 15 semi‑structured interviews with creators, scholars, and regular viewers. thelugu dengudu kathalu and bommalu zip
Structure of the paper – preview of sections (literature review, methodology, analysis, discussion, conclusion).
Analytical frameworks
Interviews
Ethical considerations – informed consent, anonymity, data storage per institutional review board (IRB) guidelines. This hybrid of visual, auditory, and linguistic art
Limitations – reliance on publicly available videos (possible selection bias), linguistic translation issues for non‑Telugu‑speaking researchers.
The art of tholu bommalu dates back to the 8th‑century Chola period, with archaeological evidence of leather puppets in the coastal districts of present‑day Andhra. By the 14th century, the craft had merged with Bhakti narratives, enacting the lives of Krishna, Rama, and local saints. The performances were staged in temple courtyards during Utsavas and in market squares during Sankranti. enacting the lives of Krishna