DR S. JAYABARATHI

Malaysia

The Ramayana play is is shown as a  shadow
play in the eastern parts of Malaysia
 also. It is known as "Wayang Kulit". Puppets
 made of leather are used. They are very colourful.
 The play is conducted by the puppeteer who narrates
 the story and also speaks out the dialogues. He
 changes his voice accordingly. He is a versatile man
 and he is known as the "dalang". While he is talking,
 he has to move th caharacters around and and move their
 limbs. His memory is superb.
  The theatre is a small structure made of wood
 and bamboo. It is usually about 4 feet above the ground.
 The screen is called "kelir" and is made of white
 cotton cloth.
  The shadow of the puppets are made by a lamp
 which is is suspended from the roof behind the screen.
  The puppets are made of cow-hide or buffalo-
 hide. Sometimes, goatskin is used.
  The puppets are very carefully and artistically
 stencilled and coloured. Thin bamboo sticks are attached
 to the puppets. It is by the sticks that  the puppets
 are  manipulated. It is not like the string operated
 puppets.
  In Java, the puppeteer is called "Sutra Dari"
 although he does not use any strings.
  The play is accompanied by local intruments like
 "serunai" and the "gedombak" drum.
  The serunai is a small wind instrument which
 is shaped like a shenoy and also sounds like it.
 But the alien music form makes it sound strange.
  The above picture shows a "Wayang Kulit-
 Behind the Scene " scene.
  You can see Sita on the left, while Rama is on
 the right. The puppeteer is on the fore-ground. You can
 see the sticks which manipulate the puppets.