Kelantan Photowalk : Shadow Puppets

7 February, 2012 - Tuesday, from Kg. Geting we move on to another place called Kg. Laut to meet Pak Soh the shadow puppets maker and one of the famous and experienced "Tok Dalang" in Kelantan. Pok Soh inherit his father's legacy since he was nine and now at the age of fifty six, he stil enthusiastic with this shadow puppets. I have some general information about the shadow puppets below. May be it's will help you to understand a little bit more about the stories behind this heritage. Till then see ya.. =D

Wayang Kulit Siam is the most indigenous of these styles. It is principally performed in the state of Kelantan on the east coast of the Malay peninsula. Wayang kulit siam makes use of a local version of the Indian epic, Ramayana. Existing only in the oral tradition, this version is known as Hikayat Maharaja Wana. The Hikayat Seri Rama provides material for the principal story (cerita pokok). Local extensions of and accresions to the epic have resulted in the creation of a large number of Ramayana branch stories (cerita ranting). These have traditionally been more popular than the pokok story.

The wayang kulit siam orchestra consists of a pair of double- headed drums(gendang), a pair of single-headed goblet-shaped drums known as gedumbak, a pair or vertically standing drums (gedug) hit with beaters, a pair of hand small cymbals, (kesi) and a pair of inverted gongs canang), also beaten with sticks. and, finally, a pair of hanging knobbed gongs(tetawak).

In Malaysia, the most well-known style of wayang kulit is the Wayang Kulit Siam, practiced principally in the north-eastern state of Kelantan as well as in the Patani region of southern Thailand. Wayang Kulit Siam is performed in the Kelantanese-Patani dialect of Malay. Repertoire is largely based on Malay oral and literary versions of the ancient Hindu epic, the Ramayana, which tell of the adventures of Seri Rama and his consort Siti Dewi.

The main story-line, known as cerita pokok (trunk story), is performed occasionally; minor-tales and sub-plots involving the same characters, known as cerita ranting (branch stories), are far more popular. The principal performer in the Wayang Kulit Siam tradition is the dalang (master puppeteer). Besides animating the puppets with action and speech, the dalang provides narration and commentary, leads the musical orchestra and attends to the ritual aspects of a performance. Wayang Kulit Siam puppets are intricately carved and vibrantly painted two-dimensional figures made from leather. They comprise a vast array of character types including hero, heroine, warrior, clown, ogre, and magician.