Watch how at the age of 96, Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara was honoured with the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu on April 28, 2025.
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00:00She turned around, folded her hands and smiled. A lifetime of grace reflected in a single moment.
00:10Meet 96-year-old puppeteer Bhimava Dodabalappa Shreele Khyatra.
00:14President Rapti Murmu conferred her the Padma Shree Award for her immense contribution to the field of art.
00:19A woman whose hands brings leather puppets to life and whose spirit has kept a centuries-old tradition alive.
00:25On April 28, 2025, the nation honoured her at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
00:30A torchbearer of Togalu Gumbiata, the traditional shadow puppetry of Karnataka, Bhimava kept alive an art passed down through generations with nothing but sheer devotion.
00:39She began her journey at the age of 14 and over time earned recognition for her captivating performances of Ramayana and Mahabharata episodes.
00:47She skillfully sings and adjusts the rhythm to match the puppet's movements.
00:51From rural Karnataka to global stages, she carried India's heritage in her palms, earning global recognition, performing in countries like the US, France and Italy and showcasing the richness of Indian culture to the world.
01:04Bhimava preserved a rare tradition. She also lived it, loved it and left a legacy that will never fade.
01:10Bhimava preserved a large part of the art.
01:12Bhimava preserved a key for the art Leone and the volunteered space and the mystery of podemarvetous and the architecture needed...
01:13...and it's still the greatest work in making the art of at the stage.
01:14And I'm so sorry you won't know what happened by the fact that this is a great we're supposed to be doing...
01:15...obstan to do the art in the art of the art of art and the art of art.
01:18And my name is the artist.
01:19Within the art of art of art...
01:20…and there is no one of the art of art that they can get used to.
01:21It's not an art of art and art...
01:23...first to do art...
01:25...and there is no art of art that you have upon art...
01:26...a lot of art, you can get used to art and art...
01:27...and there is no art to art.