This two-day workshop in Mumbai will teach children how to use hand puppets

As a school boy when his teacher asked him if he could perform for their annual function Satyajit Padhye son of acclaimed puppeteer Ramdas made a Pink Panther puppet for his firstever performance Thirty years and over 2500 puppets later Padhyersquos name appears alongside his fatherrsquos as Indiarsquos best puppeteers and ventriloquists Come weekend the Indiarsquos Got Talent finalist will take children into the fantastical world of puppets in his studio in Chembur mdash where they will not only be allowed to play with them but also learn how to operate them to deliver a gripping entertainmentpacked performanceThe workshop will introduce participants to a diverse range of puppetryldquoI am a shy person I realised that it becomes easier for me to put across a message through my puppetsrdquo Padhye reveals This is the third generation of pursuing puppetry in his family which began with his grandfather Yeshwant a World War 1 soldier who returned to Mumbai to discover the art ldquoHe ordered several books on ventriloquism from England and went on to become a pioneer in the field from Indiardquo Padhye recalls It was only natural for him to be inclined towards it since childhood but as his father wanted him to complete his education first before choosing his career Padhye became a chartered accountant ldquoAnd soon after that I turned to ventriloquism and puppetry full timerdquo he addsPadhye with Amitabh BachchanPadhye performed in famous reality shows like Kaun Banega Crorepati and Bigg Boss He has represented India several times internationally and was also invited to a meeting for the International Federation of Accountants where he performed in front of 100 delegates from 100 countries ldquoThe thing about puppetry is that it engages people across demographics mdash from an eightyearold to an 80yearold For children for instance I will use my animal puppets and for adults I will use puppets like Chotu Singh I also have to alter my script and humour according to the audience So I spend a lot of time writing before my showsrdquohe revealsA moment from a previous workshop held at the Chembur studioIn the twoday workshop Padhye will teach children about the various forms of puppetry like string rod and shadow He will also teach them ventriloquism which he says cannot be mastered overnight but with practice and the right guidance on how to begin children can ace voice moderation in about two months ldquoVentriloquism is a sophisticated form of puppetry In other forms puppeteers are usually hidden behind curtains so they donrsquot have to act But as a ventriloquist you and your puppet perform together I believe ventriloquism is like body building You need practice and consistency for both of these to get better every dayrdquo he sharesPadhyersquos wife Rujuta will teach children how to make different puppets to support varied narratives By the end of the session each participant will perform with socks puppets they have made in class for three to five minutes Ramdas and his wife Aparna will conclude the workshop by interacting and distributing certificates to the children ldquoI have used ventriloquism to talk about various social and political issues in the world Therersquos a difference when you hear about these issues from a puppet No one gets offended and the message is driven home through dark yet lighthearted humour I hope that in this workshop children learn to express through the puppets matters they cannot talk about directlyrdquo Padhye signs offAge group 6 to 14 yearsOn June 8 and June 9 930 am to 1130 amAt Radhika Residency A310 and 302 Tilak Nagar ChemburCall 9870156658Log on to satyajitpadhye