How Ishara Puppet Theatre has turned puppetry into a fine art of modern storytelling

“Europe belongs to Picasso, Matisse, Braque, and many others. India belongs only to me,” — these lines by one of India’s visionary artists, Amrita Sher-Gil, embody her enigmatic life. Born in Budapest in 1913, she lived across Europe until her untimely death in Lahore at the age of 28. Her words were not mere bravado, but the distilled truth of a life lived at the crossroads of continents and cultures.

A new play, by Ishara Puppet Theatre, brings Amrita Sher-Gil’s life to the stage. She defied conventions and challenges and became one of the most influential figures in global art. Through vibrant puppetry, kaleidoscopic sets, video projection, classical music and emotional storytelling, the production celebrates her legacy.

Designed and directed by Dadi D. Pudumjee and performed by Ishara Puppet Theatre — the 60-minute production in English — narrates her tale through puppetry for the very first time. It is based on a project undertaken by five art students, who bring alive her life story through paintings, letters and biographical accounts. 

Vignettes from an iconic artist’s life
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Each year, the Ishara Puppet Theatre and group create a new performance, some for children, others for young adults and mature audiences. “After our play, Be Yourself, I found myself drawn towards a theme around art. That search naturally led me to Amrita Sher-Gil. Many people know her iconic paintings and her short, dramatic life, but once we delved deeper we realised there was much more to showcase,” says Pudumjee, a puppeteer and founder of The Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust.

The foundation of the play’s research lay in Amrita’s letters to her friends and family, which unravel her intellect, wit, vulnerability and fierce independence. “We also drew from documented biographies, archival photographs and critical studies of her paintings. Rather than simply presenting facts, we immersed ourselves in her voice — her doubts, confidence and her sense of destiny. Her correspondence forms the emotional spine of the play. The research phase was deeply engaging, allowing us to move beyond the myth and into the lived experience of a young woman — negotiating identity, culture and artistic ambition,” shares Pudumjee.

The scholarly writings of Yashodhara Dalmia and the archival compilations by her nephew Vivan Sundaram were invaluable. “Vivan’s volumes, in particular, provide intimate access to Amrita’s letters, photographs and personal reflections. We were also inspired by accounts from relatives — in Hungary and India — which offered a cross-cultural perspective of her life. These sources helped us understand not only her artistic development but also the emotional and geographical worlds she inhabited. The play does not replicate these material directly, but they informed the texture and authenticity of our interpretation,” says Pudumjee.

Each year, the Ishara Puppet Theatre and group create a new performance, some for children, others for young adults and mature audiences
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

It may have started as a passing idea, but the play took shape from one of Amrita’s black-and-white images displayed at a café in Paris, where she is speaking with fellow students. Actors, puppeteers, designers, and musicians shaped it further from an image in a cafe. From this emerged the concept the five art students worked on. “For the first time an Ishara production combines actors with naturalistic puppets in a more integrated manner.”

Music plays a vital role in Ishara’s productions. “It carries emotional transitions and atmospheres beyond words. The costume, sculpture, light and movement add layers to the storytelling. Theatre is never a solitary act, it is a shared act of imagination between artistes and dreamers working toward a single vision. For me, theatre must always push boundaries, just as Amrita did,” says Pudumjee.

Amrita Sher-Gil: A Life Lived premieres on February 22, 4 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. at Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

Published – February 17, 2026 02:46 pm IST