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30 December, 2019

Every Kondapalli toy has a story!

Digital platforms have made it easy for artisans like Lakshmi to ensure a wider reach of the iconic Kondapalli toys

Kondapalli toy-making is a 400-year-old art form that is indigenous to the quaint village of Kondapalli in Andhra Pradesh. These toys are often made to represent aspects of rural India, Hindu deities or simpler things like animals, vegetables, etc. They are iconic with their brightly painted surfaces and have an earthy and rustic aesthetic which is characteristic of such carefully handmade products.
Kondapalli toy-making is a 400-year-old art form that is indigenous to the quaint village of Kondapalli in Andhra Pradesh. These toys are often made to represent aspects of rural India, Hindu deities or simpler things like animals, vegetables, etc. They are iconic with their brightly painted surfaces and have an earthy and rustic aesthetic which is characteristic of such carefully handmade products.
The toy-making process is quite elaborate. Firstly, a specific wood called Tella Poniki is used. Wooden blocks from the tree are carved into rough shapes. These shapes are then covered in a special paste made of tamarind, wood and sawdust.
The toy-making process is quite elaborate. Firstly, a specific wood called Tella Poniki is used. Wooden blocks from the tree are carved into rough shapes. These shapes are then covered in a special paste made of tamarind, wood and sawdust.
Once the correct shape is given and the paste has dried up, they are coloured in vibrant hues. The colours are made entirely with locally sourced natural materials like marigold flowers for yellow, pomegranate for deep red and palm leaves for peach. Lately, enamel paints are also being used to make the colours intense.
Once the correct shape is given and the paste has dried up, they are coloured in vibrant hues. The colours are made entirely with locally sourced natural materials like marigold flowers for yellow, pomegranate for deep red and palm leaves for peach. Lately, enamel paints are also being used to make the colours intense.
With the proliferation of low-priced plastic toys, Kondapalli artisans are fiercely fighting an uphill battle to preserve their dying craft.
With the proliferation of low-priced plastic toys, Kondapalli artisans are fiercely fighting an uphill battle to preserve their dying craft.
“For us, each day’s work is so precious. For weeks together, we have to travel from city to city, fair to fair for selling our toys to make a living. Every day we travel, we miss out on making new toys, and an opportunity for better living,” says Lakshmi explaining how travelling long distances takes a toll on their health as well as on their finances.
“For us, each day’s work is so precious. For weeks together, we have to travel from city to city, fair to fair for selling our toys to make a living. Every day we travel, we miss out on making new toys, and an opportunity for better living,” says Lakshmi explaining how travelling long distances takes a toll on their health as well as on their finances.
With the combined efforts of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Vijayavahini Charitable Foundation, an associate organisation of Tata Trusts and Kalgudi, their beautiful toys are now available on eMahila.org, an e-commerce platform for artisans and entrepreneurs like Lakshmi.
With the combined efforts of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Vijayavahini Charitable Foundation, an associate organisation of Tata Trusts and Kalgudi, their beautiful toys are now available on eMahila.org, an e-commerce platform for artisans and entrepreneurs like Lakshmi.
In just one month of listing her products online, Lakshmi has received 40 orders amounting to more than Rs 30,000 across Bengaluru, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and several other cities. More importantly, she can stay at home and continue working on her craft while she serves customers across the nation.
In just one month of listing her products online, Lakshmi has received 40 orders amounting to more than Rs 30,000 across Bengaluru, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and several other cities. More importantly, she can stay at home and continue working on her craft while she serves customers across the nation.
Lakshmi now trains younger women in taking up the craft, shaping a new generation of toy-makers who live on to tell the story of Kondapalli toys.
Lakshmi now trains younger women in taking up the craft, shaping a new generation of toy-makers who live on to tell the story of Kondapalli toys.