‘Tholu bommalatta’ artisans to present ‘Sundarakanda’ in Hyderabad

On March 15, the artisan group Shri Kumar Tiripaalu Brundam from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, will present stories from the Ramayana in Sundarakanda, a Tholu bommalatta (shadow leather puppetry) session at Aroma of Dakshin restaurant, Hyderabad. Organised by Brass Lotus and Tree Huggers Club, the presentation aims to encourage guests to engage with native crafts and storytelling.

This is the first of the many events that Chetna Naidu, founder of Brass Lotus, plans to host. Workshops on kalamkari block printing and Cheriyal mask painting are in the pipeline. An IT professional and an entrepreneur, she co-founded Brass Lotus with her mother, Sarada Naidu, in July 2025, curating crafts from across India for home decor.

The small storefront at Aroma of Dakshin, and online (brasslotus.in and @brasslotus on Instagram) stocks masks painted by artisans from Cheriyal, plates painted in pichwai and Cheriyal styles, wooden wall carvings from Chettinad, elephant and cow-shaped decor pieces painted in Patachitra style, and lampshades with shadow leather puppetry imagery.

Chetna wants these craftpieces to be conversation starters and hopes workshops and performances encourage deeper understanding of art forms.

Chetna with her mother Sarada Naidu
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Growing up in Nagpur, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam in a middle-class home, Chetna pursued MBA and additional courses, including a diploma in management from IIM, Kozhikode. “I began working during the first year of graduation to support my family. Taking up a full-fledged job after studies was the most natural thing to do”, she says, having watched her mother, a teacher, handle home and financial responsibilities with grace after her father’s passing when she was just seven.

Two years ago, during a solo trip, Chetna met first and second generation entrepreneurs and was inspired by their risk-taking ability. “I was not exposed to people who challenged the status quo and looked beyond salaried jobs. I thought it was time for me to explore something new.”

Chetna recalls being fascinated by arts and crafts since childhood, and mentions how a book of muggus (rangoli or traditional floor art drawn in front of Telugu homes) travelled with her and her mother as they moved cities.

Currently working on projects for multinational companies, Chetna also curates artworks for Brass Lotus. “The collection is limited but all of them are sourced from artisans I met in Auroville, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana…” Most craft pieces are priced between ₹1,500 and ₹2,500. She also liaisons with artisans for custom-made pieces.

Some of the crafts curated by Brass Lotus
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

When Chetna met Supreeta Amancherla of Tree Huggers Club, who has worked with entrepreneurs in creative fields, a collaboration came about. Says Supreeta, “A woman-run enterprise promoting homegrown art appealed to me and we decided to look at ways to promote the art forms.”

The Tholu bommalatta presentation this weekend ahead of Ugadi festivities, say Chetna and Supreeta, will involve the participation of six to eight artisans from villages in Andhra Pradesh. “Their dialect is specific to their native regions. We suggested slight tweaks to make it accessible to everyone,” says Chetna. “The first event will help us test the waters and accordingly plan forthcoming workshsops,” adds Supreeta.

(Sundarakanda, an hour-long presentation, will be held on March 15, 6.30pm, at Aroma of Dakshin, Khajaguda, Hyderabad. Entry is free.)