Traditional Kondapalli toys biz losing sheen

Kondapalli bommalu, which play a central role in many cultural traditions of Telugu States, have been capturing a grace portrait of rural culture, belief and myths since years. Though attempts have been made to modernize these ethnic toys with new designs, it's become a tough task to make profits. But the heart of the craft has remained unaffected through the years.

"A lot of our hardwork and time is spent to make these toys. Dancing dolls, the Buddha and all our village figurines are what sells most in the market. Every expression we have to keep in mind while we make Kondapalli bommalu, whether a Goddess, a warrior, or a kid, if we miss the appearance, we lose the Kondapalli mark," said Ankaiya, a manufacturer of Kondapalli Bommalu, who shared her experience of the past and the present and the ups and downs of this business with Bizz Buzz.

Speaking of the uniqueness and pure colours used while preparing the product "While there are a wide range of enamel and vegetable colours available in the market, what marks a real Kondapalli Bommalu is the natural colours it is made of which is obtained from local trees and plants. For exact of skin tone we use modugu puvvu, similarly banthi poovu gives orange colour while pomegranate gives green colour," shared Ankaiya.

Ankaiya said: "One of the most serious difficulties we are facing is a shortage of the Tella Puniki wood that is the lifeblood of the industry. It is this soft, flexible wood that gives the Kondapalli Bommalu their lifelike beauty. But supplies of the wood from the Eastern Ghats are dwindling, and prices rising steeply beyond what the toymakers can afford."

This unique handmade art of Kondapalli Bommalu, which when you observe closely has its own style and correct expression for each statuette and the quality of Kondapalli toys is very much different from the modern arts as is made from many usual things present in the environment, but due to lack of items it takes time to complete the final output.

Talking about the making of Kondapalli Bommalu said Ankaiya "We as artisans prepare toys at home with all members of the family sharing the work. We even have workshops in Kondapalli which also employ the workers on daily wages to craft, carve and paint. A lot of the market may have fallen out for Kondapalli toymakers, but the toys still play a central role in many cultural traditions of the Telugu states."

"Although Kondapalli Bommalu look attractive, beautiful and eye catchy, these picturesque wooden toys are unable to compete with the modern toys. Their market has gradually gnarled as a result, though they maintain an alcove in craft fairs and other cultural outlets most of the toys are sold in wholesale on orders from cultural platforms. The sale of Kondapalli Bommalu is generally declining," adds Ankaiya

"Kondapalli Bommalu was a lucrative profession in the past; it barely pays a survival wage to many artisans these days, particularly to those who hire out their labor. Even those who run their own units are struggling to maintain themselves in this business," expressed Ankaiya.

However due to latest designs and technologies the traditional crafts are losing its worth, Ankaiya expressed "Many people buy the toys from us at wholesale rates, and then sell them at government exhibitions, claiming to be 'Kondapalli artisans'. But we small artisans never get the due recognition or proper value of our work."

"With mechanization and automation, mass-produced plastic toys have flooded the markets. The resultant loss of markets and income has been devastating. Gone is the old world patronage they once enjoyed from affluent local powers," he continues.

Starting a business need a lot of planning before bringing to reality. Ankaiya expressed, "If someone is planning to start a business especially Kondapalli Bommalu they have first research about what are these toys all about and how to keep this craft alive not only in two Telugu sates but whole country. A person has to atleast have five lakhs in hand to start this business.

"To start business money plays an important role and even I spent about 5 lakhs to start. As I am a manufacturer I need to keep many things in mind be it material, labor and many more. It took time for my business to move forward as there were many ups and downs." he continued

"Now the situation of Kondapalli Bommalu sale is very bad as people want us to vacate us from the present stall. If this happens very soon this traditional crafts will disappear and we as Kondapalli artisans will lose our recognition too, expressed Ankaiya

"The government has no real interest in supporting Kondapalli Bommalu and keeping the art alive. If this continues our traditional crafts will fade and not only that even we as artisans will become jobless. Kondapalli tradition might not last beyond a decade," concluded Ankaiya.