INTRODUCTION
The variety and range of puppet movements are part of their unique charm. For turning an inanimate object into an animated puppet show, we need a few steps, other than manipulation. This relates to traditional puppeteers, since contemporary puppeteers are less conservative and do not restrict themselves to rigid codes.

MOVEMENT
Traditional puppeteers of India generally follow their regional folk theatre. They imitate movements of their respective folk forms. Every type of puppets has a set of special movements. Some movements and gestures, through special articulation, are used to make puppets look beautiful. Each traditional puppet has some limitations and puppeteers are aware of them. Puppet's movements have their own characteristics, like peculiar jerks that heroic characters show, aimed at making them appear superior to human beings. Striking their heads against the ground shows intense agony and frustration.

GROUPING
Traditional puppeteers learn techniques from their forefathers and every puppet form has its own grouping. In order to get variety in a performance as well as to give clarity to the action, the figures are grouped to form contrast and stand out in relief with the décor, -- creating a series of ever-changing pictorial composition.

VOICE
The old puppet theatre, especially the traditional shadow theatre, has a narrative text, which is read or sung. Neither the narrator nor the singers are visible to the audience. The puppets "illustrate" the text by their action. Through variations in pitch and coloration, the actor gives the puppet its own voice. Every puppet has its own style of language, delivering dialogue, tempo and mannerism. The Kathputli emits whistling voice, which is interpreted by the commentators. The Andhra puppets have queer modulations and stylised delivery that sets them apart. Traditional puppeteers leave spoken words to the group leader or other men or even one man delivering all the dialogues by changing his voice. Now women, too, lend voice for female characters. Interestingly, cash awards are often declared for the person who speaks the dialogue and not the puppeteers!

SCRIPT
Traditional puppeteers generally use stories from epics and Puranas. Often they do not have written scripts, especially for shadow puppets. For epics, they use regional versions of Ramayana and Mahabharata. For Puranic stories, they resort to the regional folk theatre. Very rarely they write new stories. The scripts are usually memorised. Traditional rod and string puppeteers of West Bengal use published scripts of Jatra plays available in the market. Mostly available scripts are adapted to puppetry by editing and changing costumes: creating a new performance within a week! Sometimes they use audiocassettes of popular Hindi films. Characters in traditional shows are generally recognised by voice, make-up and costume, which remain unchanged. Comic characters are present in all traditional plays. Many traditional troupes are presently performing plays on social problems like sanitation, healthcare, girl's education, family planning and environment. Such scripts are generally provided by organisations (or government) that sponsor the shows.

REHEARSAL
Since the same stories from epics and Puranas are used, rehearsals are seldom needed. Anybody, joining the group, learns by copying other puppeteers. When new stories are performed on social or other themes, the traditional style is always maintained. If compelled to change their style, success generally eludes them!