Shadow Puppetry Reflects Lessons On Human Nature

By Norhidayyu Zainal

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 (Bernama) —Beyond the silhouettes of puppets moving across a white screen and the casual dialogue that draws laughter, the art of wayang kulit carries profound lessons about human nature.

Wayang Kulit expert Che Mohd Nasir Yusoff said every character in Kelantan wayang kulit is created with its own meaning, representing the many facets of human behaviour closely tied to everyday life.

“These characters are not merely there to bring stories to life. They reflect wisdom, arrogance, weakness and the conflicts we experience daily,” he said.

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He was speaking to Bernama after the Animation Character Design Masterclass: Reimagining Kelantan Wayang Kulit Characters, held in conjunction with the Titih Pusaka Festival 2026 organised by the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (ASWARA) here recently.

Better known as Pak Nasir, he said the narrative structure of Kelantan wayang kulit is built around key characters such as Sri Rama, Siti Dewi, Laksamana and Rawana, which form the foundation of the storytelling.

He said the arrangement of these characters ensures the story is conveyed clearly to the audience.

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“This structure keeps the narrative balanced. It helps the storyteller deliver conflicts and messages without needing direct explanations,” he said.

Pak Nasir, who is also a lecturer and Wayang Kulit Adiguru at ASWARA’s Centre for Traditional Performing Arts, said that through these portrayals, audiences are able to grasp the wide range of emotions and human traits presented throughout the performance.

“Audiences learn to understand emotions such as anger, patience, greed or compassion through the characters. It is subtle education,” said Pak Nasir, who was exposed to traditional Malay arts from a young age.

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He added that the role of the dalang (puppet master) goes beyond manipulating puppets and delivering dialogue, encompassing the structuring of the storyline and the conveyance of messages to the audience.

“The dalang is not merely an entertainer. He arranges the story and offers advice, but in a relaxed manner so that audiences reflect without feeling pressured,” he said.

A former student of National Arts Laureate the late Hamzah Awang Hamat, Pak Nasir said wayang kulit has long functioned as a form of entertainment that also imparts messages and moral lessons to society.

Addressing current challenges, he said the art form risks losing valuable knowledge if transmission is not carried out systematically and continues to rely solely on memorisation and oral delivery.

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“If it is not recorded and organised, much knowledge can be lost. That is why knowledge transfer must be done systematically,” said Pak Nasir, who has performed overseas in countries including China, Spain, Indonesia, the United States, Singapore, Geneva, Japan, Canada, Germany and Australia.

He said efforts to document wayang kulit knowledge are crucial to ensure the art continues and does not fade away with the older generation of dalang.

At the same time, Pak Nasir noted that wayang kulit still has the potential to remain relevant through adaptation into modern mediums such as animation and visual design, but stressed that younger generations must first understand its foundations.

“When the fundamentals are strong, any innovation will be meaningful and will not erase the original spirit,” he said.

-- BERNAMA