One of the pioneers of puppetry in the city, Dutta certainly does not believe that puppetry is a dying art. “Of course, it is not. I just came back from a show in Narendrapur. We go abroad regularly and have been performing in various schools in the city,” says Dutta.

Having started his work with Children’s Little Theatre in 1954, Dutta formed his own troupe, Calcutta Puppet Theatre, in 1974.

His style of working involves not just telling fables and fairy tales through his puppets but also inculcating educational lessons for children.

“When parents bring their children for shows, we have a chat with them about their children’s behaviour at home. And then through stories we tell the child where he is going wrong. Of course, everything is through puppets and children believe that puppets are talking to them and telling them,” he says.

Puppetry, he feels, is a skill that makes use of almost all forms of art — from theatre to art to education and music.

“Puppetry has always been an intricate part of the Indian culture and history. The figures telling stories carved in King Vikramaditya’s throne were nothing more than puppets as it told the stories of his reign.

“So puppetry has always ebbed and flowed within the Indian tradition,” he says. Busy with his annual puppetry festival that will be held in March this year, Dutta says there are going to be nearly 40 groups from all over Bengal, especially Nadia, Murshidabad and South 24-Parganas, performing traditional and modern forms of puppetry.

On being asked why he allows only groups from Bengal to participate in this annual event, he says that they need to be given a platform and unless they provide the platforms for their own troupes it would be unfair to provide platform for others.

Ironically, however, he feels that the Central government is doing more to promote the craft than the state government. The help provided by the state government, he says, is not enough.

Unperturbed by the fact that he has been bestowed one of the most prestigious awards in the country, Dutta carries on working in his small room below Bijan Setu in the city.