Heritage meets Gen Z hustle: Kelantan teen’s ‘wayang kulit’ puppets win fans

PASIR PUTEH, Sept 13 — A teenager named Muhammad Airell Amsyar Anuar, from Kampung Banggol Pak Esah, has gained popularity for his handcrafted wayang kulit puppets, a traditional form of shadow puppetry. With a passion for creating these puppets since his childhood, Airell began crafting them while still in school and started accepting orders at just 15 years old.

His expertise was honed by his late uncle, Mohd Nor Salleh, a skilled wayang kulit puppet maker. The puppets are made from cow or goat hide, dried for a week before being carved and painted according to the character's specifications. Airell uses a variety of specialized tools to add intricate patterns to the puppets, which are then sold for between RM150 and RM700 each.

His creations have garnered attention across the state, with orders coming from various places and customers purchasing them for performances, decoration, or as a hobby. Airell also performs as a wayang kulit storyteller, known as 'Tok Dalang', and has dedicated four years to mastering the art. He aspires to improve his skills and expand his reach internationally to ensure the preservation and continuation of this traditional art form for future generations.