# The 19-year-old carving Kelantan's shadow puppets

> A teenager from Pasir Puteh learned puppet-making by watching his uncle, and now takes orders from across the state.
- Title: The 19-year-old carving Kelantan's shadow puppets · Malay Mail
- Summary: A teenager from Pasir Puteh learned puppet-making by watching his uncle, and now takes orders from across the state. A craft survives when someone young…
- Keywords: wayang kulit, kelantan, craft, heritage, young entrepreneurs, news, world, 19-year-old, carving, Kelantan's, shadow, puppets
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/life/2026/09/13/heritage-meets-gen-z-hustle-kelantan-teens-wayang-kulit-puppets-win-fans/235067
- Published: 2026-09-13T21:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: wayang kulit, kelantan, craft, heritage, young entrepreneurs, news, world
## A teenager with a chisel
Muhammad Airell Amsyar Anuar is 19, from Kampung Banggol Pak Esah in Pasir Puteh, and he makes shadow puppets for a living.
## It started with watching
He grew up beside his late uncle, Mohd Nor Salleh, an experienced puppet maker who taught him the basics while he was still a boy.

> My interest in becoming involved in the art of making wayang kulit puppets began when I was a child, as I often watched my uncle make them.
## First orders at 15
He started dabbling while still in school, then worked up the nerve to take paid orders from friends and neighbours at 15.

> Over time, this interest grew until I plucked up the courage to start accepting orders
## It begins with hide
Cow or goat hide has to dry in the sun for about a week. These days he buys hide already processed, to save the time.
## Customers bring the character
Buyers send pictures or caricatures of the character they want. He traces the outline onto the hide, then shapes and carves it.
## Cowhide for the fighters
Tougher cowhide goes to aggressive, breakage-prone characters like Hanuman, Ratu and the pengasuh. Goat hide suits Seri Rama, Seri Dewi and Radin.
## Twenty kinds of punch
He uses about 20 specially ordered punches, named Kuku, Budu, Siam Dua, Bunga Jawa and Bunga Bismillah, to cut the patterns into the leather.
## Paint both sides, or sand it off
Bamboo rods are fixed on, then a clear base coat, then colour. Front and back must match exactly. One mistake means sanding it all back.

> If I make a mistake, I have to sand it down again to remove the incorrect paint
## Two days to a week
Time depends on size and how complicated the design is. Seri Rama, Seri Dewi, Wok Long and Pok Dogol sell best, at RM150 to RM700 each.
## Orders from across the state
Some buyers want puppets for actual performances. Others buy them as decoration, or just because they like them.
## He performs too
Four years of practice made him a Tok Dalang, the storyteller who runs the show. He plays the serunai, posts as Airell_SP_Official, and wants the craft to reach buyers abroad.

> I hope the skills I possess can continue to be developed to the point of being able to penetrate international markets
## Key takeaway

A craft survives when someone young enough to still be learning it decides to make it their living.