Satyajit Padhye

Satyajit Padhye was born on 5 May 1983 in Mumbai, India to Ramdas Padhye and his wife, Aparna. His brother Parikshit is also a puppeteer and ventriloquist. His mother appeared on national television in the 80s and 90s. She has a master's degree in Marathi literature and is herself a puppeteer and ventriloquist in skits with her husband.[1]

His father Ramdas Padhye,[2] included his son in various stage shows and plays, and his grandfather was Y. K. Padhye, a pioneering ventriloquist who popularised this form of entertainment in India. Ramdas took over from him and brought the art to the masses through television.

Satyajit got interested in puppetry from childhood. At the age of eight, he started learning the art of ventriloquism from his father Ramdas Padhye.[3] He performed for first time at the age of 12 at a school gathering when he was in 7th grade[2]

Satyajit is from R.A. Podar College of Commerce and Economics, Matunga where he took part in the Youth Festival and Malhar. He has won several prizes in inter-collegiate events using his skills. He made a Professional Quality Puppet called "Rapster" as Mascot for RAPPORT 2003, an annual college festival which was the anchor for various events in the festival. Padhye began working life as a Chartered Accountant.

However, Satyajit honed his skills of puppetry and ventriloquism for five years before giving his first solo performance.

Padhye is known for his youth-targeted humour. He is C.A.At 13, he was assistant to his father for the play Good Night Baby Dino (1993), directed by advertising man Bharat Dabholkar.[4] He also was a lead puppeteer in another play called "Hats Off"(1997) which gave him lot of scope with different puppetry techniques.

Since then, he and his father have worked together on number of projects, including various television series, films (Dil Hai Tumhaara), plays, music videos (Maine Payal Hain Chhankai), and television advertisements. He did a TV series for Disney Channel as well as for Singapore T.V-12 for which he was one of the lead puppeteers.[5] Satyajit is also one of the Lead Puppeteer for the Celebrity Puppet Show "Juicy Pammi" on ZOOM Channel where he handled the puppet of main anchor "Juicy Pammi" besides operating different celebrity puppets. He has also assisted his dad for an international advertisement on a Dutch T.V. Network.

Padhye has represented India at the Japan Ventriloquist Festival, held in Tokyo.[6]

As a puppet maker he both designs and makes his own puppets for scripts as well as helping his father in their Puppet Studio.

His first major public performance using ventriloquism was as a finalist on India's Got Talent, a reality talent show on the television channel Colors.[7]

India's Got Talent

Satyajit Padhye along with his puppets in the Grand Finale of India's Got Talent

Satyajit Padhye was a finalist in India's Got Talent, a popular reality show on Colors in India[8] In the main auditions he performed an act with a double-headed politician puppet. The judges Shekhar Kapur, Kirron Kher and Sonali Bendre praised him for his performance.[9]

In the semi-finals, Satyajit Padhye used puppet Chotu Singh, a sardar puppet which operates another puppet. He also had two big puppets in the background dance to the tunes of a song. The entire presentation was acclaimed as different and innovative.[10]

In the finals, he performed an act based on the theme of global warming. He performed with puppet Chotu Singh and a bird puppet. He used a puppet baby to interact with Judge Sonali Bendre. Kirron Kher told him that every performance of him is different and original from all his previous performances.[11] After Satyajit's performance was over he spontaneously commented on the anchors.

On the show, Satyajit spoke of his plans to open an institute of Ventriloquism, Puppetry and Allied Arts to boost these art forms.

Kaun Banega Crorepati

Satyajit Padhye along with Amitabh Bachchan on Kaun Banega Crorepati in Season-5

Ventriloquist Satyajit Padhye with puppet Chotu Singh was invited to join Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 5. The episode no.37 started with Amitabh Bachchan's introduction of various art forms and how they are being neglected in the bright lights of technology. He then welcomed Padhye and his puppet friend to entertain the audience.

When Bachchan asked Chotu Singh what he would do if he won the prize money, he replied that he would simply relax for his entire lifetime. The puppet also interacted with the rollover contestant Dropadi Chandnani from Bhopal.

Padhye also presented the 150-year-old puppets originally created by pioneer Indian dramatist Vishnudas Bhave. The antique puppets were resurrected after 20 years' research by his father Ramdas. The next episode opened with this puppet show, scripted by his mother, Aparna Padhye. Aparna, a singer and puppeteer, originally scripted the show presented at the Nehru Centre in 2000. It was presented by Satyajit and his team of trained puppeteers on Kaun Banega Crorepati. Bachchan was the voice-over for one of the leading puppet characters.

Satyajit Padhye with Salman Khan on Bigg Boss Season 8

Big Bada Boom

Satyajit Padhye along with puppet "Bumpy" poses on the set of Big Bada Boom, a show on Disney Channel India

Satyajit Padhye was also a part of the show called Big Bada Boom on the Disney Channel where he operated a puppet called "Bumpy"[13]

A prankster, Bumpy is one of the co-anchors along with Tara, Murtuza and Zain. Padhye created Bumpy as a very cool character with attitude. He prank calls different celebrities on the phone. The show also had guest appearances by guest celebrities.

Satyajit Padhye uses ventriloquism and puppetry to create social awareness through many shows for cancer patients. He performed on the occasion of World Rare Disease Day on 29 February 2012 which is observed by Lysosomal Storage Disorders Support Society (LSDSS).[15]

Satyajit has also been a part of a puppet film called AIDS – The Deadline which highlights HIV and AIDS with puppets he created.[16] The film was released on World AIDS Day on 1 December 2006.

Satyajit Padhye with Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham at 39th Vent Haven Convention in Cincinnati, U.S.A. in 2015.

Satyajit Padhye has represented India abroad in many International Ventriloquism and Puppetry Festivals. He represented India at Japan Ventriloquist Convention in 2002. He represented India at World Festival of Puppet Arts, Prague in 2006 where he presented 150 Years old traditional Indian puppet show.[17] He also presented his show at 21st UNIMA Congress and World Puppetry Festival in Chengdu, China in 2012.[18]He represented India at the Vent Haven Convention in Cincinnati, U.S.A along with his wife Rujuta Padhye.[19] He met popular Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham. He participated in the World Puppetry Carnival in Sarawak, Malaysia in Nov 2017 and in 5th China Quanzhou International Puppetry Festival in Nov 2017.[20]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Satyajit Padhye.

• Official site
• Ramdas Padhye's Website