The set of leather puppets comprising the ruesi (rishia hermit), Phra Isuan (the Hindu God Ishvara or Shiva), Chao Mueang, Nang Mueang, the hero and the heroine, the deities, the demons, the comedian, and other characters are kept in a phaeng nang. The comedian character is the most important of the whole set and indispensable. The comic parts add colour to the spectacle and leave strong and longlasting impression on the audience. People will talk about the jokes and the funny bits and tell others about them. If the puppeteer succeeds in creating a hilarious character that people keep talking about can be considered a truly accomplished puppeteer.ขขข
Besides its entertaining value, Nang Talung’s lasting popularity from the past to the present also rests on the sharp wit of the puppeteer who comments on the prevailing social occurrences and happenings through the puppets. This reflects the character of the southern people who are keen on following social and political development and occurrences in the nation. Nang Talung has therefore been a part of the social and cultural landscape of the southern people throughout the ages.