As the sun packs up for the day, the sound of the conch horn fills the twilight air in this coastal town of Karnataka. The people of the town, having finished the work of the day, gather in the open field on the outskirts of the town. Men dressed in detailed and elaborate historical costumes that once belonged to their grandfathers. Musicians have settled around the fancily dressed men, prepared to play a variety of folk-style instruments.

 

 

This is a typical scene of a Bayalata, an art form native to the state of Karnataka. Bayalu means outside and aata means to play in Kannada. Artistes are dressed in grand and complicated costumes which have been passed down for generations for this art form is a family tradition. The play is usually adapted from the Ramayana or the Mahabharata The characters are generally played only by men but recent developments have led to the participation of women too.

 

 

There is no specific theater setting required for Bayalata. It is in the name, it is performed in the open. I have had the fortune of watching a Bayalata performance once. It was performed, unconventionally, on a stage however, its essence remained to entertain us.

 

​

The story that was being portrayed was from the Mahabharata - the war between Arjuna and Karna- Karnaarjuna Kalaga. The characters of Arjuna, Krishna, Karna, and Shalya were dressed in grandeur. The language used in the play was elevated and dramatized. Although I was unable to understand the elevated Kannada to the maximum, I could understand the sentiment in the dialogue. The actors delivered the lines with raw power. It was truly a feast to both the eyes and the ears. Musicians seated in backstage periodically added a melodic spell to the play. Although I already knew the story, I saw that episode of Mahabharata in a new light. It is difficult to express in words the impact that that play had on my understanding or perspective of drama.