PERFORMANCE STYLE OF BHARATA LEELA

Bharata Leela is one of the important folk theatre traditions of Odisha, primarily flourishing in the Ganjam district. This theatre form, rooted in the devotional, mythological, and performative traditions of the region, brings together narrative, music, dance, costume, and ritual practices. The present paper explores the performance style of Bharata Leela, focusing on its story content, characters, musical tradition, performance space, costumes, and overall theatrical aesthetics.