THE CURRENT STATUS OF BHARATA LEELA: A FOLK THEATRE TRADITION OF ODISHA

Leela, a significant genre of folk theatre in Odisha, has evolved through various forms such as Rama Leela, Krishna Leela, Rasa Leela, Radhaprema Leela, and Bharata Leela. Among these, Bharata Leela emerged as a popular theatre form in Ganjam district, deeply rooted in the cultural and devotional life of the region. This paper examines the current status of Bharata Leela based on field study, tracing its historical development, transformations in performance practices, music, stagecraft, and the challenges it faces in the contemporary context.