A native of Karnataka, this theatre form is basically folk but with strong classical overtones. Unlike the stylised costumes and masks of Kathakali, Yakshagana is a true people's theatre, often staged in the paddy fields at night. It revolves around the stories from Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas.

Although the name literally means: Song of the celestial beings, Yakshagana is more earthy and mundane than fantastic. There is both mystery and robustness about this dance form, in which singing and drum-beats merge with the dancing, and words with gestures. The colourful costumes and the dancers’ contours blend in with the rest of the elements.