# Bharata Lila

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Indian performing theatre form

Bharata lila Guru Santosh Kumar Padhi plays the duari Medium Musical theatre Originating culture Odia culture Originating era Nineteenth century (present form)

**Bharata Lila** is an Indian [performing](/source/Performing_art) [theater](/source/Theater) form of [Ganjam district](/source/Ganjam_district) of [Odisha](/source/Odisha). The plot is based on [characters](/source/Character_(arts)) of the [Mahabharata](/source/Mahabharata), thus the name of the form. Because of the importance of a central character *Duari,* Arjuna's sentry, it is also called *Duari Nata* or *Duari Llla*.[1] The focal point of the plot is the story of Arjuna & Subhadra's romance, which is why it is also known as *Subhadra Harana*.[2] Apart from Ganjam, it is also performed in some parts in western Odisha. The play is known for its effective use of humour within the traditional storyline.[3] A regular performance of Bharata Lila in the 21st century goes on for about 10–12 hours. In the last century performances used to last for a couple of days at a stretch. The *badi* is a performance method in Odisha's traditional artforms where opponents compete with each other. In urban settings, Bharata Lila performances are regularly condensed to just 2–3 hours owing to lack of time.[4][5]

The plot is based on [Odia](/source/Odia_literature) poetry written by the poet Dinabandhu Dasa, mostly in the *chhanda* form of [Odissi music](/source/Odissi_music). While Dinabandhu's version of the play was written only in the 19th century, older forms of the play used to be in vogue even before him. The subject matter has been dealt with extensively in [Sarala Dasa](/source/Sarala_Das)'s 15th-century Odia *Mahabharata* as well as Upendra Bhanja's ornate epic-poem *Subhadra Parinaya*. Dinabandhu's narrative greatly derives from these retellings of the Mahabharata episode. Medieval Odia literature, including the Odissi songs of poets [Dinakrusna Dasa](/source/Dinakrushna_Dasa), [Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja](/source/Upendra_Bhanja), [*Kabisurjya* Baladeba Ratha](/source/Baladeba_Ratha), [Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka](/source/Gopalakrusna_Pattanayaka) are also employed in relevant situations. Classical [Odissi music](/source/Odissi_music) is freely interspersed with folk music. The characters of Bharata Lila are [Arjuna](/source/Arjuna), [Subhadra](/source/Subhadra), [Satyabhama](/source/Satyabhama) from [Mahabharata](/source/Mahabharata), and a central character "*duari*" which is absent in the epic.[1] The ensemble of Bharata Lila comprises a [mardala](/source/Mardala), gini, jodinagara, ghuduki and harmonium.

Oṛiśī Sangīta Odissi music Mahāprabhu Jagannātha Composers Jayadeva Dinakrusna Bhanja Banamali Abhimanyu Kabisurjya Gopalakrusna Shāstras Sangita Sara Gita Prakasa Sangita Narayana Sangita Muktabali Compositions Gita Govinda Odissi Prabandha Chhanda Champu Chautisa Janana Bhajana Malasri Pallabi Charjyapada Instruments Mardala Benu Bina Khol v t e

## Citations

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Lal2004_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Lal2004_1-1) Ananda Lal (2004). [*The Oxford Companion to Indian Theatre*](https://books.google.com/books?id=DftkAAAAMAAJ). Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-564446-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-564446-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Dāśa1981_2-0)** Dhīren Dāśa (1981). [*Jatra, the people's theatre of Orissa*](https://books.google.com/books?id=qgM7AAAAMAAJ). Institute of Oriental Theatre Arts.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [*Sangeet Natak*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Z52fAAAAMAAJ). Sangeet Natak Akademi. 1979.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ClausDiamond2003_4-0)** Peter J. Claus; Sarah Diamond; Margaret Ann Mills (2003). [*South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia : Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka*](https://books.google.com/books?id=ienxrTPHzzwC&pg=PA62). Taylor & Francis. pp. 62–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-415-93919-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-415-93919-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Dash_5-0)** Dash, Dhiren (1979). "Jatra: People's Theatre of Orissa". *Sangeet Natak: Journal of the Sangeet Natak Akademi*. 52: 11-26.

## External links

- Media related to [Bharata Lila](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bharata_Lila) at Wikimedia Commons

v t e Odissi music Compositions Odissi Chhanda Champu Chautisa Bhajana Janana Gita Govinda Malasri Charyapada Instruments Mardala Mrudanga (Khola) Khanjani Bina Composers Kabirāja Jayadeva Bachha Dasa Damodara Dasa Panchasakha (Balarama Dasa Atibadi Jagannatha Dasa Jasobanta Dasa Sisu Ananta Dasa Achyutananda Dasa) Salabega Dinakrushna Dasa Kabi Samrata Upendra Bhanja Biswanatha Khuntia Brajanath Badajena Banamali Dasa Kabisurjya Baladeba Ratha Utkala Ghanta Jadumani Mahapatra Sadananda Kabisurjya Brahma Bidagdha Kabi Abhimanyu Samantasinghara Bhakta Charana Dasa Kabikalahansa Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka Sadhaka Kabi Gourahari Parichha Kabichandra Raghunatha Parichha Gauracharana Adhikari Benudhara Pattanayaka Gadadhara Singhasamanta Lokanatha Pattnaik Kabichandra Kalicharan Pattnaik Treatises Sangita Sara Gita Prakasa Sangita Narayana Sangita Muktabalī Sangita Kalpalatika Sangitarnavachandrika Sangita Koumudi Gurus Gokul Srichandan Seikh Khan Mohammed Basudeb Mahapatra Lokenath Kanungo Harihara Rayaguru Gobinda Chandra Suradeo Upendranath Tripathy Prabhupada Mohan Sundar Deb Goswami Gayaka Siromani Apanna Panigrahi Kabichandra Kali Charan Patnaik Shyamsundar Dhir Banikantha Nimai Charan Harichandan Astabadhani Acharya Tarini Charan Patra Adiguru Singhari Shyamsundar Kar Nrusingha Nath Khuntia Jagabandhu Sahu Markandeya Mahapatra Paschimeswar Jena Lokanath Rath Kashinath Pujapanda Biswanatha Pujapanda Lokanath Pala Sangita Sudhakara Balakrushna Dash Sukadeb Patri Bisnupriya Samantasinghar Binapani Mohanty Bina Debi Binapani Mishra Radhamani Mahapatra Suramani Raghunath Panigrahi Shyamamani Devi Akhil Kumar Lenka Padmakesari Damodar Hota Bhajana Samrata Bhikari Charan Bal Gopal Chandra Panda Bhubaneswari Mishra Sudha Mishra Ramarao Patra (Bina) Ramhari Das Mardala Singhari Shyamsundar Kar Chakradhar Sahu Padmanabha Panda Mahadev Rout Kashinath Muduli Banamali Maharana Dhaneswar Swain Satchidananda Das Kabyas Gita Govinda Usabhilasa Rasakallola Baidehisa Bilasa Koti Brahmanda Sundari Labanyabati Bichitra Ramayana Bidagdha Chintamani Mathura Mangala Kisorachandrananda Champu Allied artforms Odissi dance Mahari Goṭipua Pala Prahallada Nataka Radha Prema Lila Dasakathia Bharata Lila Rabana Chhaya

v t e Culture of Odisha Dance Classical Gotipua Mahari Odissi Folk Bagha Nacha Chadheia Chaiti ghoda Chhau Chutkuchuta Dalkhai Danda Nata Dhan Koela Dhuduki Ghumura Jhumar Jodi sankha Karma Kandhei nacha Kathi Kandhei Keisabadi Nachni Naga nrutya Pala Rasarkeli Ranapa Sambalpuri Samprada Laudi nata Lankapodi Lila Tamasa Pasu nrutya Patua Sakhi Nata Suanga Tribal Desia Gadaba Kandha Koya Onra Paraja Saura Music Odissi Khanjani Kendara Dhumpa Play, theatre and puppetry Play and theatre Bharata Lila Dasakathia Dhanu Jatra Jatra Prahallada Nataka Puppetry Ravana chhaya Sakhi kandhei Wedding Odia Hindu wedding Festivals Bali Jatra Boita Bandana Deepabali Dola Jatra Durga Puja Nuakhai Gamha Purnima Kumar Purnima Makar Sankranti Manabasa Gurubara Maha Bishuba Sankranti (Pana Sankranti) Pousha Purnima Prathamastami Ratha Jatra Raja Samba Dashami Savitri Brata Sitalsasthi Snana Jatra Martial arts Paika akhada Handlooms Baleswari bandha Berhampuri Bomkai (Sonepuri) Dhalapathar Gopalpur Tussar Habaspuri Kotpad Ikat Pasapali Sambalpuri Arts and Handicrafts Arts Pattachitra Jhoti chita Saura painting Idital Handicrafts Chandua Tarakasi Ganjapa Clay Stoneworks Wooden crafts Bronze & Bell metal works Dhokra Architecture Kalinga architecture Deula Calendar (Panjika) Odia calendar Anka year Category

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bharata Lila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharata_Lila) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharata_Lila?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.