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How do folk theatre forms such as bhavai, terukkuttu, and nautanki combine singing and dancing?

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Watch and hear a person playing the mridangam drum of the Carnatic music tradition — South Asian arts The *mridangam*, the principal drum of the Carnatic music tradition.

In South Asian folk theatre forms such as bhavai, terukkuttu, and nautanki, the integration of singing and dancing is a fundamental aspect of the performance. In these traditions, characters often sing and dance simultaneously, or they alternate between the two modes of expression during the play.1

This synthesis is part of a "total theatre" approach that relies on music, dance, and a singing chorus to engage the audience's senses. Because these performances are often held in open-air arenas or canopied courtyards, the performers maintain a close, interactive relationship with the spectators. The performers are expected to possess a "double aesthetic discipline," as they are required to be both musicians and dancers, which enriches the overall theatrical experience.21