Context

• Recently the traditional art of ‘talamaddale’, a variant of Yakshagana theatre, has gone virtual in times of Covid-19.

About Talamaddale

• The word Talamaddale is derived from the word ‘tala’ (Cymbal) and Maddale (the drum).
• Tala-Maddale is an ancient form of dance practiced in Southern India in the coastal Malnad regions of Karnataka and Kerala. 
• It is a variation of the Yakshagana Theatre.
• Unlike the Yakshagana performance,in the conventional ‘talamaddale,’ the artists sit across in a place without any costumes and engage in testing their oratory skillsbased on the episode chosen.
• While music is common for both Yakshagana performance and ‘talamaddale’, the latter has only spoken word without any dance or costumes. 
• Hence Talamaddale is an art form minus dance, costumes, and stage conventions.

About Yakshagana

• It is a traditional theatre form of Karnatakaand Kerala.
• Yakshagana is a temple art form that depicts mythological stories and Puranas.
• This temple art is performed with massive headgears, elaborate facial make-up, and vibrant costumes and ornaments.
• Usually recited in Kannada, it is also performed in Malayalam as well as Tulu (the dialect of south Karnataka.
• Yakshagana is performed with percussion instruments like chenda, maddalam, jagatta or chengila (cymbals) and chakratala or elathalam (small cymbals).