Rangabhoomi or the theater culture is a tradition with Kannadigas. While a lot of (literature) is written in praise of the heroic characters of the epics and puranas, there are major works depicting the kings and their rule. These are called (plays having wide-ranging stages for performance like Rangamancha staged in either theaters or on streets) and "Bayalata" (). As its etymology indicates, "bayalu" means open-air field and "ata" means theater. In southern Karnataka, the eastern and western varieties of Yakshagana are termed Bayalata, whereas in the north several other distinct genres are included under the name.