Like its acting style, the costumes and makeup are also conventional. Its repertory consists of plays written and acted in Sanskrit and Prakrit. Malayalam, the regional language, is also used, particularly in improvised passages spoken by humorous characters. It is an open air musical opera which can be performed at any convenient level ground. Sometimes the performing stage is generally bare of any property.
Audiences sit on three sides of the performing arena.
Lighting is provided by any available source - from oil torches to electric bulbs. The make-up and costumes are colorful and dazzling. For make-up amber, blue, black, green, red colours in different combinations are used. For instance, the face of Krishna is made up with blue and green colours while Bhima is painted in blue and black. Indigenous coloured powders are used as a source of colour.