This Kathakali Act Perfectly Sums Up Bengaluru Traffic Woes, And It Is Hilarious

What happens when centuries-old tradition meets Bengaluru’s never-ending traffic jams? A viral Kathakali performance at a recent Onam celebration in the city gave the audience a good laugh while mirroring their daily struggles on the road via their act.

The act, performed by Kalamandalam-trained artists Arvind and Naveen, used the vibrant storytelling style of Kathakali to bring Bengaluru’s traffic nightmares to life. From dramatic gestures of honking and waiting in a jam to depict frustrated commuters, the skit struck a chord with the audience.

The clever twist? When the performers “abandoned” their vehicles and decided to walk instead. It left viewers in splits, allowing them to have fun. The clip, shared on X (formerly Twitter) by author Nandita

Iyer, quickly went viral. She captioned, “A Kathakali demonstration of ‘Bengaluru traffic sucks, let’s get down and walk’ by Kalamandalam artists Arvind and Naveen / in our community Onam celebrations.”

A Kathakali demonstration of “Bengaluru traffic sucks, let’s get down and walk” by Kalamandalam artists Arvind and Naveen / in our community Onam celebrations 😄 pic.twitter.com/QQ1Ausddgr

— Dr Nandita Iyer (@saffrontrail) September 14, 2025

While the performance was lighthearted, it also sparked serious conversations about Bengaluru’s worsening traffic. Many residents could relate instantly as they continue to spend hours stuck on the roads daily.

Bengaluru’s Person-To-Vehicle Ratio

Fresh data from the Karnataka Transport Department suggested that in August 2025 alone, the city added 58,913 new private vehicles, nearly 20% more than in April. This includes 45,595 two-wheelers and 13,318 cars, compared to 36,888 two-wheelers and 12,278 cars just four months earlier. Bengaluru already has over 1.06 crore vehicles registered and experts warn that the city is inching toward becoming a “permanent gridlock city.”

“Bengaluru has probably the worst person-to-vehicle ratio in the world,” civic activist Sandeep Anirudhan, in a statement, said. He added, “Population is rising, but mass transit growth is painfully slow. The number of buses hasn’t increased, so everyone is forced to buy private vehicles.”

Humorous Skit

Despite the grim reality, the Kathakali skit offered a humorous escape and a creative way to highlight civic issues. Social media users applauded the performance for its originality. However, as Bengaluru continues to grapple with rising challenges and deteriorating air quality, the Kathakali act serves as a perfect reminder that sometimes humour can be the best way to make people stop and think.