Avadhanam

Avadhānaṃ (literally meaning "concentration") is a genre of performance in India, where a performer (called the avadhāni) answers challenging questions from several questioners in parallel. The most popular variety, called sāhitya (literary) avadhānam involves the performer composing poetry, thereby entertaining the audience and demonstrating the poetic skills of the performer. The art form was developed particularly by Telugu poets in medieval times. It involves the partial improvisation of poems using specific themes, metres, forms, or words. There is a tradition of mentoring in Avadhanam. The best avadhanis have contributed to the oeuvres of Telugu and Kannada poetry.

== Method== thumb|Performance of an avadhanam with 100 questioners, with the avadhani on a raised podium and questioners on either side. Avadhānaṃ requires a talent for memorisation, intellect, an extensive knowledge of Indian poetry, prosody and performance skills.