SSC
Chavittu Natakam (Chavittu Kali), a musical drama with Portuguese influence, is associated with which state?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option A — Kerala
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Kerala. Chavittu Natakam, also called Chavittu Kali, is a colourful musical drama of the Latin Catholic community of Kerala. It is performed mainly in the coastal areas around Kochi (Ernakulam), Alappuzha and Thrissur. "Chavittu" means "to stamp" in Malayalam, and the name comes from the strong stamping of the feet on the wooden stage that is a key feature of the performance.
Chavittu Natakam developed in the 16th century, after the arrival of the Portuguese in Kerala. It was used by missionaries and the local Christian community to tell stories of Christian heroes and Biblical and European historical figures. Its best-known plays include "Charlemagne" (Karalman Charitham) and stories of St. George and other saints and kings. The costumes resemble those of medieval European royalty, with crowns, swords, robes and shields, while the music, rhythm and acting style draw on Kerala's own traditions, including elements of Kathakali and Kalaripayattu. The dialogue is sung in a mixture of Tamil and Malayalam. The first teacher who trains the performers is called the Annavi.
About the other options:
- Goa also has a strong Portuguese influence, seen in forms such as Mando and Dekhni, but Chavittu Natakam belongs to Kerala.
- Tamil Nadu is known for Bharatanatyam, Therukoothu (street theatre), Karagattam and Kummi.
- Karnataka is known for Yakshagana, Dollu Kunitha and Bhoota Kola.
- None of these is associated with Chavittu Natakam.
Kerala is home to performing arts from many communities. Hindu temple arts include Kathakali, Koodiyattam and Theyyam. Christian arts include Chavittu Natakam and Margamkali. Muslim arts include Oppana and Duff Muttu.
💡 Exam tip
If a question mentions Portuguese influence and the Latin Christians of Kerala, the answer is Chavittu Natakam. Remember that its name comes from the stamping of feet.💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore Indian Dance Forms Questions
View all ›- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:
Indian Dance Forms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Indian Dance Forms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
Indian dance forms are one of the most frequently tested areas of static GK. This topic covers the eight classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Sattriya), the folk and tribal dances of every state, and related terms such as mudra, abhinaya, lasya and tandava. Most questions ask which state a dance belongs to, which community performs it, or which feature identifies a classical style. Learn the classical dances with their state and one signature feature each, such as the face make-up of Kathakali or the brass plate of Kuchipudi. For folk dances, group them state by state, since exams often list three or four dances and ask for the common state. Watch for dances shared by more than one state, such as Chhau, which has three styles. Practise the Indian dance forms questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.