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Which traditional theatre of Kerala is performed as a series of eight plays over eight consecutive nights?
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Answer: Option A — Krishnanattam
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Krishnanattam. Krishnanattam is a traditional dance-drama of Kerala that tells the story of the life of Lord Krishna. It is performed as a cycle of eight plays, which are presented over eight consecutive nights, and on the ninth night, the first play is usually repeated, because it is considered inauspicious to end the cycle with the death of Krishna.
Krishnanattam was created in the 17th century by Manavedan, the Zamorin (king) of Calicut (Kozhikode), who was a great scholar and a devotee of Krishna. It is based on his Sanskrit work, the Krishnagiti, which describes the life of Krishna in eight parts. The eight plays are Avataram (the birth of Krishna), Kaliyamardanam (the subduing of the serpent Kaliya), Rasakrida (the dance with the gopis), Kamsavadham (the killing of Kamsa), Swayamvaram (the marriage of Krishna and Rukmini), Banayuddham (the war with Banasura), Vividavadham (the killing of the ape Vivida) and Swargarohanam (the ascent of Krishna to heaven). Krishnanattam is performed mainly at the Guruvayur Sri Krishna temple, by a troupe that belongs to the temple, and it is offered as a form of worship, often in fulfilment of a vow. The actors wear elaborate costumes and make-up, and many of the characters wear masks.
According to a popular story, when the Prince of Kottarakkara asked the Zamorin to send the Krishnanattam troupe to his court, the Zamorin refused. In response, the Prince of Kottarakkara created Ramanattam, a dance-drama based on the Ramayana, in Malayalam. Ramanattam is considered the forerunner of Kathakali.
About the other options:
Ramanattam is a dance-drama based on the story of Rama, created by the Prince of Kottarakkara.
Koodiyattam is the ancient Sanskrit theatre of Kerala, performed by the Chakyars and Nangiars. It was proclaimed a UNESCO Masterpiece in 2001.
Ottan Thullal is the satirical dance and recitation art created by Kunchan Nambiar.
💡 Exam tip
Krishnanattam (by the Zamorin Manavedan, eight plays, Guruvayur) and Ramanattam (by the Prince of Kottarakkara) are often asked together, as the two traditions that led to Kathakali.💬 Discussions on this question
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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.