Question

Which state is related to the Kathakali dance?
A) Andra
B) Kerala
C) Tamil Nadu
D) Odisha

Answer 1

Hint: Kathakali is a traditional art form from the southern side of India which originated around 300 years ago. Kathakali was initially called Krishnanattam and performed mythical stories including Ramayana and Mahabharata In Front of the old kings. It mixes the art of devotion and expressions together and performed in the temples with music played by traditional instruments like Chanda. Kathakali artists use all-natural makeup extracted from natural resources to keep it authentic.

Complete answer:
Kathakali is a traditional art form created in Kerala as a part of virtual devotion during the time of ancient rulers. It visually explores magnificent stories from Indian epics. The costumes of Kathakali are basically five types in regard to the character being portrayed followed by suitable make-ups. Known as ‘Vesham’ the make-up is distributed as Pacha [ protagonist or any noble characters], Kathi [villains], Thadi [There are three types of beards or Thadi Veshams. VellaThadi or Whitebeard for superhuman monkeys like Hanuman. ChuvannaThadi or Red beard meant for evil characters. KaruthaThadi or Black beard for the hunter], Kari [female demons], and Minukku [female characters]. Other than the main costumes, the actors are also decked with decors like kireetam (huge ornamental headgear) and the kanchuka (oversized jackets), and a long skirt worn over a thick padding of cushions.
Kathakali is performed with a background score called Attakatha. it is nothing but an enacted story written in Sanskritized Malayalam. These plays are written in a particular format that combines the "action" and the "dialogue" parts of the performance. These Attakathi are altered in a way for the actors to improvise. Historically, all these plays were derived from Hindu texts such as the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Bhagavata Purana.
So, the correct answer is Option B.

Note: Kathakali is a mixture of dance, music, and acting, and dramatizes stories mainly adapted from Indian epics. It is a stylized type of art, perfectly integrating the four aspects of abhinaya - Angika, aharya, vachika, satvika, and the aspects of nritta, nritya, and natya. The dancer, closely following the verses(padams) that are sung, expresses himself through codified hasta mudras and facial expressions. The textual sanction of Kathakali is derived from Balarama Bharatam and Hastha Lakshana Deepika.