Kathakali

Kathakali, one of the best classical forms of India, has brought Kerala world fame. There is no other art form like it in the world that combines music, literature, acting, dance, instruments, painting and sculpture. The predecessor of Kathakali is Krishnanattam, which emerged in the 16th century under the encouragement of the Zamorin of Kozhikode. The Ramanattam, which was created by the Thampuran of Kottarakkara in the 17th century, evolved into Kathakali. The king of Vettamthu, Kaplingott Namboodiri, and Chathupanicker of Kalladikott Kalari played an important role in reforming Kathakali. It was the Thampuran of Kottayam, who lived in the 18th century, who gave Kathakali its literary foundation. He reformed Kathakali based on the Attakathas he composed, leaving the Ramayana behind. With this, Ramanattam became famous as Kathakali. Later, the kings of Travancore nurtured Kathakali. It was Vallathol's efforts in the 20th century that made Kathakali world famous.

Prominent Kathakali Performers

■ Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon

■ Guru Chengannur Raman Pillai

■ Guru Thakazhi Kunjukurup

■ Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair

■ Vazhengada Kunju Nair

■ Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair

■ Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair

■ Guru Mampuzha Madhava Panicker

■ Oyoor Kochu Govinda Pillai

■ Kavungal Chathunni Panicker

■ Haripad Ramakrishna Pillai

■ Kalamandalam Ramankunatty Nair

■ Kalamandalam Sankaran Embranthiri

■ Kalamandalam Unnikrishnakurup

■ Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair

■ Kalamandalam Gopi

■ Anandasivaram

■ Kottakkal Sivaraman

■ Kalamandalam Haridas

■ Kalamandalam Hyderali

■ Kudamaloor Mankulam Krishnan Namboothiri

■ Champakulam Pachu Pillai

■ Madavoor Vasudevan Nair

■ Mankombu Sivashankara Pillai

■ Sadanam Krishnankutty

■ Margi Vijayakumar

■ Nelliyod Vasudevan Namboothiri

■ Kottakkal Chandrasekharan

■ Mankulam Vishnu Namboothiri

■ Kalamandalam Neelakandan Nambeesan

■ Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval

■ Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair

PSC Questions

1. The unique art form of Kerala - Kathakali

2. From which art form did Kathakali originate - Ramanattom

3. The art form known as the 'king of arts' - Kathakali

4. Who is the originator of Ramanattam - Kottarakkara Thampuran

5. Who is the originator of Kathakali - Kottarakkara Thampuran

6. Who wrote the Nalacharitam Attakatha - Unnai Warrier

7. Who wrote the Attakatha called Bakavadham - Kottayam Thampuran

8. What is the name of the ceremony that begins Kathakali - Arangukeli

9. What is the authoritative book on hand signs - Hastalakshandeepika

10. What is the book that is the basis of Kathakali signs - Hastalakshandeepika

11. Kerala Kalamandalam is mainly associated with the promotion of which art form - Kathakali

12. In which year was Kerala Kalamandalam established - 1930

13. What is the name of the literary form of Kathakali - Attakatha

14. What is the name of the lamp that is lit in the arena where Kathakali is performed - Attavilakku

15. What is the name of the female costume - Minukku

16. The original form of Kathakali is known as - Ramanattam

17. Who is the author of the book Kathakalirangam - K.P.S. Menon

18. How many mudras are mentioned in Hastalakshandeepika - 24 mudras

19. Number of mudras in Kathakali - 24

20. What is the name of the costume used to portray virtuous characters in Kathakali - Pacha

21. What quality does 'Karivesha' represent - Tamogunam

22. What type of costume is used for great sages - Minukkuvesha

23. The art form that is simultaneously known as the 'king of arts' and the 'art of kings' - Kathakali

24. What kind of costume does Duryodhana wear - Kurunguthi

25. What kind of costume does Hanuman wear - Vellathaddi

26. What is the name given to performing mudras along with the song of a Kathakali singer - Cholliyattam

27. The Kerala art form that was mocked as 'Oomakalli' later became world famous. What is that art form - Kathakali

28. The main ceremonies in Kathakali starting from Kelikottu - Ashtangam

29. The ceremonies in Kathakali - Kelikottu, Arangukeli, Thodayam, Vandana Shlokas, Purappad, Melappadam, Kathabhinayam, Dhanashi

30. What is the name of the ceremony that announces that Kathakali is going to be held at a place - Kelikottu

31. The ceremony that takes place as soon as the lamp is lit on the Kathakali stage - Arangukeli (Kelikai)

32. The ceremony that begins with the curtain being drawn immediately after Kelikai is over - Thodayam

33. The two-minute dances are performed to the hymns sung by the singers from behind the curtain - Thodagam

34. The first ceremony in the Kathakali performance - Purappad

35. The ceremony of the heroines entering the stage - Purappad

36. The final ceremony of the Kathakali performance - Dhanashi (dance in the form of praise to God)

37. The period known as the Shukra Dasha of Kathakali - The reign of Utram Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the king of Travancore

38. What is the ornament worn by Kathakali actors on their feet - Kachamani

39. Mankulam Vishnu Namboothiri is associated with which art form - Kathakali

40. Vettathu Sampradayam is associated with which art form - Kathakali

41. The inventor of the Vettathu Sampradayam in Kathakali - Vettathu Raja

42. The reforms made by Vettathu Raja in Kathakali are known - Vettathu Sampradayam

43. What is the name of the Kelikottu The first ceremony of the art form - Kathakali

44. A classical dance form that developed from the Ramanattam devised by Kottarakkara Thampuran - Kathakali

45. Which art form was revived by Vallathol Narayana Menon - Kathakali

46. What is the prose form of Attakatha - Kathakali

47. Hastalakshandeepika is an authoritative book related to which art form - Kathakali

48. Who is the author of the book 'Kathakali Vada' - Pannissery Nanu Pillai

49. Who is the author of the book Kathakali Prakasika - Mathur Kunju Pillapanikkar

50. How many variants are there in the beard costume? Which ones? - Three (white, red, black)

51. What kind of costume do demons wear in Kathakali? - Red beard

52. Another name for 'Vellathadi' is - Vattamudi

53. The inventor of the 'Kaplingadan system', one of the Kathakali systems, is - Kaplingattu Narayanan Namboothiri

54. Who is the inventor of the Kallatikodan system in Kathakali? - Vellattu Chathupanicker

55. Who invented the presentation method called Kalluvazichitta? - Ittiraricha Menon

56. The institution established by the great poet Vallathol for the promotion of Kathakali and Kerala arts - Kerala Kalamandalam

57. By what name is the crown of the Sree Krishna costume in Kathakali known - Krishnamudi

58. Which art form was introduced by King Manadevan of Kozhikode - Krishnanattam

59. How many Bhagavad Kathas are there in Krishna Nattam - Eight

60. The name given to the process of applying paint and decorations to the faces of Kathakali performers - Chuttikuthu

61. What is the Guinness record for the thickest face paint in the world - 'Chutti' in Kathakali

62. What is the name of the place where the world-famous Kerala Kalamandalam is located - Cheruthuruthy

63. Which is the last member of the eight castes of Kathakali - Dhanashi

64. The musical performance to inform the people that Kathakali is taking place - Kelikottu

65. Which is the character who plays the frightening part in Kathakali - Ninam

66. Who is the author of the book 'Balarama Bharatham' - Karthika Thirunal Raja (Dharmaraja)

67. If the Vadakkadkanchitta is the system of Kalattikodan, then the system known as Thekkanachitta is the system of - Kaplingadan

68. Who wrote the story Karnasapatham - Mali Madhavan Nair

69. Who is the author of the story Kuchelavritham - Muringoor Sankaran Potty

70. Which is the story known as the Shakunthalam of Kerala - Nalacharitam

71. Under what name did Kilimanoor Rajarajavarma Koyithampuran become famous for writing stories - Karindran

72. Characteristics of Kathakali - 'Udatta Natyarupam', 'Nrithanatyam', 'Samagranritham'

73. Instruments used in Kathakali - Chenda, Maddalam, Chengila, Ilathalam

74. Various systems in Kathakali - Kalluvazhi system, Kaplingadu system, Vettath Sampradayam

75. International Kathakali Centre is located in - New Delhi

76. Kottarakkara Thampuran Memorial Museum of Classical Arts is located in - Kollam