UPSC Prelims 2000 Q27: Art & Culture – Classical Dance Forms

UPSC Prelims 2000, General Studies Paper I · Art & Culture

Consider the following statements regarding the Chakiarkoothu form of dance: I. It is performed by Chakiar caste. II. It cannot be traditionally witnessed by the higher caste Hindus. III. Mizhavu is the accompanying instrument. IV. Its theatre form is called koothambalam. Which of these statements are correct?

(a) I, III and IV
(b) I, II and III
(c) II, III and IV
(d) I, II and IV

Answer: (a) I, III and IV

Explanation

Chakiarkoothu — who performs it, where and with what

Statement	Verdict
I. Performed by the Chakiar caste	Correct — the Chakyar community of Kerala
II. Cannot be watched by higher caste Hindus	Wrong — it was performed in temples, traditionally for upper-caste Hindus; others were kept out
III. Mizhavu is the accompanying instrument	Correct — the large copper drum, played by the Nambiar
IV. Its theatre is the koothambalam	Correct — the temple theatre hall

Chakiarkoothu (Chakyar Koothu) is a solo performance of Kerala in which a Chakyar narrates stories from the epics and Puranas with humour and social satire.

It was traditionally staged inside temple premises, in the koothambalam, to the beat of the mizhavu drum played by a member of the Nambiar community.

Because it was a temple art, the audience was traditionally higher caste Hindus; it was lower castes and non-Hindus who could not see it, so statement II reverses the fact.

So I, III and IV are correct.

Answer: (a) I, III and IV.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) CORRECT. The Chakiar performer, the mizhavu drum and the koothambalam theatre are all correct.
(b) Incorrect. It includes statement II, which is wrong, and leaves out the koothambalam.
(c) Incorrect. Statement II is wrong: higher caste Hindus were the traditional audience.
(d) Incorrect. Statement II is wrong, and the mizhavu (statement III) is correct.

Key point

Chakyar performs, Nambiar plays the mizhavu, inside the koothambalam.

Remember

Chakiarkoothu: Chakyar, mizhavu, koothambalam, Kerala temples.

Common mistakes

Reading statement II as true because of the idea of caste restrictions, without asking who was kept out.
Confusing Chakiarkoothu with Koodiyattam, which shares the koothambalam and mizhavu.
Thinking the mizhavu belongs to Kathakali (which uses the chenda and maddalam).

Exam tip

Temple art = upper-caste audience; the exclusion ran the other way.

Sources

Sangeet Natak Akademi — Koodiyattam and Chakyar Koothu (sangeetnatak.gov.in)
Kerala Tourism — Chakyar Koothu art form page (keralatourism.org)

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