UPSC Prelims 2001 Q65: Art & Culture – Theatre & Cinema
Which of the following pairs is NOT correctly matched?
- (a) India’s first Technicolour film - Jhansi Ki Rani
- (b) India’s first 3 - D film - My Dear Kuttichat
- (c) India’s first insured film - Taal
- (d) India’s first actress to win the Bharat Ratna - Meena Kumari
Answer: (d) India’s first actress to win the Bharat Ratna - Meena Kumari
Explanation
Pair NOT correctly matched among Indian film firsts
| Pair | Verdict |
|---|---|
| First Technicolor film — Jhansi Ki Rani | Correct — Sohrab Modi's film (1953) |
| First 3-D film — My Dear Kuttichathan | Correct — Malayalam film (1984) |
| First insured film — Taal | Correct — Subhash Ghai's film (1999) |
| First actress to win the Bharat Ratna — Meena Kumari | Not correct — Meena Kumari never got the Bharat Ratna; no film actress has |
The first three pairs are correct. Meena Kumari did not receive the Bharat Ratna. The women from the arts given the award are singers M. S. Subbulakshmi (1998) and Lata Mangeshkar (2001), not actresses.
Answer: (d) India’s first actress to win the Bharat Ratna - Meena Kumari.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Jhansi Ki Rani (1953) was India's first Technicolor film, so this pair is correct.
- (b) Incorrect. My Dear Kuttichathan was India's first 3-D film, so this pair is correct.
- (c) Incorrect. Taal was the first Indian film to be insured, so this pair is correct.
- (d) CORRECT. Meena Kumari never received the Bharat Ratna.
Key point
Film people with the Bharat Ratna: M. G. Ramachandran (1988, posthumous), Satyajit Ray (1992), Lata Mangeshkar (2001), Bhupen Hazarika (2019).
Remember
No actress has won the Bharat Ratna; Lata Mangeshkar (2001) was a singer.
Common mistakes
- Missing the word NOT in the question.
- Thinking an actress has won the Bharat Ratna.
- Doubting the less-known 3-D film pair.
Exam tip
In 'NOT correctly matched' questions, look for the claim that is simply impossible.
Sources
- Ministry of Home Affairs — List of Bharat Ratna awardees (padmaawards.gov.in / mha.gov.in)
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting — Directorate of Film Festivals, Indian cinema milestones