Art and Culture (Part-III)

11. Mask dance is associated with which of the following dance styles? [U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1992]

(a) Kathakali
(b) Naga
(c) Odissi
(d) Kuchipudi

Correct Answer: (a) Kathakali

Solution:Kathakali is related to Kerala. It is performed at religious festivals by actors wearing elaborate masks, colorful costumes and intricately painted faces.

12. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists : [I.A.S. (Pre) 1999]

List-I	List-II
A. Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar	1. Introduced the scheme of Raga classification of Indian music
B. Venkatamahi	2. Proponent of Carnatic music
C. Shyama Shastri	3. Proponent of the Khayal form of Hindustani music
D. Amir Khusrau	4. Wrote the music for the song ‘Vande Mataram’.

Code :

	A	B	C	D
(a)	4	1	3	2
(b)	1	2	4	3
(c)	4	3	1	2
(d)	1	4	2	3

Correct Answer: (d)

Solution:Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar introduced the scheme of Raga classification of Indian music. Venkatamahi wrote the music for the song ‘Vande Mataram’. Shyama Shastri was the proponent of Carnatic music and Amir Khusrau was the proponent of the Khayal form of Hindustani music.

13. Which one of the following dances related to Gujarat? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]

(a) Chunar
(b) Bidesia
(c) Raas dance
(d) Kuchipudi

Correct Answer: (c) Raas dance

Solution:Raas is the traditional folk dance form of Gujarat, India. Traditionally Raas is the folk dance of males while Garba is of females. Although both are equally popular among males and females.

14. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2001]

(a) India’s first technicolour film - Jhansi Ki Rani
(b) India’s first 3-D film - My Dear Kuttichathan
(c) India’s first insured film - Taal
(d) India’s first actress to win the Bharat Ratna - Meena Kumari

Correct Answer: (d) India’s first actress to win the Bharat Ratna - Meena Kumari

Solution:Meena Kumari was a famous film actress, but she was never awarded Bharat Ratna, while Lata Mangeshkar, the famous singer was awarded Bharat Ratna in 2001. Other pairs are correctly matched.

15. The lead character in the film “The Bandit Queen” has been played by: [M.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1997 I.A.S. (Pre) 1995]

(a) Seema Biswas
(b) Shabana Azmi
(c) Neeta Gupta
(d) Pallavi Joshi

Correct Answer: (a) Seema Biswas

Solution:Bandit Queen is an Indian biographical film based on the life of Phoolan Devi. It was directed by Shekhar Kapur and starred Seema Biswas as the titular character.

16. Who was the producer of the famous T.V. serial “Ramayan”? [M.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]

(a) B.R. Chopra
(b) Ramanand Sagar
(c) Shyam Benegal
(d) Mira Nair

Correct Answer: (b) Ramanand Sagar

Solution:The writer and producer of the famous T.V. serial ‘Ramayan’ was Ramanand Sagar.

17. The film “The Making of the Mahatma” has been directed by: [I.A.S. (Pre) 1997]

(a) Peter Ustinov
(b) Richard Attenborough
(c) Shyam Benegal
(d) Mira Nair

Correct Answer: (c) Shyam Benegal

Solution:The film “The Making of the Mahatma” was directed by Shyam Benegal.

18. Who played the role of Gandhi in the movie “Gandhi”? [M.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]

(a) Ben Kingsley
(b) Richard Attenborough
(c) Naseeruddin Shah
(d) Roshan Seth

Correct Answer: (a) Ben Kingsley

Solution:Gandhi’ is a 1982 epic biographical film which dramatizes the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the leader of India’s non-violent, independence movement against the United Kingdom’s rule. The movie ‘Gandhi’ was written by John Briley and produced and directed by Richard Attenborough. It stars Ben Kingsley in the title role.

19. Richard Attenborough is- [M.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1992]

(a) A writer
(b) A painter
(c) An actor
(d) Producer and director.

Correct Answer: (d) Producer and director.

20. The first feature film (talkie) to be produced in India was: [I.A.S. (Pre) 1999]

(a) Hatimtai
(c) Pundalik
(b) Alam Ara
(d) Raja Harishchandra

Correct Answer: (b) Alam Ara

Solution:Alam Ara is a 1931 film directed by Ardeshir Irani. It was the first Indian sound film. Alam Ara debuted at the Majestic Cinema in Mumbai (then Bombay) on 14 March, 1931.