Theatre in India has a rich and diverse history that spans centuries, encompassing a variety of forms, traditions, and influential figures. For aspirants preparing for exams like OSSSC RI, ARI, Amin, SFS, and ICDS Supervisor, having a solid grasp of Indian theatre history and its key aspects is crucial. Here’s a curated set of 30 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) designed to test and enhance your knowledge of Indian theatre:
Top 30 Indian Theatre(GK) MCQs for OSSSC RI,ARI, Amin, SFS, ICDS Supervisor
- Who established Prithvi Theatre?
(a) Prithviraj Kapoor
(b) Raj Kapoor
(c) Shashi Kapoor
(d) Shammi Kapoor
Ans: (a) Prithviraj Kapoor - Which theatre group was associated with Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA)?
(a) Prithvi Theatre
(b) NINASAM
(c) Chorus Repertory Theatre
(d) Sangeet Natak Akademi
Ans: (a) Prithvi Theatre - Who is known for keeping traditional Manipuri theatre alive through Kalakshetra Manipur?
(a) Heisnam Kanhailal
(b) Ratan Thiyam
(c) B.V. Karanth
(d) Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa
Ans: (a) Heisnam Kanhailal - Which playwright wrote the famous play ‘Nildarpan’?
(a) Rabindranath Tagore
(b) Dinabandhu Mitra
(c) Girish Karnad
(d) Vijay Tendulkar
Ans: (b) Dinabandhu Mitra - Who established the Chorus Repertory Theatre in 1976?
(a) Ratan Thiyam
(b) Heisnam Kanhailal
(c) BV Karanth
(d) Girish Karnad
Ans: (a) Ratan Thiyam - Which playwright wrote the play ‘Tughlaq’?
(a) Vijay Tendulkar
(b) Mohan Rakesh
(c) Badal Sarkar
(d) Girish Karnad
Ans: (d) Girish Karnad - Who founded the NINASAM theatre group?
(a) B.V. Karanth
(b) KV Subbanna
(c) Habib Tanvir
(d) Dharamvir Bharati
Ans: (b) KV Subbanna - Which theatre personality won the Ramon Magsaysay award?
(a) Vijay Tendulkar
(b) Habib Tanvir
(c) BV Karanth
(d) Girish Karnad
Ans: (c) BV Karanth - Which Indian playwright is known for the play ‘Andha Yug’?
(a) Badal Sarkar
(b) Vijay Tendulkar
(c) Mohan Rakesh
(d) Dharamvir Bharati
Ans: (b) Vijay Tendulkar - Who wrote the play ‘Hayavadana’?
(a) Girish Karnad
(b) Mohan Rakesh
(c) Vijay Tendulkar
(d) Badal Sarkar
Ans: (a) Girish Karnad - What does the Sanskrit word ‘nataka’ mean?
(a) Actor
(b) Dance
(c) Drama
(d) Music
Ans: (c) Drama - Who is considered the first classical Sanskrit playwright?
(a) Kalidasa
(b) Bhasa
(c) Sudraka
(d) Ashvaghosha
Ans: (d) Ashvaghosha - Which Sanskrit play introduced the essence of conflict with an antagonist character for the first time?
(a) Malavikagnimitram
(b) Vikramorvashi
(c) Shakuntalam
(d) Mricchakatika
Ans: (d) Mricchakatika - Who is known for the portrayal of the eternal conflict between desire and duty in Sanskrit drama?
(a) Kalidasa
(b) Bhavabhuti
(c) Visakhadatta
(d) Harshavardhana
Ans: (a) Kalidasa - Which type of Sanskrit play was characterized by realistic depictions of daily life?
(a) Lokadharmi
(b) Natyadharmi
(c) Rupaka
(d) Drishyakavya
Ans: (a) Lokadharmi - Who was the stage manager and director in classical Sanskrit theatre?
(a) Sutradhar
(b) Nayaka
(c) Vidusaka
(d) Nayika
Ans: (a) Sutradhar - Which instrument provides background music in Koodiyattam performances?
(a) Veena
(b) Mizhavu
(c) Tabla
(d) Flute
Ans: (b) Mizhavu - Which type of Sanskrit play typically had happy endings?
(a) Nataka
(b) Prakarana
(c) Prahasana
(d) Vyayoga
Ans: (a) Nataka - Who is known for introducing dance and music in the narrative art form of theatre in ancient India?
(a) Bhasa
(b) Kalidasa
(c) Ashvaghosha
(d) Bharata
Ans: (d) Bharata - Which traditional form of Indian theatre has survived since the 10th century AD in Kerala?
(a) Yakshagana
(b) Kuchipudi
(c) Koodiyattam
(d) Bhavai
Ans: (c) Koodiyattam - What is the traditional one-act play of Assam, started by Sankaradeva?
(a) Ankia Naat
(b) Ramlila
(c) Raslila
(d) Bhuta Aradhana
Ans: a) Ankia Naat - Which ritualistic theatre of Uttarakhand is dedicated to Bhumiyal Devta?
(a) Ramman
(b) Bhavai
(c) Daskathia
(d) Jatra
Ans: a) Ramman - Bhavai, a folk theatre form, is primarily associated with which Indian state?
(a) Rajasthan
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Odisha
(d) Himachal Pradesh
Ans: a) Rajasthan - Which folk theatre of Odisha involves two narrators – Gayaka and Palia?
(a) Garoda
(b) Maach
(c) Kariyila
(d) Daskathia
Ans: d) Daskathia - Nautanki, a popular North Indian theatre form, finds its roots in which earlier form?
(a) Swang
(b) Tamasha
(c) Ojapali
(d) Powada
Ans: a) Swang - Which South Indian theatre tradition is known for its emphasis on dance?
(a) Villu Paatu
(b) Yakshagana
(c) Theyyam
(d) Krishnanattam
Ans: b) Yakshagana - What is the folk theatre form from Maharashtra known for its humour and female actors in male roles?
(a) Bhand Pather
(b) Bhavai
(c) Tamasha
(d) Naqal
Ans: c) Tamasha - Which theatre form is associated with the storytelling tradition of Andhra Pradesh?
(a) Burra Katha
(b) Pagati Veshaalu
(c) Bayalata
(d) Tal-Maddale
Ans: a) Burra Katha - The ritual theatre honouring the ancestors in Kerala is known as:
(a) Theyyam
(b) Krishnanattam
(c) Kuruvanji
(d) Villu Paatu
Ans: a) Theyyam - Which form of theatre is dedicated to Lord Vishnu’s incarnations in the Konkan region?
(a) Dashavatar
(b) Bhavai
(c) Swang
(d) Bhaona
Ans: a) Dashavatar
