Question

Statement I: Kirtanas are having multiple charanas.
Statement II: Kritis are having Samasti charanas.

• A. Statement I & II both are true.
• B. Statement I & II both are false.
• C. Statement I is false but II is true.
• D. Statement I is true but II is false.

Hint:

Kirtanas prioritize devotion (Bhakti bhava) and have simple repeating melodies across multiple charanas. Kritis prioritize musical art (Sangeeta bhava) and can feature structural variations like Samasti Charanam.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Concept
This question compares the structural differences between two major compositional forms in Carnatic music: Kirtana (devotional sacred music) and Kriti (advanced art music).

Step 2: Evaluating Statement I
Kirtanas are older, devotional compositions meant for congregational singing. They typically feature a Pallavi, Anupallavi (sometimes absent), and multiple charanas (verses) that are all sung to the exact same musical tune (dhatu) with changing words (sahitya) to facilitate easy singing. Thus, Statement I is true.

Step 3: Evaluating Statement II
Kritis are highly sophisticated art-music forms. While standard Kritis contain a Pallavi, Anupallavi, and Charanam, many specialized Kritis (especially those of Muthuswamy Dikshitar) feature a Samasti Charanam. In these, there is no separate Anupallavi; instead, the Anupallavi is combined with the Charanam into a single integrated section. Thus, Kritis are indeed characterized by having Samasti charanas in several compositions. Therefore, Statement II is true.

Step 4: Conclusion
Since both Statements I and II are correct, the correct option is (A). Final Answer: (A)