Which of the following statements accurately highlights Kerala’s traditional musical instrument heritage?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. Ancient percussion instruments such as Timila and Maddalam, referenced in Silappadikaram, remain integral to Kerala’s music traditions.
The correct statement is: “Ancient percussion instruments such as Timila and Maddalam, referenced in Silappadikaram, remain integral to Kerala’s music traditions.” Kerala’s musical heritage is deeply rooted in percussion culture, especially in temple arts like Panchavadyam and Kathakali. Instruments such as Timila, Maddalam, Chenda, and Edakka have been used for centuries and are still central to traditional performances.
The other options are incorrect because Kerala’s music is not dominated by imported Western instruments; although Western influence exists, indigenous instruments remain prominent. Similarly, Kerala does not rely only on wind instruments—it has a balanced tradition of percussion, wind, and string instruments. The Ravana-Hatta is associated with Rajasthan, not Kerala, making that statement factually wrong.