Twin Melodies — Complete Solutions (Pages 1-25)
Chapter: Twin Melodies (Unit 6) Class: 9 — English (Kaveri) Author: Mitra Phukan
📖 Page 1 — Reflect and Respond
Q1. Identify the stringed musical instruments by the first letter of their names.
Answer:
First row (Indian instruments):
- S — Santoor
- S — Sarangi
- S — Sarod
- S — Sitar
Second row (Western instruments):
- M — Mandolin
- V — Violin
- G — Guitar
- B — Banjo
Q2. Do you play a musical instrument? If given a choice, which one would you choose and why?
Answer: Yes, I would love to play the violin. I find its sound very soothing and emotional. The violin can express many feelings — happiness, sadness, and excitement. Also, it can be used in both Indian classical music and Western music, which makes it special.
Q3. Is there any difference in the choice of music between children and elders? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer: Yes, there is usually a difference. Elders prefer classical and traditional music like ragas and bhajans because they grew up listening to them and find them peaceful. Children, on the other hand, enjoy modern, fast, and fusion music like pop, hip-hop, and Indo-Western fusion as it matches their energetic mood. This difference is due to the generation gap and the changing influence of time and technology.
📖 Page 2 — Paragraph Completion (Q4)
Q4. Complete the paragraph using the correct phrases from the box.
Answer:
The theatre club was 1. winding up their practice. Anil saw Sunny was 2. wearing a look of distress and not speaking to anyone. They had a disagreement in the morning and since then, Sunny was 3. lost in his thoughts. Anil did not want to 4. bring it up and disturb Sunny further but he finally decided to 5. bite the bullet and speak to Sunny. He was sure if he apologised first, his friend would 6. come around. With a lot of anxiety, he 7. found words to apologise. And finally, Sunny smiled! Everyone clapped and asked them to 8. throw a party to celebrate.
(Extra phrase not used: sweating on)
Discussion: Most of these phrases (like “bite the bullet,” “come around,” “bring it up,” “lost in thoughts”) have a figurative meaning — they don’t mean what the words literally say.
📖 Page 6 — Check Your Understanding (ACT I)
Q1. Complete the table based on Act I of the play.
Answer:
| Setting | |
|---|---|
| Where | Iqbal’s room |
| Description of the room | a small rack and a wooden table stacked with books |
| On the wall | posters of famous Indian flute players Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Shashank Subramanyam |
Children and the instruments they play:
- Iqbal — flute
- Avinash — tabla
- Peter — keyboard
- Shruti — violin
Speakers Table:
| Speaker | Words of the Speaker | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Avinash | “Oh ho! Wow Shruti! You are a sensation now! The least you can do is throw a party!” | He was teasing and excited because the newspaper had praised Shruti’s performance. |
| Shruti | “There is need to worry Iqbal! You don’t know papa.” | Her father is very strict and believes only classical Hindustani music is worthy. He would never approve of fusion music. |
| Peter | “That’s the spirit!” | He was encouraging Shruti when she decided to bravely talk to her father about the concert. |
Q2. Do you think Shruti will gather the courage to speak to her father? Give a reason.
Answer: Yes, Shruti will gather the courage to speak to her father because her friends Iqbal, Avinash, and Peter have encouraged her. She also feels guilty about hiding the truth and promises to bring it up at dinner. She decides “to bite the bullet.”
Q3. What might be Shruti’s father’s reaction? Why?
Answer: Shruti’s father might react angrily and disapprovingly. He is very strict and firmly believes that only Classical Hindustani music with ragas and aalaaps is worth playing. He may think it is a “desecration” of the violin to be used for Western tunes.
📖 Pages 9-10 — Check Your Understanding (ACT II)
Q1. Complete the summary of Act II using the correct words from the box.
Answer:
Shruti seemed 1. absent-minded during dinner. She finally gathered the 2. courage to inform her father, Nabin, about her wish to participate in an upcoming Indo-Western fusion concert. Nabin reacted negatively, expressing 3. disapproval of fusion music and dismissed the idea. Despite Shruti’s 4. plea to him to attend a practice before deciding, Nabin was 5. firm in his decision. Shruti’s mother, Leela, 6. scolded her for not seeking permission earlier. The tension highlights the 7. clash between traditional and contemporary musical preferences within the family. Despite the 8. setback, Shruti promises not to hide again and is urged to go to bed by her mother.
(Extra words not used: surprised, relief)
Q2. Will Shruti’s father go for the rehearsal? Support your answer with a reason.
Answer: No, Shruti’s father is not likely to go for the rehearsal. He firmly believes that fusion music is “phoo music” or just noise. He mocked the idea of practising for it and walked away angrily. He is very strict about classical music.
Q3. Do you think Shruti and her parents would understand one another? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer: Yes, eventually they will understand each other. Shruti loves and respects her father’s opinions, and her mother Leela is understanding and supportive. Once her parents see her dedication and talent in fusion music, they will appreciate her choice.
📖 Pages 13-14 — Check Your Understanding (ACT III)
Q1. Identify the true statements.
Answer:
| No. | Statement | True/False |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Shruti’s parents enter the room and are overjoyed at her performance. | TRUE |
| 2. | Shruti initially considers telling her friends that she can’t join them after practising one last time. | TRUE |
| 3. | Shruti’s father expressed that she had sung a few notes incorrectly. | FALSE (He praised her — “performed it to excellence”) |
| 4. | Shruti’s father had followed the family’s tradition of being a violinist. | FALSE (He went against his family’s tradition of vocalists to play the violin) |
| 5. | Shruti’s mother helped her husband realise why he should support their daughter. | TRUE |
| 6. | Shruti’s father accepts that he underrated the potential of classical music. | TRUE |
📖 Pages 14-15 — Critical Reflection (Extract 1)
Extract: Shruti speaks to Iqbal about her father’s strict beliefs about classical music.
Q(i). Select the option that correctly identifies Shruti’s situation.
Answer: D. in a dilemma
(She is confused between her love for fusion music and respect for her father’s wishes.)
Q(ii). What does Shruti mean by ‘the right way’?
Answer: By ‘the right way,’ Shruti means a gentle and respectful manner of telling her father about the fusion concert — one that would not hurt his feelings or make him think she disrespects his beliefs about classical music.
Q(iii). Complete: We can say the extract reflects the generational gap because ___.
Answer: …Shruti’s father (older generation) believes only Classical Hindustani music is worthy, while Shruti (younger generation) wants to try Indo-Western fusion music. They have completely different views on art and tradition.
Q(iv). Explain how Iqbal’s words were meant as an assurance to Shruti.
Answer: Iqbal assured Shruti by saying, “All ways are right ways, Shruti. He is your father, he will understand.” He meant that since her father loves her, he will surely listen and understand her feelings, no matter how she says it.
Q(v). Fill in the blank with a phrase from the extract: The critics argued that only films which provoke thoughtful discussion are ___.
Answer: of any worth
📖 Page 15 — Critical Reflection (Extract 2)
Extract: Nabin admits he underestimated their own music’s power and supports Shruti.
Q(i). Nabin’s breakthrough in his understanding of artistic freedom highlights a bridge between ___.
Answer: B. traditional values and modern expressions
Q(ii). The extract uses ‘lost’ both in the sense of losing ___ and physical separation.
Answer: …losing connection (or roots/identity/heritage) and physical separation.
Q(iii). In ‘Shruti hugs her parents,’ which word does NOT show what it conveys?
Answer: duty
(The hug shows reconciliation, harmony, acceptance, and understanding — not duty.)
Q(iv). What can be inferred about Shruti’s future in music?
Answer: Shruti’s future in music looks bright and promising. With her father’s trust and support, she can freely explore both classical and fusion music. She will get to use the music room and practise regularly, which will help her grow as a musician.
Q(v). Identify the phrase that refers to the uniqueness of each artist’s journey and style.
Answer: “Each bay, its own wind”
📖 Page 16 — Answer the Following Questions
Q1. Justify the title ‘Twin Melodies’. How does the play explore the theme of tradition and modernity?
Answer: The title ‘Twin Melodies’ is suitable because the play presents two types of music side by side — traditional Classical Hindustani music (followed by Nabin) and modern Indo-Western fusion music (loved by Shruti). The play shows that tradition and modernity are not enemies; they can blend beautifully like twin melodies. In the end, Nabin himself accepts both, proving that old and new music can live together in harmony.
Q2. What are the different perspectives of Peter, Iqbal, and Avinash regarding confronting authority? How do their attitudes reveal their characters?
Answer:
- Peter is practical. He suggests Shruti tell only half the truth — that she practises with friends — showing he avoids direct confrontation.
- Iqbal is trusting and optimistic. He believes “all ways are right ways” and that her father will understand. This shows he is a positive and faithful friend.
- Avinash is bold and realistic. He says the worst is just a little scolding, and her father will eventually “come round.” This shows he is confident and brave.
Together, they help Shruti gather courage, showing they are good and supportive friends.
Q3. Analyse the character of Nabin Sharma. How does his attitude towards music evolve?
Answer: Nabin Sharma is a strict, traditional, and dedicated violinist and the Principal of Sangeetika Music School. At first, he believes only Classical Hindustani music with ragas and aalaaps is worth playing. He calls fusion music “phoo” music and refuses to listen.
However, when he secretly watches Shruti’s group perform, he is moved by their soulful music. Reminded by his wife of his own past — when he had defied his family of vocalists to play the violin — he realises his fears were baseless. He evolves from being rigid and judgmental to open-minded and supportive, even offering the music room for practice.
Q4. How does the play use Shruti’s internal conflict to explore the theme of duty towards family versus personal passion?
Answer: Shruti faces a deep inner conflict between her duty as a daughter and her passion for fusion music. She loves and respects her father and doesn’t want to disappoint him, but she also wants to follow her own musical dreams. This makes her hide the practice sessions, feel guilty, and look distressed. Through her struggle, the play shows that respecting family is important, but expressing one’s true passion is also necessary. In the end, both can be balanced through honest communication.
Q5. Evaluate the effectiveness of the play’s conclusion. Does it realistically address the conflicts presented?
Answer: Yes, the conclusion is realistic and effective. The conflict is resolved not by argument but through music itself — when Nabin actually listens to Shruti’s performance and remembers his own past struggle. The mother’s role as a peacemaker is also very natural. The hug at the end shows reconciliation. The ending teaches that listening and understanding can solve many family conflicts.
Q6. Assess how the role of cultural diversity contributes to the storyline.
Answer: Cultural diversity is central to the play. The fusion group has friends from different backgrounds — Iqbal, Avinash, Peter, and Shruti — playing both Indian and Western instruments (flute, tabla, keyboard, violin). This shows unity in diversity. The blending of Indian classical and Western music symbolises how different cultures can come together to create something beautiful, just like the friendship of these children.
📖 Page 16 — Vocabulary I (Aside)
Q1. What is ‘aside’ used for?
Answer: (iv) (i), (ii), and (iii) — All of these.
An aside lets characters talk about the story, shows their thoughts/feelings, and creates a direct link between audience and character.
📖 Page 17 — Vocabulary II (Non-lexical Fillers)
Q. Why are words like “Ahem ahem, I…er…” used?
Answer: 1. to fill gaps while speaking (when the speaker is gathering thoughts or hesitating).
Match the emoticons with non-lexical fillers:
| Emoticon | Filler |
|---|---|
| 1 (shocked/frustrated) | arrgh |
| 2 (clearing throat) | ahem-ahem |
| 3 (relieved) | whew |
| 4 (thinking) | hmmm |
(Extra word not used: err)
📖 Page 18 — Vocabulary III (Music Words Match)
Q. Match Column 1 with Column 2.
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. rhythm | (iii) the pattern of beats or time intervals in music |
| 2. tempo | (iv) the speed or pace at which a piece of music is played |
| 3. bass | (i) the lowest tone or part in music |
| 4. baritone | (v) a male voice that falls between the higher and lower ranges |
| 5. cacophony | (ii) a mixture of loud unpleasant sounds |
| 6. pitch | (vii) the perceived frequency of a sound, how high or low a sound is |
| 7. scale | (vi) a series of musical notes moving upwards or downwards |
📖 Page 18 — Vocabulary IV (Meanings of Phrases)
Q. Write the meanings of the underlined phrases.
Answer:
| Phrases | Meanings |
|---|---|
| 1. drown your individual style | To lose your own unique style by blindly following others/trends |
| 2. sense of musicality | The ability to feel, understand, and express music well |
| 3. would go down the drain | All hard work would be wasted / lost |
📖 Page 19 — Vocabulary V (Exclamatory to Declarative)
Q. Sentences 1 and 2 are ___ sentences.
Answer: Exclamatory sentences.
Convert to declarative:
- “Oh, how much I enjoy performing this piece!” → Shruti exclaimed with joy that she greatly enjoyed performing that piece.
- “Wah, how soulful! You all have done a wonderful job!” → Nabin exclaimed with admiration that it was very soulful and they all had done a wonderful job.
📖 Page 19 — Vocabulary VI (Reported Speech)
Answer:
2. Iqbal exclaimed that it was an incredible achievement and that he could not believe they had pulled it off.
3. Shruti’s mother applauded that each note had been executed perfectly and the performance was flawless.
4. Iqbal exclaimed that he basically had a little bit of scolding for breakfast every day.
5. Shruti apologised to her mother and promised that she would not hide from her again.
6. Avinash exclaimed that she was a sensation then and the least she could do was throw a party.
📖 Pages 19-20 — Vocabulary VII (Indirect Speech)
Answer:
Asma exclaimed excitedly that she 1. had had a unique experience at the art studio that day. Deepa urged her to tell her as she was eager to hear. Asma said that 2. she had accidentally spilled paint all over her canvas. Deepa pitied Asma. However, Asma replied to her not to worry as 3. the painting then looked better than her original plan. Deepa exclaimed that 4. it was incredible.
📖 Pages 20-21 — Listen and Respond (The Yazh)
Note: This is a listening activity. The transcript is provided to teachers on page 270. Based on general knowledge of the Yazh:
Q. Identify which instrument is the yazh.
Answer: Image 3 — the fish/animal-shaped harp is the yazh. (Yazh is shaped like a mythological animal with strings.)
Notes on The Yazh:
- Type of instrument — The Indian Harp
- (i) Was used in: ancient Tamil music
- (ii) Earlier version of: Veena
- Design
- (i) Stem tip — shaped like head of mythological animal
- (ii) Resonator —
- A. Shape of a boat
- B. Material — wood
- Design variety
- (i) Peacock, lion (yaali), fish, and bow string
(For exact answers, please refer to the audio transcript provided by your teacher.)
📖 Pages 21-22 — Speaking Activity
This is a practice activity for stress and intonation. Practise the given lines aloud with your teacher.
📖 Pages 22-23 — Writing Task (Sample Script)
Q. Create a play script based on Anuradha’s story.
Answer (Sample):
Characters: Anuradha, Father (Mr. Mehta), Mother, Brother (Rohan)
Setting: Anuradha’s living room. She sits on the sofa, holding her tabla, looking worried.
Anuradha (Aside): Should I go to the concert? Papa will surely be angry… but this is my dream!
Mother: (entering with tea) Anuradha, why are you so quiet?
Anuradha: Mama, I… er… I have been invited to perform at the State Music Festival next week.
Father: (sharply) Perform? On the tabla? Anuradha, how many times must I tell you — you should focus on vocal music!
Rohan: Papa, please listen. She has practised for years. She is brilliant!
Mother: (gently) Dear, let her try once. Remember, every child has their own path.
Father: (silent, then sighing) Hmmm… maybe I have been too strict. Anuradha, show me what you can do.
Anuradha: (smiling with joy) Thank you, Papa! I won’t let you down!
CURTAIN DOWN
📖 Pages 23-24 — Learning Beyond the Text
Q. Study the brackets in the dialogues. Answer the following:
1. Why don’t we use inverted commas to convey the dialogues?
Answer: In a play script, we don’t use inverted commas because the format itself shows it is spoken dialogue. The speaker’s name followed by a colon (:) clearly indicates that the words that follow are spoken by that character.
2. Where do we use colons?
Answer: We use a colon (:) right after the speaker’s name to introduce their dialogue. For example: Iqbal: All ways are right ways, Shruti.
3. What is written within the brackets? What do these convey?
Answer: Inside the brackets, we write stage directions — they tell us how the character should speak (loudly, calmly, firmly) or what action they perform (picking up a newspaper, getting up). These words are NOT spoken aloud.
4. How does it help the actors?
Answer: The brackets help the actors understand the emotion, tone, and action while delivering the dialogue. They guide the actor to perform correctly and make the scene look natural and convincing.
✨ Quick Revision: Important Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| crescendo | a piece of music that gets louder and louder |
| desecration | disrespect towards something sacred |
| ragas and aalaaps | elements of Hindustani classical music |
| to bite the bullet | to face an unpleasant situation bravely |
| contempt | a strong feeling of dislike and disrespect |
| hubbub | a loud noise |
| iterated | repeated |
| painstakingly | done with great care and effort |
| worked his fingers to the bone | worked very hard |
| root (for) | to show support |
🎵 Theme Summary
The play Twin Melodies beautifully shows the conflict between tradition (Classical Hindustani music) and modernity (Indo-Western fusion). Through Shruti’s struggle, her father’s evolution, and the family’s reconciliation, the play teaches us that:
- 🎻 Tradition and modernity can live in harmony.
- 👨👩👧 Honest communication can resolve family conflicts.
- 🌊 “Each bay, its own wind” — every artist has their own unique path.
Good luck with your studies! 🎶