According to the passage about the musical play "The Way Across", Kiran Kumar's performance is highlighted. Which role did Kiran Kumar play in this production?

Introduction / Context:
This reading comprehension question focuses on a factual detail from the passage about the musical play "The Way Across". The passage mentions specific actors and the characters they portrayed, including Kiran Kumar and Krishna Chaitanya Joshi. You are asked to recall which role Kiran Kumar played. Such questions test your ability to pick out and retain explicit information while reading rather than infer or guess.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The passage states that the play focuses on the enlightenment of a cursed Brahmin Bawari and his sixteen disciples.
• It later mentions that "Kiran Kumar's Bawari act" stands out.
• Krishna Chaitanya Joshi is separately mentioned as playing Pingiya.
• The question asks: "Kiran Kumar played the role of the _______."

Concept / Approach:
This is a straightforward recall question. To answer it correctly, you simply need to remember or recheck which name is associated with which character. The phrase "Kiran Kumar's Bawari act" is a direct clue that he played Bawari, who is described earlier as the cursed Brahmin. Therefore, the correct answer must include both Bawari and his identity as the cursed Brahmin, as indicated in the passage.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the relevant lines in the passage: it mentions Kiran Kumar's performance specifically.Step 2: Recall the exact wording: "Kiran Kumar's Bawari act and Krishna Chaitanya Joshi as Pingiya ... grab your attention."Step 3: Connect "Bawari" with the earlier description of the character as "a cursed Brahmin Bawari".Step 4: Match this information with the answer options.Step 5: Choose "Cursed Brahmin Bawari" as it fully identifies the role played by Kiran Kumar.

Verification / Alternative check:
Eliminate confusion with other characters. The passage distinguishes between Bawari and Pingiya, assigning them to different actors: Kiran Kumar for Bawari and Krishna Chaitanya Joshi for Pingiya. It does not say that Kiran Kumar played Buddha or any of Buddha's disciples in general. Thus, any option assigning him to Buddha, Pingiya or an unspecified disciple is incorrect. Only the option that clearly names "Cursed Brahmin Bawari" fits the textual evidence.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, "Buddha's disciple", is too vague and not supported by the passage, which names specific roles. Option B, "Gautama Buddha", is incorrect because the passage does not attribute this role to Kiran Kumar. Option C, "Pingiya", is explicitly linked to Krishna Chaitanya Joshi, not to Kiran Kumar. Therefore, these options contradict the information given in the passage.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse names when several characters and actors are mentioned, especially if they read quickly. Another common mistake is to pick the most famous name, such as Gautama Buddha, even when the text clearly assigns a different role. To avoid such errors, it helps to underline or mentally note actor character pairs while reading, especially when you suspect questions may focus on such details.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Cursed Brahmin Bawari, because the passage clearly states that Kiran Kumar's performance as Bawari is one of the highlights of the play.