We love the movies. We love the glitz, the glamour, the stars! But how well do we actually know them? On May 3, hundred years of India's movie industry was born, we invite you to test your knowledge about the various film industries in the country. We start with the Tamil film industry. How much do you know about superstars like Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan? Let's find out!
1. Rajinikanth has written the story and screenplay of just one film. Name it.
a. Endhiran
b. Sivaji
c. Baba
The correct answer is c. Rajinikanth penned the much-hyped film Baba, co-starring Manisha Koirala, but it bombed at the box office when it released in 2002.
Following Baba's failure, the superstar repaid the losses incurred by the film's distributors and three years later, silenced critics with P Vasu's Chandramukhi which, until 2007, is the longest-running Tamil film ever.
Following Baba's failure, the superstar repaid the losses incurred by the film's distributors and three years later, silenced critics with P Vasu's Chandramukhi which, until 2007, is the longest-running Tamil film ever.
Quiz: Know Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan well?
2. Name the first silent film made in Tamil.
a. Light Of Asia
b. Keechaka Vadham
c. Kalava
The correct answer is b. Keechaka Vadham was the first silent film made in 1918 by Tamil filmmaker R Nataraja Mudaliar.
Kalidas was the first talkie film made in 1931 while Kalava was the first feature film, made in 1932.
Kalidas was the first talkie film made in 1931 while Kalava was the first feature film, made in 1932.
Quiz: Know Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan well?
3. Which Tamil film made it to Time magazine's All Time 100 Best Movies?
a. Hey! Ram
b. Nayagan
c. Vishwaroopam
The correct answer is b. Mani Ratnam's Nayagan -- based on real-life Mumbai underworld don Varada aka Varadarajan Mudaliar -- made it to Time's list. Kamal Haasan played the protagonist.
The film was sent as India's official entry for the 1988 Academy Awards but it did not get nominated.
The film was sent as India's official entry for the 1988 Academy Awards but it did not get nominated.
Quiz: Know Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan well?
4. Sivaji Ganesan played nine roles in a film. Name the film.
a. Navarathiri.
b. Naya Din Nayi Raat.
c. Nirai Kudam.
The correct answer is a. In the 1964 film Navarathiri, Ganesan played nine roles that represented the nine emotional states of a person. Sanjeev Kumar and Akkineni Nageswara Rao were so much inspired by this film that they reprised the nine roles in the Hindi film Naya Din Nayi Raat (1974) and the Telugu film Navarathri (1966) respectively.
Correct! In the 1964 film Navarathiri, Ganesan played nine roles that represented the nine emotional states of a person. Sanjeev Kumar and Akkineni Nageswara Rao were so much inspired by this film that they reprised the nine roles in the Hindi film Naya Din Nayi Raat (1974) and the Telugu film Navarathri (1966) respectively.
Quiz: Know Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan well?
5. Which was the first Tamil film to be sent as India's official entry to Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category?
a. Bale Pandiya
b. Deiva Magan
c. Navarathiri
The correct answer is b. Sivaji Ganesan essayed a triple role in the 1969 film, Deiva Magan. This was the second time in his career -- after Bale Pandiya -- that he played three roles. He acted as a father and his twin sons. The film co-starred Pandari Bai and Jayalalitha.
Correct! Sivaji Ganesan essayed a triple role in the 1969 film, Deiva Magan. This was the second time in his career -- after Bale Pandiya -- that he played three roles. He acted as a father and his twin sons. The film co-starred Pandari Bai and Jayalalitha.
Quiz: Know Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan well?
6. Which was Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha's first film?
a. Vennira Aadai
b. Manushulu Mamathalu
c. Epistel
Jayalalitha starred in an English film called Epistel in 1961, directed by Shankar V Giri. She was just 11 years old.
She made her adult debut as lead actress in the Kannada film Chinnada Gombe (1964) when she was still in school. The following year she acted in a Tamil film called Vennira Aadai.
She made her adult debut as lead actress in the Kannada film Chinnada Gombe (1964) when she was still in school. The following year she acted in a Tamil film called Vennira Aadai.
Quiz: Know Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan well?
7. Name MGR's directorial debut.
a. Madhurai Meetha Sundharapandian
b. Nadodi Mannan
c. Ulagam Sutrum Valiban
The correct answer is b.MGR produced, directed and acted in the 1958 film, Nadodi Mannan.
K Ramnoth was to direct the movie but due to his untimely death on October 4, 1956, MGR stepped in to helm the film.
K Ramnoth was to direct the movie but due to his untimely death on October 4, 1956, MGR stepped in to helm the film.
Quiz: Know Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan well?
8. Name Tamil actress Saroja Devi's Hindi film, opposite Dilip Kumar.
a. Sasural
b. Paigam
c. Leader
The correct answer is b. Saroja Devi acted in the Hindi film Paigam (1959), which was later remade in Tamil as Irumbu Thirai by S S Vasan. Sivaji Ganesan took over from Dilip Kumar. The actresses in the Hindi film -- Vyjayantimala and Saroja Devi -- reprised their respective roles in the Tamil film.
Quiz: Know Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan well?
9. Who is the Kadhal Mannan (King of Romance) of Tamil films?
a. Gemini Ganesan.
b. Sivaji Ganesan.
c. MGR.
Like Shah Rukh Khan in Bollywood, Gemini Ganesan is often called the Kadhal Mannan, thanks to the number of romantic movies he has done.
Correct! Like Shah Rukh Khan in Bollywood, Gemini Ganesan is often called the Kadhal Mannan, thanks to the number of romantic movies he has done.
Quiz: Know Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan well?
10. What is Ilaiyaraaja's real name?
a. Yuvan
b. Gnanadesikan
c. Shanker
The correct answer is b. Ilaiyaraaja was born as Gnanadesikan and in his school records, he is called Daniel Rasaiah. His father later changed his name to Rajaiya.
During the release of his first film Annakili (1976) as a composer, producer Panchu Arunachalam added 'Ilaiya,' which means 'younger' in Tamil to his name Raaja and renamed him Ilaiyaraaja, as in the 1970s, there was another music director called A M Rajah.
Correct! Ilaiyaraaja was born as Gnanadesikan and in his school records, he is called Daniel Rasaiah. His father later changed his name to Rajaiya.
During the release of his first film Annakili (1976) as a composer, producer Panchu Arunachalam added 'Ilaiya,' which means 'younger' in Tamil to his name Raaja and renamed him Ilaiyaraaja, as in the 1970s, there was another music director called A M Rajah.
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