Trivia 1
Trivia 2
Trivia 3
Trivia 4
Trivia 5
100
This royal moniker is how Kannadasan was often referred to.
What is 'kavi-arasu'?
100
This was the name of his famous ten part essay on religion.
What is 'arthamulla indumatham?
100
When BR Panthulu was producing and directing 'Aayirathil Oruvan'(1965) MGR insisted on a motivational song to be sung on the ship's deck in the middle of the ocean. Despite a political rivalry at this time, Kannadasan penned this song (which incidentally was loosely translated to become Vietnam's national anthem).
What is "atho antha paravai pola vaazha vendum"?
100
Kannadasan is considered to be the greatest modern Tamil poet after this everlasting Tamil poet.
Who is Subramanya Bharathi?
100
It is a well-known fact that Kannadasan, through his powerful dialogues and screenplay (in films like "Madurai Veeran", "Mahadevi" "Nadodi Mannan" "Mannathi Mannan" "Raja Desingh") that helped this politician rise to the horizon.
Who is MGR?
200
Kannadasan, while in school, had many nicknames. He was "kokku Muthiah" because of his height, "saappatu Muthiah" because of his fondness for food and this for his frequent absconding from classes.
What is "kambi Muthiah" (from the idiom "kambiya neetu")?
200
Kannadasan's last (Tamil film) song was this.
What is "Kanne Kalai Maane" from 'Moondram Pirai'?
200
Between his two (or is it three) wives, Kannadasan had this many children.
What is 14? (9 sons and 5 daughters)
200
After reading this great collection of (30) Tamizh verses, he reconverted back himself to Hinduism.
What is Andal Thiruppavai?
200
Kannadasan was a lover of dogs and he had one as a pet. After a brutal attack on it that killed the pet, he penned this poem "En Arumai ___". Name his pet (named after a Roman emperor!)
What is Caeser?
300
Kamalahasan acted as Kannadasan in this movie.
What is "Varumayin Niram Sigappu"?
300
Kannadasan penned this well-liked song written for a blind man's character describing the beauty of a woman through the mind's eye!
What is "azghagae, azhagae deyvathai" (Raja Paarvai 1980)?
300
This was his real name during his atheist days.
What is Muthiah?
300
Kannadasan was saddened by the fact that Swami Vivekananda - the great Hindu monk who took the west by storm - was not fully understood by his own countrymen. He decided to do something about this. He penned this song so that even the layman could learn about Swami Vivekananda's philosophy compacted in just 6 stanzas!
What is "Aaru Maname Aaaru Anthan Aandavan Kattalai Aaru"?
300
Kannadasan was a devout Krishna bakthar though he belonged to the Chettiar community that reckons Lord Murugan as their deity. Three days before his daughter's wedding a promised loan did not come through. Kannadasan was in a serious dilemma. At this time, he had an appointment to write songs for a Devar banner. Kannadasan put aside all his personal problems and dictated the song "Marutha Malai Maamaniye Murugaya Devarin Kulam Kaatkum Velayya". When the assistant read back the dictation, Chinnappa Devar, who was in the adjoining room quickly came out and asked that the song be read out again. He was immensely impressed with the line "Devarin Kulam Kaatkum Velayya" as though it was meant to him. Immediately he gave Kannadasan Rs. 1 lakh for the song and also gave him permission to make use of his personal wedding hall for his daughter's wedding. Kannadasan was dumbfounded as the song was written spontaneously and that too in praise of Lord Muruga. The good Lord came to his aid through one of His forms... Name the movie.
What is "Deivam"?
400
When MGR was producing his very first ambitious movie "Nadodi Mannan" he requested Kannadasan to come on time to do the scripting for the film in the studios daily. He also reminded him that he had mortgaged all of his properties and that this film will either make or break his (MGR's) career. As usual Kannadasan turned up late for his appointment! MGR, peeved at this, called upon this person to pen a philosophical song hitting hard at Kannadasan so that he would never forget this song! Name the writer and the song.
Who is Pattukottai Kalyanasundram? and What is "Thoongathey Thambi Thoongathey"?
400
Kannadasan wrote this song "Kaalangalil Aval Vasantham.. Kalaigalilae Aval Oaviyam" for this person (for preparing a good meal!)
Who is his wife? (not known which one!!)
400
He was the producer of this historic Tamil film (1959) starring Kumari Kamala and portraying the pioneers of the Indian freedom struggle.
What is "Sivagangai Seemai"?
400
At a time when Vaali, another poet and lyricist of Kannadasan's era, was on the verge of bankruptcy and suicide. These (Kannadasan's) lyrics (from Sumaithaangi) changed him, giving him hope.
What is Mayakkamaa kalakkamaa manadhilae kuzhappamaa vaazhkkaiyil nadukkamaa?
400
Being illiterate in English, Kamaraja suffered from an inferiority complex. When he was invited to the United Nations, Kannadasan encouraged him through this song from the film Mahakavi Kalidas.
What is 'sendru vaa magane sendru vaa'?
500
He won the Sahitya Academy Award in 1980 for this novel.
What is Cheraman Kadali?
500
Being rushed by the producers to pen lyrics for 'Avanthan Manithan' (to be shot in Singapore in May 1973) the laid-back laureate wrote this song in protest.
What is "Anbu Nadamaadum Kalaikudamae"...? (to win the points, please sing the 1st verse! ;-))
500
In this movie (with a controversial storyline for the day) directed by K. Balachander, Kannadasan played a bit role (after being approached with a question of how to conclude the story).
What is "Apoorva Raagangal"? (sing the 1st verse of Kelviyin Naayagane, Intha Kelviku Bathil Ethuya?).
500
When the missionary fraternity of Madras proposed a project to Kannadasan to tell the story of Jesus, he was a bit apprehensive at first. But he convinced himself that both Lord Krishna and Jesus were born in a barn so there must be a divine plan! He decided to write the book about Jesus in verse. (To date no one had written the Bible in verse form in any language of the world, which fact caught the attention of the Christian World headquarters in the U.S.
What is "Yesu Kaaviyam"?
500
Kannadasan was jailed for more than a year for participating in this (anti-Hindi) agitation played out in Kallakudi railway station (in Tiruchirapalli District).
What is the name change from Kallakudi to Dalmiapuram (after a cement baron investor)?
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