Movies
This movie, featuring Yogi Babu, is a political satire comedy. It is titled after a prominent anti-apartheid revolutionary activist.
Mandela (2021)
Song: Why This Kolaveri Di?
Singer: Dhanush
In 1966, the Tamil Nadu government officially renamed its capital city to Chennai. What was the former name of this city?
Madras
அம்மா - “amma”
Mother
Tamil classical form of dance
Bharatanatyam
Highest grossing Tamil film in the 2000s. The director claimed that this story was partially inspired by the Mahabharata.
Bahubali 2: The Conclusion
Song: Urvasi Urvasi
Singers: Suresh Peters, Shahul Hameed, and Rahman
This franchise, with locations in both the bottom of Lenoir and Franklin Street, was named after what prominent Tamil Dynasty that ruled Southern India and parts of Southeast Asia from the 9th century CE to the 13th century CE?
Chola Dynasty
மயில் - “mayil”
peacock
What 5 countries have the highest populations of Tamils as a percentage of their population?
India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore
What is the Tamil version of Mrs. Doubtfire?
Avvai Shanmughi
Song: Chikku Bukku Rayile
Singers: Suresh Peters, GV Prakash Kumar
This period in ancient Tamil history produced quintessential literature that is still referenced today.
Sangam
அன்பு - “anbu”
Love
Who wrote the famous Thirukkural?
Thiruvalluvar
What is the Tamil version of The Godfather but objectively better?
Nayakan
Song: Vaseegara
Singer: Bombay Jayshree
Which Tamil scholar was instrumental in bringing many long-forgotten works of classical Tamil literature to light as is fondly known as “Tamil Thatha”?
UV Swaminatha Iyer
யானை - "yanai"
Elephant
What is the name of Tamil Nadu’s bull-taming sport?
Jallikattu
What is the name of the first-ever Tamil film?
Keechaka Vadham (1918)
Song: Malarnthum Malaratha
Singers: P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
What is the motto on the Tamil Nadu emblem (in Tamil - ½ points for English)?
வாய்மையே வெல்லும் - Vaaymaiye Vellum
திரைப்படம் - "thiraipadam"
movie
What is the name of the first writing system used for the Tamil language?
Tamil-Brahmi