Pop Culture
This is the highest grossing Tamil film in the 2000s. The director claimed that this story was partially inspired by the Mahabharata.
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017)
This world-famous Tamil composer won an Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire.
A.R. Rahman
Who wrote the Thirukkural?
Thiruvalluvar
mother (அம்மா)
amma
What is the name of Tamil Nadu’s bull-taming sport?
Jallikattu
This actor is often called the "Superstar" of Tamil cinema.
Rajinikanth
This Anirudh song made a YouTube record with over 500M views.
Why This Kolaveri Di?
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
elephant (யானை)
yaanai
Pongal, a Tamil harvest festival, is celebrated in which month?
200 Points: Thai masam
100 Points: Point:January
This actress pulled off a double role for over 1,700 episodes as the fiercely ambitious lawyer and the humble homemaker in the hit serial Vani Rani.
Radhika Sarathkumar
This Tamil singer holds a Guinness World Record for recording the most number of songs (over 40,000).
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
What is the oldest work of Tamil literature? It is also the earliest grammar of the Tamil language.
Tolkāppiyam
sister (தங்கச்சி)
thangachi
This Tamil martial art, meaning “staff play,” is considered one of the oldest fighting systems.
Silambam
This movie, directed by Shankar in 1996 and starring Kamal Haasan, had the famous anti-corruption theme and the vigilante hero “Senapathy.”
Indian
This song from Enthiran (2010), sung by A.R. Rahman, featuring Rajinikanth, was a worldwide hit.
“Arima Arima”
What is the motto on the Tamil Nadu emblem (in Tamil - ½ points for English)?
வாய்மையே வெல்லும் - Vaaymaiye Vellum
peacock (மயில்)
mayil
What 5 countries have the highest populations of Tamils as a percentage of their population?
India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore
This Tamil comedian, known for his witty counters, has appeared in over 600 films and is often called “Vaigai Puyal.”
Vadivelu
This Carnatic ragam is often called the “King of Ragas” and is featured in both classical and film music.
Kalyani
The Chera dynasty’s emblem was this fruit, still important in Tamil culture.
Bow and arrow flanked by a mango
movie (திரைப்படம்)
"thiraipadam"
This massive Tamil dictionary project, started in 1919, was completed after 100 years in 2019.
Madras Tamil Lexicon