Q.2041

What two word phrase from the world of performing connects these three:

* Gmail's 2016 April Fool-special feature that tanked

* Basketballer Kobe Bryant's last game (Apr 2016)

* US President Barack Obama's last White House Correspondents Dinner (Apr 2016)

[+ Show Answer]

A 'mic drop' - see this and this.

Q.1909

China on 17 December 2015 launched the Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) Satellite. Its purpose is to search for smoking-gun signals of dark matter.

The satellite was nicknamed ____ after the Monkey King with penetrating eyes in the Chinese classical fiction Journey to the West.

Fill in the blank with the name of this mythological figure.

[+ Show Answer]

Wukong

It was the country’s first space telescope and launched on a Long March 2-D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

Q.1796

This is ___ Nahasapeemapetilon, a cartoon character from the animated television series The Simpsons. ___ is the Indian immigrant proprietor of the ‘Kwik-E-Mart’. The creator of the show Matt Groening admits that his first name is an homage to the main character of an epic and his favourite trilogy.

Which one? Also, identify the director.

[+ Show Answer]

The Apu Trilogy directed by Satyajit Ray

Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959) make up this trilogy. Pather Panchali celebrated its sixtieth anniversary on 26th August 2015.

Q.1780

How can you connect these four nations with one more nation?

[+ Show Answer]

India

India is not alone to celebrate Independence Day on 15 August. Bahrain, Republic of Congo, South Korea and Liechtenstein also share the same tradition.

Q.1695

Give one word for:

-An Indian investigative newspaper
-A Portuguese Music magazine
-Strategic bombing of UK by Nazi Germany
-A British punk rock band
-The mascot of Seattle Seahawks
-Bobby Ellsworth

[+ Show Answer]

Blitz
In May 2015, surrounding areas of Wembley Stadium have been evacuated following the discovery by construction crews of a still-live World War II conventional-explosive bomb, a remnant of the Blitz.

Q.1680

He was a Scottish sailor who was tried and executed for piracy after returning from a voyage to the Indian Ocean. In May 2015, archaeologists in Madagascar announced the partial discovery of his treasure. A silver ingot was found in a wreck.
Explorer Clifford says that

This is stuff of legends to find what people have been looking for 300 years!

Identify him who has been covered extensively in popular culture. Also, literary works like Peter Pan, Gold-bug, Treasure Island have mentions of his adventures.

[+ Show Answer]

Captain William Kidd
There was a song that read ‘Two hundred bars of gold, and rix dollars manifold, we seized uncontrolled’. He did bury a small cache of treasure in a spot known as Cherry Tree Field.

Q.1658

How is a 1971 Hindi film character which was partly inspired by the director Hrishikesh Mukherjee connected to a 2015 Hindi film character whose daughter is the titular character of that film?

[+ Show Answer]

The 1971 film is "Anand", directed by Mukherjee, while the 2015 film is "Piku". Amitabh Bachchan features in both, and his character is named "Bhaskar Banerjee" in both.

This day last year: Q.1293

Q.1626

There is a certain stat which has gone viral from a couple of days. It says ;
‘March 14, 2015 – 9:26:53’ will be epic.
Why?

[+ Show Answer]

Pi day. Exact value of the constant Pi (3.141592653)
March 14th is celebrated as Pi day. Also, Pi Approximation Day is observed on July 22nd since the date becomes 22/7.

Q.1609

This is _____ Sammartino, a famous Italian wrestler.

Peter Hernandez was a little chubby as a kid. Hence, his wrestling fanatic dad who thought his son resembled Sammartino nicknamed him _____ after the wrestler.

Thus, how do we better know Hernandez as?

[+ Show Answer]

Bruno Mars
His and Mark Ronson’s song ‘Uptown Funk’ won the Best British Single at the Brit Awards in Feb 2015.

Q.1608

Rana Bhagwandas, 72 years old, passed away on Feb 23, 2015. He was the former acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He studied law and carried post-grad degree in Islamic Studies. He was appointed judge in 1967.

He is only the second addition to this very unique list of people to head the Supreme Court. First is Alvin Robert Cornelius.

What peculiarity do these two people share?

[+ Show Answer]

Non-Muslim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan
Bhagwandas, a Hindu and Cornelius, a Christian were the only two Non-Muslim Judges who acted as the Chief Justice in Pakistan.

Q.1515

A vIZual question today:

[+ Show Answer]

A is Suresh Prabhu, who became Indian PM Narendra Modi's 'Sherpa' at the 2014 G-20 summit. (A G-20 Sherpa participates in proceedings before the actual meet, to prepare the ground for the 'summit'.) In the earlier government, this role was played by Montek Singh Ahluwahlia ('B'). 'C' is the legendary Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa and one of the first men on Mt. Everest.

This day last year: Q.1150

Q.1462

In Sept 2014, the tennis player Roger Federer joined other stars such as Pete Sampras, Sania Mirza, Gael Monfils, Ana Ivanovic, Rohan Bopanna and Fabrice Santoro. In doing so, how are all of them now connected - in a way - to an Indian called Indra Lal Roy who received the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1918 after his death at the young age of 19?

We turned 4 today, by the way. Thanks for all your time and support.

[+ Show Answer]

The New Delhi franchise of the inaugural International Premier Tennis League added Federer to its team (replacing Rafael Nadal). This team is called the Indian Aces. Indra Lal Roy was a fighter pilot who made 9 or 10 'kills' during World War I, and is considered India's only flying ace.

More on the ITPL team and on the fascinating tale of the young flying ace.

This day last year: Q.1097

Q.1457

What connects the following items from the world of entertainment:

• A 1966 song by Cher, later covered by Nancy Sinatra and used in the film "Kill Bill"
• What a fictional car does twice while starting up
• A 2014 Hindi film based on the 2010 film "Knight And Day"

[+ Show Answer]

"Bang Bang" - referring, in order, to the song 'Bang Bang - My Baby Shot Me Down', 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' (the car emits two loud sounds on starting), and the 2014 Hrithik Roshan film.

This day last year: Q.1092

Q.1363

What is common to these people:

* The King of Spain in June 2014
* The King of Belgium in July 2013
* The Emir of Qatar in June 2013
* The Queen of the Netherlands in April 2013
* The King of Bhutan in December 2006

but not the Pope of the Catholic Church in February 2013?

[+ Show Answer]

All these monarchs abdicated in favour of their sons (except for Pope Benedict XVI of course, despite his title meaning "father"). Juan Carlos I of Spain was succeeded by Felipe VI in June 2014.

This day last year: Q.998

Q.1169

A vIZual connect, comprising 4 elements: the answer is a 2013 film: (click image to see a bigger sized version)

[+ Show Answer]

The four short stories in the 2013 film "Bombay Talkies" (a tribute to Hindi cinema in the year of the centenary of Indian films). These were:
'Ajeeb Daastan Hai Yeh' (from the song) directed by Karan Johar
'Star' (based on Satyajit Ray's story Patol Babu Super Star) directed by Dibakar Banerjee
'Sheela Ki Jawaani' (from the song) directed by Zoya Akhtar
'Murabba' (a recipe for Mango Murabba) directed by Anurag Kashyap

This day last year: Q.804

Q.937

"L'ecume des jours" is the latest offering from director Michel Gondry (known for films such as "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind") and stars Audrey "Amelie" Tautou. This 2013 film is based on a surrealist novel of the same name by the French author Boris Vian.

The novel's title is translated into English as "Froth on the Daydream". The film, however, is being called something else in English. Jazz enthusiasts will recognise the title instantly as a kind of blues song, while students in India will know it for some other reason.

Which two word title?

[+ Show Answer]

Mood Indigo". The title is shared by the song and the annual IIT Bombay cultural festival.

This day last year: Q.572

Q.925

Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in as the new President of Kenya, in April 2013. In what specific way does this achievement link him to the following people:

• Ian Khama, the current President of Botswana
• Joseph Kabila, the current President of the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Jean-Claude Duvalier, the former President of Haiti
• Megawati Sukarnoputri, the former President of Indonesia
• Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the former President of the Phillipines
• Bashar al-Assad, the current President of Syri
  
• John Quincy Adams, the 6th President of the USA

[+ Show Answer]

Their fathers have also served as Presidents of these countries. Uhuru Kenyatta's father Jomo is also considered the founder of modern Kenya.

This day last year: Q.560

Q.918

Connect the following:

* A Gujarati novel by Govardhanram Tripathi
* A 1968 Hindu film by Govind Saraiya featuring Nutan in the lead, for which Kalyanji-Anandji won a National Award for Best Music
* A 2013 TV serial created by Sanjay Leela Bhansali

[+ Show Answer]

"Saraswatichandra". The novel was made into the 1968 film (you may have heard of the song "chandan sa badan" from this movie), and has been adapted for TV (and set in modern times) by Bhansali.

This day last year: Q.553

Q.846

These are clues to the last few entries in a list. These entries are chronologically arranged. The list is:

• (1995) Urbs Prima in Indis, especially before it reverted to "bharataacha sarvapratham shahar"
• (1997) Two of them
• (1998) From the heart
• (2000) When Oothukadu Venkata Subbier's mind rolled like the waves
• (2002) What happens if you receive a peck on the cheek?
• (2004) Youth or a triple-bored Tamil letter
• (2007) A (corporate) sage of sorts
• (2010) A noted devotee of Shiva (did he play the veena ten times better than most?)

The latest addition (in 2013) is "Ocean". What is this list?

[+ Show Answer]

Movies made by Mani Ratnam. His latest release is "Kadal" in Tamil, which means "Ocean". The movies listed above are:

• Bombay: it was called Urbs Prima in India or the premier city of India by the British. "bharataacha sarvapratham shahar" is just a Marathi translation of the phrase.
• Iruvar: the film based on the life of MGR & Karunanidhi
• Direct translation of Dil Se
• Alaipayuthe: the film takes its name from a famous Krishna song by Subbier that means a mind as restless as the waves.
• Kannathil Mutthamittal: A semi-literal translation that includes the film' English title of "a peck on the cheek".
• Yuva/Aazhta Ezhuthu: literally Youth or a Tamil alphabet with three circles
• Guru
• Raavan/Raavanan

This day last year: Q.480

Q.818

Who connects the following:

1. a South African returned barrister
2. a housewife named Anuradha who once used to sing
3. the younger brother of Durga
4. a Rajput princess who was a devotee of Krishna
5. The Philosopher's Stone
6. a dry fruit seller from Kabul

[+ Show Answer]

The late Pandit Ravi Shankar, who composed music for these films. The films are: Gandhi, Anuradha, Apu (Trilogy), Meera, Paras Patthar, Kabuliwala (Bengali).

This day last year: Q.452