MELA (Music, Entertainment, Literature, Arts) Quiz prelims conducted at Kashiyatra 2018, the cultural festival of IIT BHU Varanasi.

1. THE MELA QUIZ
PRELIMS
Kashiyatra’18
IIT BHU Varanasi
By
Mahendra Mohan Das

2. MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 2
Cheers to our sponsor:

3. “Tujshe milna purani Dilli mein
Chhod aaye nishaani Dilli mein
Ballimaran se Daribe talak
Teri meri kahani Dilli mein”
 Gulzar’s ode to which great personality, whose house is situated in Ballimaran
in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 3
1) Bunty ya Babli?

4.  X Y, known as the father of modern Hindi literature as well as Hindi theatre,
was born in Varanasi in 1850. Influenced by the Bengal Renaissance and deciding
to bring the genres of social, historical, and Puranic plays and novels into Hindi,
he started writing at the age of 15.
 In recognition of his services as a writer, patron and modernizer, the title of
“X“, literally translating to “moon of India”, was conferred on him at a public
meeting by scholars of Kashi in 1880.
 The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India gives X Y Awards since
1983 to promote original writings in Hindi mass communication.
 Identify X Y.
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 4
2) Banarasi Legend

5.  In 3 decades of its history, the boat has made 24000+ journeys. It is remote-
controlled wirelessly by an off-stage stage hand. When it first opened, the
frequency would often receive interference by taxi cabs driving by the Majestic
Theatre, which was soon resolved! But the most common problem is the boat
stopping center stage before X and Christine have finished their journey across
the underground lake. If that happens, the actor playing X is instructed to escort
Christine out of the boat and lead her for the rest of the journey on foot. It's a
striking picture, walking through the fog. Stage hands then take care of the boat
manually.
 Iconic scene of which famous production?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 5
3) Walking on water

6.  Sporting lime green “mankinis” and black wigs, 6 tourists had hoped to take a
picture in front of the “I Love Astana” sign in Kazakhstan two months back. But
local police fined them some $68 each for committing minor hooliganism,
according to local media.
 After seeing this news, X offered to pay the fine for all the 6 tourists, and wrote
in a Facebook said: “To my Czech mates who were arrested. Send me your
details and proof that it was you, and I’ll pay your fine.”
 Who? Put Funda.
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 6
4) I love to visit places

7.  The story didn’t happen exactly as shown, in reality. The group calmly boarded
a train, which took them into the south Tyrol, part of Italy. It turns out that they
did leave in the nick of time—the next day, the Nazis closed the border.
 “Don’t they know geography in Hollywood? Salzburg does not border on
Switzerland!” The female protagonist told a reporter in 1967.
 The other deviations from reality include the fact that none of them fell in love
with a Nazi, nor was the female protagonist in love with the male lead. She had a
different reason for marrying him, as she explained in an interview.
 However, after the financial failure of Cleopatra, the movie saved 20th Century
Fox from bankrupty. Which iconic movie?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 7
5) The one with the bankrupty

8.  Iznogoud is a French comic series
which chronicles the life of
Iznogoud, the Grand Vizier and
second in command of Baghdad. His
greatest desire is to replace the
Caliph or Sultan of Baghdad.
 Who is the writer of the comic?
 India had its own off-shoot version
of Iznogoud. What is it called?
 (5 points each)
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 8
6) I want to be Caliph instead of the Caliph

9.  The Montauk Project is an alleged series of secret United States government
projects conducted at Camp Hero or Montauk Air Force Station on Montauk,
Long Island, for the purpose of developing psychological warfare techniques
and exotic research including time travel. The history of the Montauk Project
story is closely associated with, and often believed to originate in, the Montauk
Project series of books by Preston Nichols.
 The working title of this movie/show was “Montauk” and it took place on Long
Island in 1980, but the writers had to change its location when they realized it
would be too difficult to shoot there in winter.
 Which iconic movie/show?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 9
7) Is it time travel?

10.  "I actually made this as a way to poke fun at the idea of getting cease and
desist letters. At the time (October 2006) I had nothing to lose and my original
intention was to call this 'back to the future: the new official universal studios
cartoon featuring the new Doc Brown and Marty McFly' and then I'd just sit
back and wait for a letter from their lawyers to arrive. That's actually why it's so
filthy. I was just looking to 'troll' a big studio.“
 The creator telling about the origin of his idea. Though the final form is safely
removed from the litigious nightmare that his original work was, he says, “some
of the raw energy behind the voice performances is sort of still intact, especially
for X. That’s the beginning of it.”
 What is being talked about?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 10
8) Trolling goes a long way

11.  Daudayal Mehra had gone to see a play in 1920’s in which there were two
characters, Sona and ___. He found Sona too glamorous a name and instead
picked ___ as the name for his upcoming company.
 The familiar logo of ___ was designed by Satyajit Ray, and didn’t charge any
money for it. Instead, he asked for a few good products of the company.
 Which famous company?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 11
9) The Rising Star

12.  Radio host Rella Rivera took her two daughters to Costco in Kapolei on Oahu,
Hawaii, and when they were checking out with their purchases, the kids' jaws
dropped looking at the Costco employee checking them out.
 But this was not the first time it was happening. In 2016, he basically became
an overnight celebrity — especially with children. Just that the video Rivera took
and posted online a couple of days back, hence his popularity has spiked.
 Why? Pictures on the next slide.
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 12
10) Pehchan kaun

13. MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 13
Pehchan kaun

14.  His first film experience was at the age of 14 when he was given a role of a
vandal in the movie “Sunday Bloody Sunday”. He regards the experience as
heaven as he was paid pound 2 for vandalizing cars outside a church. After a gap
of 11 years, in 1982, he got a small part role of a South African street thug in the
movie “Gandhi.”
 Even after acting in only 5 films since 1998 up to 2017 taking a gap of 5 years
between each role (and surely beating Aamir Khan by a huge margin), Time
magazine named him “World’s Greatest Actor” in November 2012.
 Who?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 14
11) Non-beggars can be choosers

15.  ___ ___ has become a symbol of cultural resistance against authoritarianism
for the Indian left (or whatever is left of them). While Bhisham Sahni, along with
many other artists, founded the ___ ___ Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) in February
1989, right after his death, in the same year M.F. Husain had a painting "Tribute
to ___" sold at auction for over $1 million.
 Who is he, and how is he related to a 2008 movie starring Ajay Devgan, Vidya
Balan in lead roles and a lot of who’s who of Bollywood in cameo roles? (5 points
each)
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 15
12) Non-Sahmati

16.  A year after X began teaching at Merton College at Oxford University, he met
fellow professor Y at a faculty meeting in 1926. But it wasn’t necessarily
friendship-at-first-sight. In his diary, Y describes X as “a smooth, pale fluent little
chap—no harm in him: only needs a smack or so.” But the pair soon bonded
over a shared interest in mythology.
 One day, X decided to show Y an early draft of what would become the
cornerstone of a star-crossed love story. On the other hand, on a fall evening in
1931, Y took a walk with X and another fellow Inkling, and by dawn he had
decided to return to Christianity and weave Christian themes into his writing.
 Identify X and Y.
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 16
13) An unlikely friendship?

17.  Julie is an Indian Hindi erotic film produced by N.R.Pachisia and directed by
Deepak Shivdasani. I’m sure nobody needs any more introduction.
 The sequel, Julie 2 was released two months back, co-produced and directed
by Deepak Shivdasani again and produced by Vijay Nair.
 Ironically enough, who is the third producer of Julie 2?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 17
14) K.

18. MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 18
15) Connect what you see.

19. MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 19
Answers

20. “Tujshe milna purani Dilli mein
Chhod aaye nishaani Dilli mein
Ballimaran se Daribe talak
Teri meri kahani Dilli mein”
 Gulzar’s ode to which great personality, whose house is situated in Ballimaran
in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 20
1) Bunty ya Babli?

21.  Ballimaran – Mirza Ghalib’s residence in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi.
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 21
Mirza Ghalib

22.  X Y, known as the father of modern Hindi literature as well as Hindi theatre,
was born in Varanasi in 1850. Influenced by the Bengal Renaissance and deciding
to bring the genres of social, historical, and Puranic plays and novels into Hindi,
he started writing at the age of 15.
 In recognition of his services as a writer, patron and modernizer, the title of
“X“, literally translating to “moon of India”, was conferred on him at a public
meeting by scholars of Kashi in 1880.
 The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India gives X Y Awards since
1983 to promote original writings in Hindi mass communication.
 Identify X Y.
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 22
2) Banarasi Legend

23. MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 23
Bharatendu Harishchandra

24.  In 3 decades of its history, the boat has made 24000+ journeys. It is remote-
controlled wirelessly by an off-stage stage hand. When it first opened, the
frequency would often receive interference by taxi cabs driving by the Majestic
Theatre, which was soon resolved! But the most common problem is the boat
stopping center stage before X and Christine have finished their journey across
the underground lake. If that happens, the actor playing X is instructed to escort
Christine out of the boat and lead her for the rest of the journey on foot. It's a
striking picture, walking through the fog. Stage hands then take care of the boat
manually.
 Iconic scene of which famous production?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 24
3) Walking on water

25.  The longest running Broadway show.
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 25
Phantom of The Opera

26.  Sporting lime green “mankinis” and black wigs, 6 tourists had hoped to take a
picture in front of the “I Love Astana” sign in Kazakhstan two months back. But
local police fined them some $68 each for committing minor hooliganism,
according to local media.
 After seeing this news, X offered to pay the fine for all the 6 tourists, and wrote
in a Facebook said: “To my Czech mates who were arrested. Send me your
details and proof that it was you, and I’ll pay your fine.”
 Who? Put Funda.
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 26
4) I love to visit places

27. MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 27
Sacha Baron Cohen, they were dressed like Borat

28.  The story didn’t happen exactly as shown, in reality. The group calmly boarded
a train, which took them into the south Tyrol, part of Italy. It turns out that they
did leave in the nick of time—the next day, the Nazis closed the border.
 “Don’t they know geography in Hollywood? Salzburg does not border on
Switzerland!” The female protagonist told a reporter in 1967.
 The other deviations from reality include the fact that none of them fell in love
with a Nazi, nor was the female protagonist in love with the male lead. She had a
different reason for marrying him, as she explained in an interview.
 However, after the financial failure of Cleopatra, the movie saved 20th Century
Fox from bankrupty. Which iconic movie?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 28
5) The one with the bankrupty

29.  Based on the memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 29
Sound of Music

30.  Iznogoud is a French comic series
which chronicles the life of
Iznogoud, the Grand Vizier and
second in command of Baghdad. His
greatest desire is to replace the
Caliph or Sultan of Baghdad.
 Who is the writer of the comic?
 India had its own off-shoot version
of Iznogoud. What is it called?
 (5 points each)
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 30
6) I want to be Caliph instead of the Caliph

31. MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 31
Rene Goscinny, Tantri the Mantri

32.  The Montauk Project is an alleged series of secret United States government
projects conducted at Camp Hero or Montauk Air Force Station on Montauk,
Long Island, for the purpose of developing psychological warfare techniques
and exotic research including time travel. The history of the Montauk Project
story is closely associated with, and often believed to originate in, the Montauk
Project series of books by Preston Nichols.
 The working title of this movie/show was “Montauk” and it took place on Long
Island in 1980, but the writers had to change its location when they realized it
would be too difficult to shoot there in winter.
 Which iconic movie/show?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 32
7) Is it time travel?

33. MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 33
Stranger Things

34.  "I actually made this as a way to poke fun at the idea of getting cease and
desist letters. At the time (October 2006) I had nothing to lose and my original
intention was to call this 'back to the future: the new official universal studios
cartoon featuring the new Doc Brown and Marty McFly' and then I'd just sit
back and wait for a letter from their lawyers to arrive. That's actually why it's so
filthy. I was just looking to 'troll' a big studio.“
 The creator telling about the origin of his idea. Though the final form is safely
removed from the litigious nightmare that his original work was, he says, “some
of the raw energy behind the voice performances is sort of still intact, especially
for X. That’s the beginning of it.”
 What is being talked about?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 34
8) Trolling goes a long way

35.  Roiland’s earlier idea called The Real Animated Adventures of Doc and Mharti.
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 35
Rick and Morty

36.  Daudayal Mehra had gone to see a play in 1920’s in which there were two
characters, Sona and ___. He found Sona too glamorous a name and instead
picked ___ as the name for his upcoming company.
 The familiar logo of ___ was designed by Satyajit Ray, and didn’t charge any
money for it. Instead, he asked for a few good products of the company.
 Which famous company?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 36
9) The Rising Star

37. MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 37
Rupa Publications (Rupa & Co.)

38.  Radio host Rella Rivera took her two daughters to Costco in Kapolei on Oahu,
Hawaii, and when they were checking out with their purchases, the kids' jaws
dropped looking at the Costco employee checking them out.
 But this was not the first time it was happening. In 2016, he basically became
an overnight celebrity — especially with children. Just that the video Rivera took
and posted online a couple of days back, hence his popularity has spiked.
 Why? Pictures on the next slide.
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 38
10) Pehchan kaun

39. MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 39
Pehchan kaun

40. MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 40
Lookalike of Maui from Moana

41.  His first film experience was at the age of 14 when he was given a role of a
vandal in the movie “Sunday Bloody Sunday”. He regards the experience as
heaven as he was paid pound 2 for vandalizing cars outside a church. After a gap
of 11 years, in 1982, he got a small part role of a South African street thug in the
movie “Gandhi.”
 Even after acting in only 5 films since 1998 up to 2017 taking a gap of 5 years
between each role (and surely beating Aamir Khan by a huge margin), Time
magazine named him “World’s Greatest Actor” in November 2012.
 Who?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 41
11) Non-beggars can be choosers

42.  My Left Foot – 1989
 There Will Be Blood – 2007
 Lincoln – 2012
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 42
Daniel Day-Lewis

43.  ___ ___ has become a symbol of cultural resistance against authoritarianism
for the Indian left (or whatever is left of them). While Bhisham Sahni, along with
many other artists, founded the ___ ___ Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) in February
1989, right after his death, in the same year M.F. Husain had a painting "Tribute
to ___" sold at auction for over $1 million.
 Who is he, and how is he related to a 2008 movie starring Ajay Devgan, Vidya
Balan in lead roles and a lot of who’s who of Bollywood in cameo roles? (5 points
each)
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 43
12) Non-Sahmati

44.  Safdar Hashmi was killed by political rivals while performing a street play
named Halla Bol!, in 1989.
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 44
Safdar Hashmi, Halla Bol

45.  A year after X began teaching at Merton College at Oxford University, he met
fellow professor Y at a faculty meeting in 1926. But it wasn’t necessarily
friendship-at-first-sight. In his diary, Y describes X as “a smooth, pale fluent little
chap—no harm in him: only needs a smack or so.” But the pair soon bonded
over a shared interest in mythology.
 One day, X decided to show Y an early draft of what would become the
cornerstone of a star-crossed love story. On the other hand, on a fall evening in
1931, Y took a walk with X and another fellow Inkling, and by dawn he had
decided to return to Christianity and weave Christian themes into his writing.
 Identify X and Y.
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 45
13) An unlikely friendship?

46. MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 46
X – Tolkein, Y - Lewis

47.  Julie is an Indian Hindi erotic film produced by N.R.Pachisia and directed by
Deepak Shivdasani. I’m sure nobody needs any more introduction.
 The sequel, Julie 2 was released two months back, co-produced and directed
by Deepak Shivdasani again and produced by Vijay Nair.
 Ironically enough, who is the third producer of Julie 2?
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 47
14) K.

48.  Sanskaari.
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 48
Pahlaj Nihalani

49. MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 49
15) Connect what you see.

50.  Cogito Ergo Sum
MAHENDRA MOHAN DAS 50
Posters inspired from artwork of Salvador Dali