A. R Rahman

AR Rahman

A. R Rahman is an Oscar winning Indian music composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician, multi-instrumentalist and philanthropist. Time magazine described him as the world’s most prominent and prolific film composer. He won two Oscar Awards in 2009 for the film Slumdog Millionaire. He has also won two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, four National Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards and 13 Filmfare Awards South in addition to numerous other awards and nominations. Rahman's film scoring career began in the early 1990s with the Tamil film Roja. The rest as you know is history. The UK based World Music magazine “Songlines” named him as one of the “Tomorrow’s World Music Icon” in August 2011.

Rahman in his Studio

1. What is the name Rahman’s studio which was established in his own house?

Ans: The Panchathan Record Inn & AM Studios.

2. What is the meaning of his nickname Isai Puyal?

Ans: Music Storm.

3. Where he studied western classical music?

Ans: Trinity College of Music, Oxford University (UK).

4. Which was his first Hindi language movie as a composer?

Ans: Rangeela (1995).

5. Name the music album by Rahman which was released on 50^th anniversary of Indian independence?

Ans: Vande Mataram.

6. Who was the director of the movie Roja in which Rahman debuted?

Ans: Mani Ratnam.

AR Rahman receiving Oscars

7. For which movie did A.R Rahman won BMI London Award for Best Score in 2010?

Ans: Couples Retreat.

8. What is the name of the music label of A.R Rahman?

Ans: KM Music.

9. Name the Mandarin language film for which he composed music in 2003?

And: Warriors of Heaven and Earth.

10. English musician Mick Jagger formed a supergroup in 2011. The band also includes A. R Rahman with several famous musicians. Name the band.

Ans: SuperHeavy.

Nicole Scherzinger performing in Oscar winning "Jai Ho"

11. Name the single that was released by Rahman commemorating the last day of the Mayan calendar to spread hope, peace and love.

Ans: Infinite Love.

12. For which project he was appointed as the Global Ambassador in 2004 by WHO?

Ans: The Stop TB Partnership.

People at TOP

Fidel Castro

1. Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born August 13, 1926) is a Cuban communist revolutionary and politician. He was Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and President from 1976 to 2008. Commander in Chief of the country’s armed forces from 1959 to 2008. Castro led the Cuban Revolution which ousted Batista in 1959 and brought his own assumption of military and political power.

2. Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) was a British statesmen, soldiers and author. He was Prime Minister of the UK from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. He was the first and only British Prime Minister in history to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Gaddafi

3. Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi (1942- 2011) was a ruler of Libya from 1969 to 2011 until his death. He also served as Chairperson of the African Union from 2009 to 2010. He was the ruler of Libya Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and the “Brother Leader” of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011. He was captured and brutally killed by NTC fighters in 2011.

4. Nelson Rolihlala Mandela (born 1918) was the first black President of Republic of South Africa. He was imprisoned for about 27 years from 1964 to 1990 for anti-apartheid revolution. He received Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India in 1990 and Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

Indira Gandhi

5. Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (1917-1984) was a politician and the first women Prime Minister of Republic of India. She was daughter of the Independent India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. She was first Indian Prime Minister to be assassinated. She was named "Woman of the Millennium" in a poll organized by the BBC in 1999.

Steve Jobs

6. Steve Jobs (1955-2011) was an American entrepreneur. He was co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc. He was best known for iPhone, the Macintosh and iPad. The Forbes magazine estimated his net wealth around $8.3 billion in 2010, making him 42^nd wealthiest American at that time. He died of respiratory arrest related to his metastatic tumor on October 5, 2011.

7. Dhirubhai Ambani (1932-2002) was an Indian entrepreneur.  He founded the Indian MNC Reliance Industries in 1966. He died on July 2, 2002.

8. Sabeer Bhatia (born 1968) is an Indian American entrepreneur who co founded the free web based email service HoTMaiL in 1996. He then sold it to Microsoft for estimated $400 millions in 1997.

Rupert Murdoch

9. Rupert Murdoch (b. 1931) is an Australian America media mogul and entrepreneur. He is the founder, Chairman and CEO of global media holding company News Corporation. He bought the “The Times” in 1981.

10. Jack Dorsey (b. 1976) is an American web developer an entrepreneur widely known as the creator of Twitter and as the founder and CEO of Square, a mobile payments company. The Wall Street Journal gave him the "Innovator of the Year Award" for technology.

Sachin Tendulkar after his 200 runs

11. Sachin Tendulkar (b. 1973) is an Indian Cricketer and one of the world most decorated cricketer in the history of cricket. He made his international debut at the age of 16 in 1989. He is record holder for most centuries in Test and ODI and also most runs. He also won Cricket World Cup with India in 2011.

12. Mike Tyson (b.1976) is a retired American Professional boxer. He is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at 20 years, 4 months, and 22 days old.

13. Andre Kirk Agassi (b. 1970) is a former American professional tennis player and former World No. 1. He won Wimbledon once; French Open once, US Open twice and Australian Open four times. He also won a Gold medal in 1996 Summer Olympics, Atlanta, US.

Usain Bolt celebrating in his unique style

14. Usain Bolt (b. 1986) is a Jamaican sprinter who has several world records in track and field. He won 6 gold medals in two consecutive Olympics in 2008 and in 2012. He is considered as the fastest man in the world.

15. Yelena Isinbayeva (b. 1982) is a worl record holder Russian pole vaulter. She won two gold medals in two consecutive Olympics in 2004 and 2008. She is also a two time World Champion.

Charles Chaplin without his mustache and hat

16. Charles Spencer Chaplin (1889-1977) ) was an English comic actor and filmmaker who rose to fame in the silent era. Chaplin became a worldwide icon through his screen persona "the Tramp" and is considered one of the most important figures of the film industry. His career spanned more than 75 years, from a child in the Victorian era to close to his death at the age of 88, and encompassed both adulation and controversy.

17. Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis (b. 1957) is an English actor who won a record three Academy Awards for Best Actor category. He is the son of Poet Laureate Cecil Day-Lewis and actress Jill Balcon.

Mona Lisa

18. Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (1452-1519) was an Italian Renaissance polymath. He was a painter, sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer. His most famous work is the portrait the Mona Lisa.

19. Mozart (1756- 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical Era from Austria. He started composing from the age of 5.

Bear Grylls

20. Edward Michael "Bear" Grylls (b. 1974) is a world famous British adventurer, writer and television presenter. He is known as Born Survivor in UK. He is best known for TV series Man vs Wild.

The Greatest Playmaker : Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho celebrating one of his goals in his unique style in Barcelona

Ronaldinho is a Brazilian soccer player. He is considered as one of the most gifted player of his era. He was born on March 21, 1980 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. He came from a family of soccer players. His main playing position is as a attacking midfielder or forward. He is known as the playmaker instead of goal scorer. He is one of few Brazilian players to have played at every international age level. He was a member of the Brazilian under 17 national team which won the 1997 under 17 FIFA World Cup in Egypt for the first time and Brazilian senior national team which won the 2002 FIFA World Cup which was held in S Korea and Japan. He started his career at Brazilian football club Grêmio. He played in Brazil, France, Spain and Italy throughout his career. His unique skills and techniques make one of the greatest player of all time. He won FIFA World Player of the Year for two consecutive years in 2004 and 2005. He also won a Ballon d’Or in 2005.

1. What is the full name of Ronaldinho?

Ans: Ronaldo de Assis Moreira.

Ronaldinho with his childhood club

2. Elder brother of Ronaldinho also played for Grêmio. Do you know his name?

Ans: Roberto Assis.

3. Which English club expressed interest to sign Ronaldinho in 2001 but couldn’t sign him after he couldn’t obtain a work permit?

Ans: Arsenal F.C.

4. Which was the first European club of Ronaldinho?

Ans: Paris Saint-Germain.

5. Who was the manager of FC Barcelona when Ronaldinho signed for the club?

Ans: Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard.

Ronaldinho with FIFA world player of the year award

6. In which year he became Spanish citizen?

Ans: January 2007.

7. Due to whose occupying number 10 Ronaldinho selected 80 as his jersey number at AC Milan?

Ans: Clarence Seedorf.

8. After a successful career in Europe which Brazilian club he joined in2011?

Ans: Clube de Regatas do Flamengo.

9. In 1999 in which tournament he won the Golden Ball for best player and Golden Boot award for top scorer?

Ans:  Confederations Cup.

Kaka, Robinho and Ronaldinho after winning 2002 FIFA world cup

10. Name the species of the bee which is named in honor of Ronaldinho in 2012.

Ans: Eulaema Quadragintanovem (“Quadraginta novem” means forty-nine, the number of Ronaldinho’s jersey at Clube Atlético Mineiro)

11. How many times Ronaldinho was in the FIFPro World XI?

Ans: 3 times (three).

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Cornelius Vanderbilt was an American self made multi millionaire who became one of the wealthiest Americans of the 19^th century. He built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was born on 27 May, 1794 on Staten Island, New York. Vanderbilt University situated in Nashville, Tennessee is named after him; he helped by providing the initial gift of $1 million to found the university. When he died he was worth more than $100 million.

1. What was his nickname?

Ans: Commodore Vanderbilt.

2. When Cornelius was a boy he used to work with his father. His father operated a boat that ferried cargo between Staten Island and Manhattan. When he grew up he worked as a steamboat captain and in the late 1820s went into business for himself and rest is history.

3. Name the ferry entrepreneur who hired Vanderbilt to captain his steamboat?

Ans: Thomas Gibbons.

The Vanderbilt

4. Vanderbilt was nearly killed in the Hightstown Rail Accident on the Camden and Amboy Railroad in New Jersey that occurred on November 8, 1833. Sixth American President John Quincy Adams was also on the train but survived.

5. What was the name of the steamship yacht that Vanderbilt used to take his family on the grand tour of Europe in 1853?

Ans: The North Star.

6. He bought control of a major shipyard and the Allaire Iron Works, a leading manufacturer of marine steam engines in Manhattan, New York.

7. Name Vanderbilt’s largest steamship that he donate to Union Navy during America Civil War.

Ans: The Vanderbilt.

8. Vanderbilt’s youngest and favorite son George Washington Vanderbilt, who was a graduate of the United States Military Academy, fell ill and died during the Civil War without ever seeing combat. It was a great loss for Commodore Vanderbilt because George was to be his successor of the Vanderbilt Empire.

9. Name any one railway in which Vanderbilt served as director of boards.

Ans: The Erie Railway.

10. Cornelius Vanderbilt took control of the New York and Harlem railway in a famous Stock Market corner in 1863. Vanderbilt was eventually elected as the president of the railway. Vanderbilt brought his son William Henry Vanderbilt in as vice-president of the Harlem.

Vanderbilt University

11. When was the Vanderbilt University established?

Ans: 1873.

12. Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Notable alumni and affiliates include two Vice Presidents of the United States, 25 Rhodes Scholars, seven Nobel Prize laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and Academy Award winners.

13. When Cornelius Vanderbilt died?

Ans: January 4, 1877.

14. According to "The Wealthy 100" by Michael Klepper and Robert Gunther, Vanderbilt would be worth $143 billion in 2007 United States dollars, if his total wealth as a share of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) in 1877 (the year of his death) were taken and applied in that same proportion in 2007. This would make him the second-wealthiest person in American history, after John D. Rockefeller.

Milkha Singh

Milkha Singh

“The Flying Sikh” is the nickname of that Indian sports hero who made India proud in track and field race in the world. Milkha Singh was the fourth fastest man in the 1960 Summer Olympics’ 400m race final. He was born on 17 October 1935 in Layallpur, British India. He was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honor for his achievements in Sports.

1. Who beat Milkha Singh in the 1960 Summer Olympics for Bronze medal?

Ans: Malcolm Spence of South Africa.

In 1960 Olympics

2. Milkha Singh represented India in 1956 Melbourne Olympics for the first time in his life. He was unable do well due to lack of experience but came back in 1960 Rome Olympics with style.

3. In which edition of Commonwealth Games he won gold medal in 400m?

Ans: 1958 Commonwealth Games, Cardiff, Wales.

4. Milkha Singh broke 200m and 400m records in the National Games 1958, Cuttack. . He clocked 46.1m in 400m at National Games 1960 that was considered to be a World class performance of that time.

5. Who named him as “the Flying Sikh”?

Jeev Milkha Singh

Ans: Former President of Pakistan Muhammad Ayub Khan.

6. Milkha’s both parents were killed in Indo-Pak partition Massacre; he was just 12 years old Milkha escaped for his life and hiding himself behind the corpses in the train to India.

7. Who was mentor of Milkha Singh in Army?

Ans: Havaldar Gurdev Singh.

8. Milkha Singh joined Indian Army in 1952 in the Electrical Mechanical Engineering branch of the Army.

9. What sports Milkha’s wife was associated with and what was her name?

Ans: Nirmal Kaur, the former captain of Indian Women Volleyball team.

Poster of Bhag Milkha Bhag

10. Jeev Milkha Singh is the son of Milkha Singh. He is a famous professional golfer.

11. Who is the director of Bhag Milkha Bhag, based on Milkha Singh?

Ans: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

12. The name of the movie, Bhag Milkha Bhag comes from the last words spoken by his father, which was to save his life during the riots of Partition of India.

TOM CRUISE

Tom Cruise

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV widely known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He was born on July 3, 1962 in Syracuse, New York, U.S. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and has won three Golden Globe Awards. He started his career at age 19 in the 1981 film Taps. His first leading role was in Risky Business, released in August 1983. Cruise became a full-fledged movie star after starring in Top Gun (1986). He is well known for his role as secret agent Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible film series between 1996 and 2011.

1. In 1981 Tom Cruise started his acting career. He had just a small role. Do you know the name of the movie?

People Magazine 1990

Ans: Endless Love.

2. Which magazine chose him Sexiest man alive in 1990?

Ans: The People Magazine.

3. He became the first actor in history to star in five consecutive films that grossed $100 million in the USA. Do you know the films?

Ans: A Few Good Men (1992), the Firm (1993), Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994), Mission: Impossible (1996), Jerry Maguire (1996).

A Few Good Man

4. For which movie did Tom Cruise got his Golden Globe nomination for the first time?

Ans: Risky Business (1983).

5. In 1988 he started in Rain Man which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. He also won the Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor. Who was the leading actor?

Beckham & Cruise

Ans: Dustin Hoffman.

6. Name the film where he portrayed real-life paralyzed Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic.

Ans: Born on the Fourth of July (1989).

7. What is the name of his production company which he co-owns with his former talent agent Paula Wagner?

Ans: Cruise/Wagner Productions formed in 1993.

8. October 10, 2006 was declared "Tom Cruise Day" in which country?

Ans: Japan.

9. Tom Cruise is a Real Madrid supporter. Do you which European football player friend make him do so?

Ans: David Beckham.

10. What was the name of the film for which he won a nomination for best actor in Supporting Role?

Ans: Magnolia.