Kollywood Quiz – Tamil Cinema Questions with Answers
A quiz for Tamil cinema lovers
Tamil cinema is more than entertainment in Tamil Nadu – it is music at weddings, dialogues quoted at tea shops and songs sung on long bus journeys. This Kollywood quiz celebrates that history. It focuses on well-known, lasting facts: the first Tamil talkie, the debut films of legends, the titles fans gave their heroes, the directors who shaped new styles and the composers whose songs never get old. Each question has four options and a short explanation that you can read after the game.
Why is it called "Kollywood"?
The name comes from Kodambakkam, the Chennai neighbourhood where many film studios and production offices grew up. Combining "Kodambakkam" with "Hollywood" gave the industry its popular nickname. Studios such as AVM Productions, founded by A. V. Meiyappan, and Gemini Studios, run by S. S. Vasan, helped Chennai become one of the biggest film-making centres in India.
Milestones worth knowing
The first Tamil sound film, Kalidas, was released in 1931. In the decades that followed, M. G. Ramachandran became "Puratchi Thalaivar" to his fans, and Sivaji Ganesan, who made his debut in Parasakthi in 1952, earned the title "Nadigar Thilagam" for his powerful acting. Sivaji's portrayal of the freedom fighter in Veerapandiya Kattabomman (1959) is still remembered for its dialogues.
Director K. Balachander introduced Rajinikanth in Apoorva Raagangal in 1975, while Kamal Haasan first appeared on screen as a child in Kalathur Kannamma. Bharathiraja took cameras out of the studio and into the village with 16 Vayathinile, and Mani Ratnam's Nayakan became a landmark of Indian cinema.
Music has always been the heart of Kollywood. Ilaiyaraaja's first film was Annakili in 1976, and A. R. Rahman's debut score for Mani Ratnam's Roja in 1992 changed the sound of Indian film music; he later won two Academy Awards for Slumdog Millionaire. Behind the voices were greats like playback singer T. M. Soundararajan and lyricist Kannadasan, whose songs are still sung today.
How to get better at film quizzes
- Remember debuts. First films of actors, directors and composers are among the most common quiz questions.
- Connect people. Many classics come from famous partnerships – a director with a composer or a star with a director.
- Learn the fan titles. "Superstar", "Ulaganayagan", "Isaignani" and "Nadigar Thilagam" turn up again and again.
- Watch the classics. Watching an old film with family is the most enjoyable way to remember it.
More to play
After this quiz, try the famous Tamils quiz or the Tamil language quiz – Kannadasan and Bharathidasan connect cinema with literature. Want a timed challenge? Play the TN Quiz game, or read about why brain games make a good daily habit.
Now press play on the Kollywood quiz above and find out if you are a true Tamil cinema fan. In the TNChatZone app you can earn coins for playing – just for fun, with no cash value – and talk movies with other fans.
All 24 questions with answers
Try to answer before you tap "Show answer".
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Which music director is called "Isaignani"?
- A. A. R. Rahman
- B. Ilaiyaraaja
- C. Harris Jayaraj
- D. Yuvan Shankar Raja
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✅ Ilaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraaja is called Isaignani (musical genius) and has composed music for over a thousand films.
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Which composer is nicknamed the "Mozart of Madras"?
- A. Anirudh
- B. G. V. Prakash
- C. A. R. Rahman
- D. D. Imman
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✅ A. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman is nicknamed the Mozart of Madras for his innovative film music.
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Which actor is called "Superstar" in Tamil cinema?
- A. Rajinikanth
- B. Vijay
- C. Ajith Kumar
- D. Suriya
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✅ Rajinikanth
Rajinikanth has been known as "Superstar" to Tamil film fans since the late 1970s.
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Which actor is called "Ulaganayagan"?
- A. Vikram
- B. Kamal Haasan
- C. Sivaji Ganesan
- D. Dhanush
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✅ Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan is called Ulaganayagan (universal hero) for his versatile roles.
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Which was the first Tamil sound film (talkie), released in 1931?
- A. Parasakthi
- B. Kalidas
- C. Chandralekha
- D. Haridas
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✅ Kalidas
Kalidas, released in 1931 and directed by H. M. Reddy, is known as the first Tamil talkie.
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Which actor is popularly known as "Puratchi Thalaivar"?
- A. Sivaji Ganesan
- B. Gemini Ganesan
- C. M. G. Ramachandran
- D. S. S. Rajendran
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✅ M. G. Ramachandran
M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) was called "Puratchi Thalaivar" (Revolutionary Leader) by his fans.
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Sivaji Ganesan is popularly known by which title?
- A. Makkal Thilagam
- B. Kaadhal Mannan
- C. Puratchi Thalaivar
- D. Nadigar Thilagam
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✅ Nadigar Thilagam
Sivaji Ganesan was hailed as "Nadigar Thilagam" (the jewel among actors) for his acting skill.
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In which 1952 film did Sivaji Ganesan make his debut?
- A. Parasakthi
- B. Manohara
- C. Pasamalar
- D. Thillana Mohanambal
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✅ Parasakthi
Sivaji Ganesan made his screen debut in Parasakthi (1952), famous for its powerful courtroom dialogues.
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Which actor played the title role in the 1959 film Veerapandiya Kattabomman?
- A. M. G. Ramachandran
- B. Sivaji Ganesan
- C. Gemini Ganesan
- D. S. S. Rajendran
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✅ Sivaji Ganesan
Sivaji Ganesan played Kattabomman in the 1959 film, and his performance remains one of the most celebrated in Tamil cinema.
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Rajinikanth made his acting debut in which 1975 film?
- A. Moondru Mudichu
- B. Bairavi
- C. Apoorva Raagangal
- D. Mullum Malarum
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✅ Apoorva Raagangal
Rajinikanth first appeared on screen in Apoorva Raagangal (1975), directed by K. Balachander.
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Which director introduced Rajinikanth in Apoorva Raagangal?
- A. Bharathiraja
- B. Mahendran
- C. S. P. Muthuraman
- D. K. Balachander
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✅ K. Balachander
K. Balachander gave Rajinikanth his first role in Apoorva Raagangal and is often called his mentor.
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Kamal Haasan first acted as a child artist in which 1960 film?
- A. Kalathur Kannamma
- B. Parthal Pasi Theerum
- C. Paadha Kaanikkai
- D. Anandha Jodhi
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✅ Kalathur Kannamma
Kamal Haasan made his debut as a child actor in Kalathur Kannamma (1960), produced by AVM.
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Ilaiyaraaja made his debut as a film composer in which 1976 film?
- A. Bhadrakali
- B. Annakili
- C. 16 Vayathinile
- D. Mullum Malarum
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✅ Annakili
Ilaiyaraaja's first film as music director was Annakili (1976), whose songs became instant hits.
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A. R. Rahman composed music for his first feature film in 1992. Which film was it?
- A. Gentleman
- B. Bombay
- C. Roja
- D. Thiruda Thiruda
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✅ Roja
A. R. Rahman's first feature film score was Mani Ratnam's Roja (1992), which won him a National Film Award.
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A. R. Rahman won two Academy Awards (Oscars) for which film?
- A. Lagaan
- B. Life of Pi
- C. Gandhi
- D. Slumdog Millionaire
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✅ Slumdog Millionaire
A. R. Rahman won the Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song ("Jai Ho") for Slumdog Millionaire.
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Who directed the 1987 film Nayakan starring Kamal Haasan?
- A. Mani Ratnam
- B. Shankar
- C. Bharathiraja
- D. Balu Mahendra
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✅ Mani Ratnam
Nayakan (1987) was directed by Mani Ratnam and is widely regarded as a classic of Indian cinema.
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Which 1977 film marked Bharathiraja's debut as a director?
- A. Kizhakke Pogum Rail
- B. 16 Vayathinile
- C. Alaigal Oivathillai
- D. Mann Vasanai
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✅ 16 Vayathinile
Bharathiraja debuted with 16 Vayathinile (1977), a village drama shot largely outdoors that changed Tamil cinema.
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Kannadasan, often called "Kaviarasu", is best known in Tamil cinema as a...?
- A. Cinematographer
- B. Stunt master
- C. Lyricist
- D. Film editor
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✅ Lyricist
Kannadasan wrote thousands of film songs and is one of the most loved lyricists in Tamil cinema.
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T. M. Soundararajan is remembered as a legendary ___ in Tamil cinema.
- A. Director
- B. Comedian
- C. Producer
- D. Playback singer
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✅ Playback singer
T. M. Soundararajan (TMS) was a celebrated playback singer who sang many hit songs for MGR and Sivaji Ganesan.
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The word "Kollywood" comes from which Chennai neighbourhood?
- A. Kodambakkam
- B. Mylapore
- C. T. Nagar
- D. Adyar
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✅ Kodambakkam
Kollywood combines "Kodambakkam", the area where many Tamil film studios were based, with "Hollywood".
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Which actor was popularly called "Kaadhal Mannan" (King of Romance)?
- A. Sivaji Ganesan
- B. Gemini Ganesan
- C. M. G. Ramachandran
- D. S. S. Rajendran
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✅ Gemini Ganesan
Gemini Ganesan earned the title "Kaadhal Mannan" for his many romantic roles.
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The 1948 epic film Chandralekha was made by which studio?
- A. AVM Productions
- B. Modern Theatres
- C. Gemini Studios
- D. Prasad Studios
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✅ Gemini Studios
Chandralekha (1948) was produced and directed by S. S. Vasan of Gemini Studios, Madras.
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AVM Productions, one of India's oldest film studios, was founded by whom?
- A. S. S. Vasan
- B. T. R. Sundaram
- C. L. V. Prasad
- D. A. V. Meiyappan
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✅ A. V. Meiyappan
AVM Productions was founded by A. V. Meiyappan; the initials AVM come from his name.
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Who directed Rajinikanth's 1995 hit film Baasha?
- A. Suresh Krissna
- B. K. S. Ravikumar
- C. P. Vasu
- D. S. P. Muthuraman
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✅ Suresh Krissna
Baasha (1995) was directed by Suresh Krissna and is one of Rajinikanth's best-known films.
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