One for the monsoon!

X is an Arabic name for a country (called Y today) derived from the Persian work "The three princes of ____" which involves a country in the east whose princes by accidents and sagacity discern the nature of a lost camel.

An English word Z also originates from X and X's connotations in the Persian work above. A certain amount of Z would seem to have stood medieval Arab dhows and Chinese junks docking on the shores of Y in good stead until they learned to count on the regular reversals of monsoon winds to propel their sails beyond that way-stop. There are many celebrated examples of Z in science (unconnected to X and Y) including that of Alexander Fleming and Penicillin.

Identify X, Y and Z.

Question for June 9, 2011

This is an attempt to revive the blog. Questions will be posted spradically. Hopefully we will not see more than a week go by without a new question.

A is a film company founded in 1961 by X and Y. While X produced most of the films, Y directed them and Z wrote the script. The stories were based on novels or short stories, such as those written by Henry James and E. M. Forster. While the initial aim of the company was to make English language movies set in India, it ended up making films set in England and America as well. X once remarked on this collaboration, "It is a strange marriage we have at A... I am an Indian Muslim, Z is a German Jew, and Y is a Protestant American. Someone once described us as a three-headed god. Maybe they should have called us a three-headed monster!"

Identify A, X and Y. Bonus points if you can identify Z as well.

Highlight the text in quotes for a hint.

"Some of the movies made by A include Shakespeare Wallah and Bombay Talkie. A recent movie from 2008 named Before the Rains was directed by Santosh Sivan"

"Is That All, Folks?" Question for Tuesday Apr 5, 2011

An easy-breezy, just cause its Tuesday!

Connect:

Question for Firday Mar 18th

Connect:

"You again?" Question for Fri, Mar 4, 2011.

2011 set the record with 27 X this year. The previous record holder was 2003 with 24. Last year we had 19 X.

There is almost unanimous agreement that X are inferior in quality and content. It is a rare event when X surpasses Y. But even then year after year, we see several X being churned out. Brand recognition, previous success etc are obviously the factors that make X so popular. The trend has also caught on India recently with several X coming in 2011 alone.

"Ladaiya re" Question for Wednesday, Feb 23

The following are four Asian languages depicting the same word. Identify:

"You talking to me?" Question for Wednesday, Feb 9th

An easy one.

Identify:

• This auteur was famously snubbed by the Academy awards 5 times before finally winning in 2006.
• Several of his films are set in New York and have Italian American characters. 
• He has famously collaborated in 8 films with  X, but has recently been casting this boyish actor Y as the protagonist. 
• He is widely acclaimed as one of the best directors in America with his films appearing in several "All time favorites" lists. 
• Apart from films he is also known for his documentary films on famous Rock Bands and singers