Test your comprehension of “Poets and Pancakes” by Asokamitran with multiple-choice questions (Poets and Pancakes MCQ) based on the excerpt. Explore themes of filmmaking, character dynamics, and societal hierarchy within Gemini Studios.
Table of Contents
Also Read: Summary and Explanation “Poets And Pancakes”
Chapter 6 – Poets And Pancakes MCQ
The excerpt ‘Poets and Pancakes’ from Asokamitran’s book ‘My Years with Boss‘ is a fascinating account of Gemini Studios and the early days of Indian cinema. It provides insights into the studio’s makeup department, hierarchy, and key personalities like Kothamangalam Subbu, capturing the essence of a transformative era in the Indian film industry.
Set I
1. What is the primary product mentioned in the excerpt?
A) Pancakes.
B) Makeup material.
C) Poems
D) Novels.
2. Where was the makeup department located in Gemini Studios?
A) Ground floor.
B) Basement.
C) Upstairs.
D) Attic.
3. Who is mentioned as the initial head of the makeup department?
A) A Maharashtrian.
B) A Bengali.
C) A Dharwar Kannadiga.
D) An Andhra.
4. How much film was typically shot outdoors during those days?
A) 90%
B) 80%
C) 10%
D) 5%
5. What was the responsibility of the office boy in the makeup department?
A) Assisting the chief makeup man.
B) Applying makeup to lead actors.
C) Making the crowd players presentable.
D) Mixing potions and lotions.
6. How did the makeup department aim to apply makeup?
A) To enhance natural features.
B) To create hideous monsters.
C) To achieve a natural look.
D) To highlight facial expressions.
7. How was the ‘office boy’ described?
A) Young and inexperienced.
B) In his early forties and aspiring.
C) Skilled in makeup application.
D) A former actor turned writer.
8. In what setting did the narrator work?
A) A cubicle with French windows.
B) A spacious office with high ceilings.
C) A dimly lit basement.
D) An outdoor studio.
9. Who is the source of frustration for the ‘boy’ in the makeup department?
A) Robert Clive.
B) Kothamangalam Subbu.
C) Greta Garbo.
D) Miss Gohar.
10. What was Subbu’s role at Gemini Studios?
A) Chief makeup man.
B) No. 2 executive.
C) Lead actor.
D) Office boy.
11. What distinguished Subbu’s character?
A) He was wealthy and influential.
B) He was a Brahmin with a cheerful demeanour.
C) He was known for his poetry and acting.
D) He was a recluse who avoided socialising.
12. What was Subbu’s primary contribution to Gemini Studios?
A) Acting in lead roles.
B) Writing screenplays.
C) Enhancing national integration.
D) Providing creative solutions.
13. What literary form did Subbu primarily address?
A) Epic poetry.
B) Novels.
C) Story poems in the folk refrain.
D) Sonnets.
14. Which work is attributed to Subbu in the excerpt?
A) Pancakes and Poems.
B) Thillana Mohanambal.
C) Makeup and Melodies.
D) The Boss and the Brahmin.
15. What is one characteristic of Subbu’s demeanour that irked his critics?
A) His wealth and affluence.
B) His inability to write complex poetry.
C) His readiness to praise everything.
D) His reserved and distant nature.
16. How did Subbu treat his relatives and acquaintances?
A) He ignored them.
B) He criticised them.
C) He provided support and shelter.
D) He avoided them.
17. What was the cause of Subbu’s critics’ dissatisfaction with him?
A) His close relationship with the boss.
B) His lack of literary talent.
C) His refusal to take lead roles in films.
D) His inability to compose compelling poems.
18. Who directed the Gemini Studios during its golden years?
A) The ‘office boy.’
B) Kothamangalam Subbu.
C) Robert Clive.
D) A Maharashtrian.
19. How did Subbu respond to the producer’s commands?
A) He ignored them.
B) He complied reluctantly.
C) He provided creative solutions immediately.
D) He refused to cooperate.
20. How did the makeup department ‘boy’ feel about Subbu?
A) He admired Subbu’s talent and generosity.
B) He felt indifferent towards Subbu.
C) He wished misfortune upon Subbu.
D) He sought Subbu’s guidance and mentorship.
21. What was the ‘Pancake’ used for in Gemini Studios?
A) Cooking pancakes for the crew.
B) Applying makeup to actors.
C) Decorating film sets.
D) Selling to moviegoers.
22. Who was Subbu’s predecessor at Gemini Studios?
A) A Bengali.
B) A Maharashtrian.
C) An Andhra.
D) A Madras Indian Christian.
23. Which characteristic of Subbu’s personality contributed to his success in the film industry?
A) His reserved nature.
B) His ability to follow orders.
C) His critical mindset.
D) His loyalty and creativity.
24. What role did Subbu play in Gemini Studios?
A) Chief makeup man.
B) Lead actor.
C) No. 2 executive.
D) Scriptwriter.
25. What literary form did Subbu engage with?
A) Epic poetry.
B) Folk songs.
C) Haikus.
D) Story poems.
26. What was one of Subbu’s literary achievements?
A) Writing epic novels.
B) Composing classical music.
C) Penning modernist poetry.
D) Creating original story poems in a folk style.
27. What was Subbu’s relationship with the boss of Gemini Studios?
A) Distant and formal.
B) Close and intimate.
C) Competitive and hostile.
D) Nonexistent.
28. What did the makeup department ‘boy’ resent about Subbu?
A) His wealth and social status.
B) His lack of literary achievements.
C) His close relationship with the boss.
D) His refusal to help others.
29. What characteristic of Subbu’s demeanour irked his critics?
A) His wealth and affluence.
B) His inability to write complex poetry.
C) His readiness to praise everything.
D) His reserved and distant nature.
30. What role did the ‘office boy’ play in the makeup department?
A) Chief makeup man.
B) Lead actor.
C) Office assistant.
D) Crowd player.
Answers-Set I
B) Makeup material.
C) Upstairs.
B) A Bengali.
D) 5%.
C) Making the crowd players presentable.
B) To create hideous monsters.
B) In his early forties and aspiring.
A) A cubicle with French windows.
B) Kothamangalam Subbu.
B) No. 2 executive.
B) He was a Brahmin with a cheerful demeanour.
D) Providing creative solutions.
C) Story poems in the folk refrain.
B) Thillana Mohanambal.
C) His readiness to praise everything.
C) He provided support and shelter.
A) His close relationship with the boss.
B) Kothamangalam Subbu.
C) He provided creative solutions immediately.
C) He wished misfortune upon Subbu.
B) Applying makeup to actors.
A) A Bengali.
D) His loyalty and creativity.
C) No. 2 executive.
D) Story poems.
D) Creating original story poems in a folk style.
B) Close and intimate.
C) His close relationship with the boss.
C) His readiness to praise everything.
C) Office assistant.
Set II
Set II covers various text aspects, including character relationships, themes, and historical context.
1. What was the unintended consequence of the legal adviser’s actions during the actress’s outburst?
A) The actress was fired immediately.
B) The recording equipment malfunctioned.
C) The actress’s career ended abruptly.
D) The actress received a promotion.
2. How did the legal adviser differ from other members of the Story Department in appearance?
A) He wore a khadi dhoti with a white shirt.
B) He wore pants, a tie, and sometimes a coat.
C) He wore a uniform like other members.
D) He preferred traditional Indian attire.
3. Why did the Story Department close down at Gemini Studios?
A) The legal adviser was promoted.
B) The poets were asked to leave.
C) The Boss resigned.
D) The lawyers went on strike.
4. What was unique about Gemini Studios regarding poets?
A) It had the most renowned poets in India.
B) It provided a conducive environment for poetry.
C) It organised poetry readings every week.
D) It banned poetry within its premises.
5. What did Congres’s rule mean during those days?
A) Freedom of speech.
B) Prohibition.
C) Liberalization.
D) Tax reform.
6. How did the poets at Gemini Studios view communism?
A) They were sympathetic towards it.
B) They had no opinion on it.
C) They were opposed to it.
D) They actively supported it.
7. Who visited Madras in 1952, and what plays did they perform?
A) The legal adviser; “The Forgotten Factor.”
B) The poet, “Jotham Valley.”
C) The Moral Re-Armament army; “Jotham Valley” and “The Forgotten Factor.”
D) The Boss; “The Moral Code.”
8. What was the message of the Moral Re-Armament Army’s plays?
A) Political satire.
B) Deep philosophical questions.
C) Plain and simple homilies.
D) Abstract art interpretations.
9. How did the Tamil drama community react to the plays by the Moral Re-Armament Army?
A) They boycotted the performances.
B) They criticised the actors’ performances.
C) They were impressed.
D) They were indifferent to the plays.
10. What was the purpose of the Moral Re-Armament Army?
A) To spread communism.
B) To promote international cooperation.
C) To counter international communism.
D) To advocate for pacifism.
11. What change did the Tamil plays undergo after the Moral Re-Armament Army’s visit?
A) They incorporated scenes of sunrise and sunset.
B) They added more political themes.
C) They started using elaborate costumes.
D) They switched to a musical format.
12. How did the staff of Gemini Studios react to hosting the Moral Re-Armament Army?
A) They were excited and enthusiastic.
B) They needed clarification and were disinterested.
C) They were indifferent to the visitors.
D) They were irritated by the disruption.
13. What was the reaction of the big bosses of Madras to the Moral Re-Armament Army’s visit?
A) They were highly critical.
B) They were deeply impressed.
C) They were indifferent.
D) They needed clarification.
14. What happened a few months after the Moral Re-Armament Army visited Gemini Studios?
A) The poets organised a protest.
B) The Boss resigned.
C) Another visitor, a poet from England, arrived.
D) The legal adviser became the new CEO.
15. Who were the poets from England known to the Gemini staff?
A) Wordsworth and Tennyson.
B) Keats and Shelley.
C) Byron and Eliot.
D) All of the above.
16. How did the Gemini staff react to the poet’s visit from England?
A) They were familiar with his work.
B) They were indifferent.
C) They were surprised and curious.
D) They were hostile.
17. What role did the legal adviser play during the actress’s outburst?
A) He mediated the conflict.
B) He recorded the incident.
C) He supported the actress.
D) He remained silent.
18. How did the actress react upon hearing her tirade played back to her?
A) She laughed it off.
B) She resigned from her position.
C) She was struck dumb.
D) She became angry.
19. What attire did the legal adviser wear, distinguishing him from others in the Story Department?
A) Khadi dhoti and white shirt.
B) Pants, tie, and sometimes a coat.
C) Traditional Indian attire.
D) Uniform like others.
20. Why did the Story Department close down?
A) Lack of funds.
B) Poets were asked to leave.
C) The legal adviser lost his job.
D) The Boss resigned.
21. What was the favoured meeting spot at Gemini Studios?
A) The makeup department.
B) The Story Department.
C) The mess with good coffee.
D) The production stage.
22. How did the Gemini staff feel about political thought?
A) They were passionate about it.
B) They had no appreciation for it.
C) They were indifferent.
D) They actively engaged in political debates.
23. What was the prevailing sentiment about communism among the poets at Gemini Studios?
A) Sympathy.
B) Aversion.
C) Indifference.
D) Support.
24. How did the Moral Re-Armament army’s visit impact Tamil plays?
A) They became more political.
B) They incorporated scenes of sunrise and sunset.
C) They added more musical elements.
D) They focused on deep philosophical questions.
25. How did the Tamil drama community respond to the Moral Re-Armament army’s plays?
A) Criticism.
B) Indifference.
C) Terrible impression.
D) Support and admiration.
26. What was the purpose of the Moral Re-Armament army?
A) Promote communism.
B) Advocate for pacifism.
C) Spread international cooperation.
D) Counter international communism.
27. What was the reaction of the big bosses of Madras to the Moral Re-Armament army’s visit?
A) Highly critical.
B) Deeply impressed.
C) Indifferent.
D) Confused.
28. What happened after the Moral Re-Armament army’s visit?
A) The poets organised a protest.
B) The Boss resigned.
C) Another visitor arrived, a poet from England.
D) The legal adviser became the new CEO.
29. What department did Subbu officially belong to?
A) Makeup Department
B) Story Department
C) Legal Department
D) Production Department
30. What did the Gemini Studios staff refer to the legal adviser as?
A) Legal Eagle
B) The Boss
C) The Opposite
D) The Recorder
Answers–Set II
- C) The actress’s career ended abruptly.
- B) He wore pants, a tie, and sometimes a coat.
- B) The poets were asked to leave.
- B) It provided a conducive environment for poetry.
- B) Prohibition.
- C) They were opposed to it.
- C) The Moral Re-Armament army; “Jotham Valley” and “The Forgotten Factor.”
- C) Plain and simple homilies.
- C) They were impressed.
- C) To counter international communism.
- A) They incorporated scenes of sunrise and sunset.
- A) They were excited and enthusiastic.
- B) They were deeply impressed.
- C) Another visitor, a poet from England, arrived.
- D) All of the above.
- C) They were surprised and curious.
- B) He recorded the incident.
- C) She was struck dumb.
- B) Pants, tie, and sometimes a coat.
- B) Poets were asked to leave.
- C) The mess with good coffee.
- B) They had no appreciation for it.
- B) Aversion.
- B) They incorporated scenes of sunrise and sunset.
- D) Support and admiration.
- C) Spread international cooperation.
- B) Deeply impressed.
- C) Another visitor arrived, a poet from England.
- B) Story Department
- C) The Opposite
Set III
Set III focuses on various aspects of the excerpt, including the visit of a poet/editor to Gemini Studios, the author’s reflections on literature and politics, the discovery of Stephen Spender’s connections, and the themes discussed in “The God That Failed” and “The Encounter”. It explores the interaction between literature, politics, and personal experiences described in the excerpt.
1. Who was the Swedish actress mentioned in the excerpt, known for her unforgettable screen performances?
A) Greta Garbo
B) Rati Agnihotri
C) Vyjayantimala
D) Miss Gohar
2. Which Indian actress won three Best Actress awards for her performance in Bimal Roy’s Devdas?
A) Greta Garbo
B) Rati Agnihotri
C) Vyjayantimala
D) Miss Gohar
3. Who is described as a freedom fighter and a national poet?
A) S.D.S. Yogiar
B) Sangu Subramanyam
C) Harindranath Chattopadhyaya
D) Stephen Spender
4. Which personality is referred to as a poet and a playwright?
A) S.D.S. Yogiar
B) Sangu Subramanyam
C) Krishna Sastry
D) Harindranath Chattopadhyaya
5. Who is the English poet and essayist known for concentrating on themes of social injustice and class struggle?
A) Andre Gide
B) Richard Wright
C) Ignazio Silone
D) Stephen Spender
6. Who authored the book “The God That Failed”?
A) Andre Gide
B) Richard Wright
C) Ignazio Silone
D) Arthur Koestler
7. Which writer is known for his novel “Native Son” and his autobiography “Black Boy”?
A) Andre Gide
B) Richard Wright
C) Ignazio Silone
D) Arthur Koestler
8. Who was the founder member of the Italian communist party and authored “The God That Failed”?
A) Andre Gide
B) Richard Wright
C) Ignazio Silone
D) Arthur Koestler
9. Which Hungarian-born British novelist wrote the novel “Darkness at Noon”?
A) Andre Gide
B) Richard Wright
C) Ignazio Silone
D) Arthur Koestler
10. Who wrote the biography “The Life of Mahatma Gandhi”, upon which the film “Gandhi” is based?
A) Andre Gide
B) Richard Wright
C) Ignazio Silone
D) Louis Fischer
11. Which book did the excerpt mention finding on the footpath before the Madras Mount Road Post Office?
A) The Life of Mahatma Gandhi
B) The God That Failed
C) Darkness at Noon
D) Native Son
12. What was the special edition of the book “The God That Failed” commemorating?
A) The 50th Anniversary of the Russian Revolution
B) The Nobel Prize for Literature
C) The publication’s anniversary
D) The end of World War II
13. Who was described as “very English, very serious” and the subject of a big reception at Gemini Studios?
A) Greta Garbo
B) Rati Agnihotri
C) Vyjayantimala
D) Stephen Spender
14. What publication did the Gemini Studios staff not expect the visiting poet/editor to be associated with?
A) The Manchester Guardian
B) The London Times
C) Ananda Vikatan
D) The Encounter
15. What was the subject of The Boss’s speech at Gemini Studios upon the poet’s arrival?
A) Literature
B) Freedom and democracy
C) Film production
D) Russian Revolution
16. How did the audience react to the visiting poet’s speech?
A) Enthusiastically
B) Confused and silent
C) Applauding
D) Loudly protesting
17. What was the poet’s accent described as, making it difficult to understand him?
A) American
B) English
C) Indian
D) Scottish
18. What was the Gemini Studios staff’s reaction to the poet’s visit?
A) Excitement and curiosity
B) Disinterest and bafflement
C) Warm welcome
D) Hostility and protest
19. What did the author experience upon discovering Stephen Spender’s connection to “The Encounter”?
A) Confusion
B) Disgust
C) Excitement and camaraderie
D) Indifference
20. What emotion did the author feel upon purchasing a copy of “The God That Failed”?
A) Excitement
B) Bitterness
C) Fear
D) Illumination
21. Who does the author compare to “long lost brothers” upon discovering Stephen Spender’s involvement in “The Encounter”?
A) Gemini Studios staff
B) British poets
C) Indian films’ audience
D) American writers
22. What did the author’s reaction to “The God That Failed” reveal about Stephen Spender’s visit to Gemini Studios?
A) It remained a mystery.
B) It indicated a connection to communism.
C) It suggested The Boss’s involvement.
D) It illuminated the reasons for the visit.
23. What did the author find in front of the Madras Mount Road Post Office?
A) A stack of newspapers
B) A street performer
C) A pile of brand-new books
D) A protest demonstration
24. Why did the author purchase a copy of “The God That Failed”?
A) A friend recommended it.
B) It was associated with communism.
C) It was available at a reduced price.
D) It was a collector’s item.
25. What theme did “The Encounter” magazine focus on?
A) Poetry
B) Communism
C) Social justice
D) Philosophy
26. What was the subject of the short story contest organised by “The Encounter”?
A) Science fiction
B) Romance
C) Social realism
D) Historical fiction
27. Who among the following was NOT one of the writers describing their journey into communism in “The God That Failed”?
A) Andre Gide
B) Ignazio Silone
C) Louis Fischer
D) Stephen Spender
28. What illumination did the author experience upon discovering Stephen Spender’s connection to “The God That Failed”?
A) It sheds light on the poet’s mysterious visit.
B) It raised more questions about Gemini Studios.
C) It made the author reconsider his political beliefs.
D) It sparked a desire to revisit Madras.
29. What term does the author use to describe Stephen Spender’s mysterious visit to Gemini Studios?
A) Enigma
B) Charade
C) Conspiracy
D) Deception
30. What did the author’s discovery about Stephen Spender’s involvement with “The Encounter” reveal about his visit to Gemini Studios?
A) It confirmed the poet’s interest in Indian films.
B) It suggested a connection to the Russian Revolution.
C) It linked the visit to broader political themes.
D) It deepened the mystery surrounding the visit.
Answers-Set III:
A) Greta Garbo
C) Vyjayantimala
C) Harindranath Chattopadhyaya
C) Krishna Sastry
D) Stephen Spender
D) Arthur Koestler
B) Richard Wright
C) Ignazio Silone
D) Arthur Koestler
D) Louis Fischer
B) The God That Failed
A) The 50th Anniversary of the Russian Revolution
D) Stephen Spender
D) The Encounter
B) Freedom and democracy
B) Confused and silent
B) English
B) Disinterest and bafflement
C) Excitement and camaraderie
D) Illumination
A) Gemini Studios staff
D) It illuminated the reasons for the visit.
C) A pile of brand-new books
C) It was available at a reduced price.
B) Communism
A) Science fiction
D) Stephen Spender
A) It sheds light on the poet’s mysterious visit.
A) Enigma
C) It linked the visit to broader political themes.
