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NCERT Solutions

Poets and Pancakes (Asokamitran)

CBSE · Class 12 · English

NCERT Solutions for Poets and Pancakes (Asokamitran) — CBSE Class 12 English.

53 questions38 flashcards5 concepts

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An illustration of the Gemini Studios building in Chennai as it might have looked in the 1940s, capturing the architectural style of the era.
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25 Questions Solved · 1 Section

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Think as you read

1What does the writer mean by 'the fiery misery' of those subjected to make-up?Show solution
The phrase means the extreme discomfort caused by heavy make-up in the make-up room. The lights were all incandescent, so the room was very hot, and the make-up made people look and feel miserable.

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2What is the example of national integration that the author refers to?Show solution
This is the example of national integration the author gives. The make-up department included men from many parts of India and even one Anglo-Burmese, showing people of different backgrounds working together long before official programmes on national integration began.

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3What work did the 'office boy' do in the Gemini Studios? Why did he join the studios? Why was he disappointed?Show solution
The office boy’s job was to mix paint in a giant vessel and slap it on the crowd players. He had joined the studios years earlier with the hope of becoming a star actor or a top writer/director/lyric writer. He was disappointed because his dreams did not come true and he remained in a lowly position.

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4Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios?Show solution
The author says he sat in a cubicle tearing up newspapers day after day. Since people did not understand the nature of his work, they thought he was doing next to nothing.

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1Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on?Show solution
He was unhappy because he thought he deserved a better place in films and believed his talent was being ignored. He directed his anger at Subbu, imagining that Subbu was responsible for his neglect and failure.

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2Who was Subbu's principal?Show solution
The text says Subbu was always seen with The Boss, who was the head of Gemini Studios.

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3Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities.Show solution
Subbu is called a many-sided genius because he could do many things well. For example, he could quickly give the producer four ways of handling a scene and then fourteen more alternatives; he wrote story poems and the novel *Thillana Mohanambal*; he was a very good actor in supporting roles; and he worked creatively for films with great imagination and loyalty.

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4Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others?Show solution
The text says the lawyer was officially called the legal adviser, but everybody referred to him as the opposite. This is a humorous way of saying that his nickname was the reverse of his official title.

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5What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios?Show solution
Most people at Gemini Studios wore a kind of khadi uniform, but the lawyer wore Western clothes. His clothes and his serious, logical manner made him look different from the rest.

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1Did the people at Gemini Studios have any particular political affiliations?Show solution
The chapter says they wore khadi and worshipped Gandhiji, but beyond that they had not the faintest appreciation for political thought. They were also naturally averse to Communism. So they did not have a definite political affiliation.

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2Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the Studios?Show solution
The Moral Re-Armament Army presented plays in a professional manner, with good costumes and sets. Gemini Studios enjoyed the experience and was fascinated by the group, so they welcomed them warmly.

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3Name one example to show that Gemini studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA.Show solution
The chapter says that Tamil drama was influenced by the MRA plays, and one sign of this was the repeated use of the sunrise and sunset scene in later Tamil plays, following the style of *Jotham Valley*.

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4Who was The Boss of Gemini Studios?Show solution
The chapter identifies the founder and head of Gemini Studios as S.S. Vasan.

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5What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios?
6Why is the Englishman's visit referred to as unexplained mystery?
1Who was the English visitor to the studios?
2How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was?
3What does The God that Failed refer to?
1The author has used gentle humour to point out human foibles. Pick out instances of this to show how this serves to make the piece interesting.
2Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios?
3How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studios?
4What do you understand about the author's literary inclinations from the account?
1Film-production today has come a long way from the early days of the Gemini Studios.
2Poetry and films.
3Humour and criticism.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Poets and Pancakes (Asokamitran) for CBSE Class 12 English?
Poets and Pancakes (Asokamitran) covers several key topics that are frequently asked in CBSE Class 12 board exams. Focus on the core concepts listed on this page and practise related questions to build confidence.
How to score full marks in Poets and Pancakes (Asokamitran) — CBSE Class 12 English?
Understand the core concepts first, then work through the 53 practice questions available for this chapter. Revise formulas and definitions regularly, and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.
Where can I get free NCERT Solutions for Poets and Pancakes (Asokamitran) Class 12 English?
This page has free step-by-step NCERT Solutions for every exercise question in Poets and Pancakes (Asokamitran) (CBSE Class 12 English) — written the way examiners award marks: given, formula, working, answer.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

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