Mixed General Knowledge: Bollywood, Harry Potter & India

The Banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) is the national tree of India, chosen for its longevity, expansive canopy, and cultural significance. It represents unity, resilience, and the country's deep-rooted traditions, with some specimens living for centuries.

The mango is India's national fruit, celebrated as the 'king of fruits' in Indian culture. India is the world's largest mango producer, with hundreds of varieties. The fruit holds cultural significance in festivals, cuisine, and religious offerings.

The lotus is India's national flower, symbolizing purity, beauty, and spiritual awakening in Indian culture. It holds sacred significance in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing divine birth and enlightenment, as it blooms pristine even in muddy waters.

The peacock is India's national bird, adopted in 1963 due to its cultural significance and presence across the country. Sacred in Hindu mythology (associated with Lord Kartikeya and Saraswati), it symbolizes beauty, grace, and the vibrant biodiversity of India.

The Royal Bengal Tiger is India's national animal, chosen to represent the country's rich wildlife heritage. India is home to the largest tiger population in the world, and Project Tiger (launched in 1973) was initiated to protect this majestic predator and its habitat.

Jana Gana Mana, composed by Rabindranath Tagore in 1911, is India's national anthem. It was officially adopted in 1950 after independence. The song, originally written in Bengali, celebrates the diversity and unity of India, mentioning various regions and geographic features.

The song 'Mere Angne Mein' from the film Laawaris (1981) was sung by Alka Yagnik, which became one of her early breakthrough hits in Bollywood playback singing.

Lee Jordan was a Gryffindor student in the same year as Fred and George Weasley and their close friend, often helping with their pranks and serving as Quidditch commentator.

Bill Weasley is the eldest of the seven Weasley siblings, older than Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny. He worked as a curse-breaker at Gringotts Bank.

Bathilda Bagshot is the renowned magical historian who authored 'A History of Magic,' which is a required textbook for Hogwarts students. She lived in Godric's Hollow.

Ron Weasley gave Harry a Sneakoscope for his 13th birthday (in the third book). A Sneakoscope is a dark detector that spins and lights up when there is untrustworthy behavior nearby.

The music for Masoom (1983) was composed by Anand Raaj Anand. The film's soundtrack includes memorable songs like 'Lakdi Ki Kaathi' and 'Huzoor Is Kaun Barha'.

Arthur Weasley worked in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office at the Ministry of Magic. This department dealt with protecting Muggle objects from magical interference and enchanted items.

The song 'Tandurusti Hai Waahan' is from the film Parinda (1989), and its music was composed by the duo Nadeem-Shravan, who were prominent music composers in the 1990s.

The President of India uses the Mercedes-Benz S-Class W140 as their official state car. This is part of the protocol for India's head of state, while the Prime Minister uses different vehicles. The S-Class W140 was notably used during President K.R. Narayanan's tenure.

In the movie Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), Ranbir Kapoor's character Raj Sharma works as a video-game developer. This is explicitly shown in the film when he's seen working on game development projects.

Michael Jackson holds the Guinness World Record for supporting the most charities by a pop star - he supported 39 charitable organizations throughout his career. This record reflects his extensive humanitarian work.

In the movie Ghajini (2008), the villain's character is named Ghajini Dharmatma. The question specifically asks for the surname, which is Dharmatma. This is revealed in the film's plot.

The lyrics of the Bollywood movie Koyla (1997) were written by Indeevar. He was a prominent lyricist in Indian cinema and contributed to several films in that era.