I tell it is strange how my story is like one tamil movie -
Minnale (translated :The
lightning)
Minnale ( translated :The lightning)
Blog Post
21 October 2004
Minnale, oh..it still strikes me now as lightning as much as it
did in 2001. This movie which was a stylised hollywood type of
indian romance was an insanely huge box office hit a few years back
for its story and music. Its success prompted bollywood producers
to remake the show in Hindi. Cineindia reported that this gem of a
movie set the cash registers rolling in Sathyam Theatres of
Chennai. The story was conceived by a debutant director Gautham
Menon and a first time music composer Harris Jayaraj, has
composed brilliant music that made even AR Rahman sit up and
notice. The soundtrack was released months before the film
and became widely talked about. Most importantly, Minnale marked
the coming of the Gautham- Harris combination as a potent force in
the industry for the years to come. Minnale was one of the most
successful tamil movies of the 2000s and inspired a slew of
similar movies in the years after.
Review
17th May 2001
A shrewd street punk (Maddy) who likes a girl (Reema)
at first sight, and wanted to woo her. Unfortuntely,this girl is a
very practical person who doesnt believe in love , and who wants to
settle down in life and have kids. Unknown to Maddy, she is already
engaged to someone arranged by her parents she hasnt
even met before .Our hero goes to meet her on a
casual date. She thinks that her fiance has come to meet her
in disguise.
She plays along thinking its her fiance. He plays along
making up extravagant stories about himself to impress her
.
They date for 10 days and the shocking truth
comes out when her real fiance arrives and says he could not make
it for the meeting with her the other day because of work
commitments.Our hero finds out that the
person she is engaged to , and him have the same name and to meet
our girl on the same day.....
Reema then thinks that Maddy
has cheated her by impersonating as her fiance whom she is to
meet on the same day he appeared. Feeling betrayed and angry
with Maddy, she tells him off not to see her again
ever. Maddy was just unlucky that fate
played him around but he didnt meant to cheat her . He became a
circumstantial victim of coincidence. But the both of them could
not forget the 10 days they were together . She realised that in
those 10 days within herself, there is a strange feeling called
LOVE. Beneath the deep resentment and extreme
prejudice, Reema finally manages to acknowledge that life
is not about marrying a successful and rich man , and that life is
about marrying someone u really love and wish to spend the rest of
that life with.
First time director Gautham Menon has some interesting
camera angles and generally the quality of the film is top notch.
The subtle nuances and attention to detail makes one wonder the
directional capabilities of this promising newcomer. The songs were
tastefully done especially Vaseegra, and the music of Harris
Jayaraj , a newcomer musician gives AR Rahman, the
king, a serious challenge. There is an uncanny resemblance to
Rahman many will agree but though the music is original and fresh,
it hooks on one instantly and before u realise it , u reach for the
repeat button on your hi-fi after the addiction gets into u.
Minnale is well worth your time and movie ticket. Energetic,vibrant
and full of LOVE.
Just like the movie : I have spent some time with her
and she enjoyed my company.
