Wikipedia

Minnale (soundtrack)

Minnale is the debut soundtrack album composed by Harris Jayaraj for the 2001 Indian Tamil-language film of the same name, starring Madhavan, Abbas, Reema, Vivek and Nagesh, and directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon in his directorial debut.[1] The film's soundtrack comprised nine songs, written by Vaali, Thamarai and C. S. Amudhan.

Minnale
Soundtrack album by
Harris Jayaraj
Released12 January 2001
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length32:26
LanguageTamil
LabelSaregama
Cee (I) TV Audio
Ayngaran Music
An Ak Audio
ProducerHarris Jayaraj
Harris Jayaraj chronology
Minnale
(2001) 		Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein
(2001)
External audio
audio icon Official Audio Jukebox on YouTube

The soundtrack which was distributed by Saregama and Cee (I) TV Audio, was released at a function held in Chennai and received critical acclaim, thus becoming a major contributor to the success of the film. It also fetched Jayaraj his first Filmfare Award for Best Music Director in Tamil, which is the second time ever for a debutant after A. R. Rahman for Roja (1992).[2] The song "Vaseegara" became a chartbuster, and also served as breakthrough for the lyricist Thamarai, and carnatic musician Bombay Jayashri, who later became a prominent playback singer in films. The soundtrack was covered in Telugu as Cheli, with lyrics written by Bhuvanachandra. Harris Jayaraj reused five tracks in the Hindi remake of the film Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein, excluding four songs from the original and also composed two tracks originally for the film.

Development

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Before his debut as music composer, Harris worked as an instrumentalist, synthesizer and keyboard programmer for more than 600 films and with various composers ranging from A. R. Rahman to Yuvan Shankar Raja.[3] While Menon roped in Harris, for the film's soundtrack, he wanted to ensure the quality of the music production, not only for the songs but also for the film score, as songs constitute only 25 minutes of the film's runtime, than its score, which will be about two hours. The album and score in its entirety was recorded within 11 months. Apart from composition, Harris Jayaraj took charge in programming, recording, mixing and mastering of the songs, as well as dubbing, when the film and its soundtrack was covered and released in Telugu as Cheli.[4] Initially, producer Kalaipuli Thanu wanted Harris to score for Kamal Haasan-starrer Aalavandhan, in his debut, but Harris refused to do so as he owed to work with Menon.

"Vaseegara" was the first song composed by Harris Jayaraj for the film, which is set in Natabhairavi raga.[5] Jayaraj approached Carnatic-musician Bombay Jayashri to record the song, during which Jayashri arrived in Chennai from Coimbatore by train and received a phone call from the composer, addressing him as Mr. Jayaraj. She presumed it was Malayalam director Jayaraj with whom she had worked before in movies such as Paithrukam and Kudumbasametham, but later came to know as Harris Jayaraj. Harris played the tune first and asked Jayashri to sing, with lyricist Thamarai too joined the session. The recording of the song finished within two hours.[6] The track "Venmathiye" is a peppy but sad track,[7] which was reflected in the lyrics of poet Vaali,[8] set in Darbari kaanada raga.[9]

Track listing

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Tamil

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Minnale[10]
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Azhagiya Theeye"VaaliHarish Raghavendra, Timmy5:56
2."Orey Nyabagam"ThamaraiDevan Ekambaram1:56
3."Maddy Maddy"C. S. AmudhanKarthik, Timmy1:15
4."Vaseegara"ThamaraiBombay Jayashree5:00
5."Oh Mama Mama"VaaliShankar Mahadevan, Tippu4:40
6."Poopol Poopol"ThamaraiKarthik, Tippu1:57
7."Nenjai Poopol"ThamaraiHarish Raghavendra1:01
8."Venmathiye"VaaliRoop Kumar Rathod, Tippu5:28
9."Ivan Yaaro"ThamaraiUnni Krishnan, Harini5:13
Total length:32:26

Telugu

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Cheli[11][12]
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Ningiki Jabili Andam"BhuvanachandraUnni Krishnan, Harini5:24
2."Kannulu Neevi"BhuvanachandraNaveen1:55
3."Varshinche Megam La Ne Nunna"BhuvanachandraSrinivas, Timmy, Vasu5:27
4."Manohara"BhuvanachandraBombay Jayashree5:00
5."Aei Vennella Sona"BhuvanachandraHarish Raghavendra, Timmy5:47
6."Ooh Mama"BhuvanachandraMano, Timmy, Vasu, Chandran4:36
7."Manohara" (Part 2)BhuvanachandraBombay Jayashree4:57
Total length:33:06

Release, reception and influence

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The album emerged as a breakthrough for Carnatic musician Bombay Jayashri, who became a leading playback singer in films.

A promotional event to distribute the film's audio cassettes and CDs was held at Sathyam Cinemas, Chennai on 12 January 2001 with the film's songs were also screened.[13] Actors Madhavan, Vivek, Vikram and Manoj Bharathiraja among other celebrities from the film industry were present at the event, excluding Reema and Abbas, who could not attend the function due to busy schedules. The composer's musical team performed the songs on stage, with dance choreographer Brinda's team danced to the tunes.[13]

The soundtrack received critical acclaim and was a major contributor to the film's commercial success.[14] In its review for The Hindu, Savitha Padmanabhan praised the film's music and picturisation as "stylish" and "youthful".[15] A critic from Sify, considered the background score and the songs (particularly "Azhagiya Theeye"), as the "highlight" of the film.[16] In the film's 18th anniversary, Abhishek Bachchan replied to one of the ardent fans of the film, praising the film and added that its songs still feel fresh to listen even after several years.[17] Ritz Magazine called "Venmathiye" and one of the best compositions from Harris Jayaraj,[8] as was The Indian Express,[18] while "Vaseegara" was listed as one of the best songs from Harris in the review for The Times of India.[19]

The soundtrack emerged as a breakthrough for Harris Jayaraj, who went on to become one of the leading music directors in the Tamil film music scene,[14] as well as its contributors, lyricist Thamarai and singer Bombay Jayashri, who became a playback singer in films after being known as a carnatic musician.[6] It also led to a successive collaboration between Jayaraj and Menon, who went on collaborate in several of the latter's films, till Vaaranam Aayiram (2008).[3] Songs from the film inspired several film titles – Vaseegara (2003), Azhagiya Theeye (2004) and Ivan Yaaro, which served as the tentative title for Evano Oruvan, starring Madhavan, also inspired a song from the actor's debut film Alaippayuthey.

References

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  1. ^ "Why Tamil cinema needs Gautham Menon more than he needs it". The Indian Express. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  2. ^ TNN (6 April 2002). "Nuvvu Nenu wins 4 Filmfare awards". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Music Director Harris Jayaraj - Behindwoods.com - Tamil Movie Music Director Interviews - Ayan Vaaranam Aayiram Aadhavan". www.behindwoods.com. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  4. ^ "What you call repetitive, that's my signature: Harris Jayaraj". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  5. ^ Kumar, Ranee (7 June 2012). "Dissecting Raga Natabhairavi". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b Rangan, Baradwaj (5 February 2021). "When Jayashri Met Jayaraj Or The Genesis Of Minnale's Vaseegara". Film Companion. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Chords & Notes". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 March 2003. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  8. ^ a b Ancy (9 January 2020). "Best Hits Of Harris Jayaraj | RITZ". Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  9. ^ Mani, Charulatha (8 June 2012). "A Raga's Journey — Dynamic Durbarikaanada". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Minnale – Harris Jayaraj – Download or Listen Free – Saavn". 1 March 2001. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Cheli (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by K.P. Siva". iTunes. 20 February 2001. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Cheli – All Songs – Download or Listen Free – Saavn". 15 February 2001. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  13. ^ a b "'Minnale' audio cassette release". The Hindu. 12 January 2001. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  14. ^ a b "My First break". The Hindu. 3 July 2009. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  15. ^ Padmanabhan, Savitha (9 February 2001). "Film Review: Minnale". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 November 2002. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  16. ^ "Minnale". Sify. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Did you know Abhishek Bachchan is a fan of Madhavan's Tamil film Minnale?". India Today. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  18. ^ "On Harris Jayaraj's birthday, here are some of his most popular songs". The Indian Express. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Happy Birthday Harris Jayaraj: Five best musical piece of the musician". The Times of India. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
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