Minnale
  • Actors - Madhavan, Abbas, Vivek

  • Actress - Reema Sen

  • Direction - Gowtham
  • Lyrics - Vaali
  • Music - A.R.Rehman


The people of Kodambakkam flock together at star hotel to discuss things. What do they actually do there?

The above question arises in our mind as we see the post-interval portion of 'Minnale'.

Entrancing songs, wonderfully handled pre-interval portion of the film, excellent dialogues, enchanting scenes and the top-class comedy of Vivek are the pulses of the film. But the director has turned out an awful work in the second half élan gating it unnecessarily to the chagrin of viewers.

Even though they study together in a college, Madhavan and Abbas are at dogger ends. At the end of their college life they vow not to see each other anymore. Their animosity persists. But destiny has its own plans. It has its own play. Reema Sen is chosen to marry Abbas. But Madhavan appears before her and declares that it is he who is going to marry her. He moves with her for five days. In his made up love for Reema, Madhavan dupes her thus. Innocent as she is, Reema also falls for him. When truth comes to light, she rejects the advances of Madhavan. The enemity existing between Abbas and Madhavan increases further because of these developments. Eventually, despite all these hurdles and hindrances, Madhavan takes the hand of Reema who despises him, that too, with the good wishes of Abbas. How come? That is the story after all!

The final scenes of the film are unnecessarily long winding and circuitous. We don't know what thoughts ran behind the Director's mind. After reaching the apex in the first half, the director falls down from the precipice in the second half, like ninepins. Confusing himself, he confounds the viewers also. The film has reached the shores with great difficulty with the strength of its Music, Madhavan's acting talents, and Vivek's gift of the gab.

Madhavan has performed wonderfully. There is fun and frolic in his words. His facial expressions are bubbling with enthusiasm. He brings the effect of pathos in his eyes. Thus he has dished out a three-dimensional histrionic feast. He weeps while singing the second stanza (charanam) of the song, Venmathiye, becoming one with his character. You can enjoy that sequence, bit by bit.

Abbass' appearance doesn't suit his character. Yet he has to be congratulated for trying to act well.

Reema Sen is slim, spick and span. But she succeeds in displaying glamour and in emoting well.

Vivek shines like a lodestar as a comedian. No sooner he appears on the screen, than the fans start bursting into laughter. No wonder, he has reaped the fruits for his labour. "Whether the vehicle is going to run because of the lemon fruit? Then why should you have 200 spare parts in it?", he asks with discriminative intelligence. Jest fully, he says, "I know the I.G. of Police, but he doesn't know me!". His banner is fluttering high, through and through the film.

Music Director is an A.R.Rahman in the making. Maybe, there is a thin crowd in the theatre, but no one left the hall when the song was on play. This is the respect shown by the audience to his music. Though the music is captivating, he had let down the viewers in re-recording. The sound 'To…. Toinggg' that he repeats often is irksome. Probably, even the bricks in the walls of the theatre would have cursed themselves over their sorrowful plight!

Lyricists Vaali and Thamarai deserve gifts like gold bracelets and golden pens. Fine lucid lyrical lines.

Expert cinematography makes the movie gorgeous. Editing of songs is efficient and novel.

Gowtham, the director has handled even the comic scenes with technical correctness. He has not taken pains in dealing with the climax scene, which is the soul of a film. When all is said and done, you cannot turn a blind eye to the exceptional skills of the Director. He has it in him, no doubt. Better luck next time!

Minnale - All sweetness before interval. Afterwards, it is a drag.
Waauv..... Buss.....
1. Madhavan's all-round acting ability.

2. Wonderful music by Harris Jeyaraj. Appealing lines of lyrics.

3. Vivek's comedy.

4. The care taken by the director even in the small twists and turns of the story and in the sharpness of dialogues.

 1. The second half proves to be a long, tiresome drag.

2. The background music of Harris Jeyaraj.

3. The screenplay that nosedives.