Manasellam

Manasellam
DVD cover
Directed bySanthosh
Written bySanthosh
Produced byV. Ravichandran
StarringSrikanth
Trisha
CinematographyJ. Sivakumar
Edited byV. Jaishankar
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Oscar Films P. Ltd
Release date
  • 20 March 2003 (2003-03-20)
Running time
165 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Manasellam (transl. All over the heart) is a 2003 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by Santhosh. Produced by V. Ravichandran, it stars Srikanth and Trisha, while Cochin Haneefa plays a major supporting role. The film was released on 20 March 2003 and failed at the box office.

Plot

[edit]

On his way to Chennai, Bala's bag and certificates get stolen in the train. But he has a look about him that endears him to a petty shop owner Sundaram, who provides him accommodation along with a few bachelors in the top portion of his house. Malar stays opposite this house, and the bachelors are crazy about her. They are scared if the handsome and cheeky Bala will try to woo her, so they hatch a plot and frame him so that Malar's two brothers beat him up black and blue. Three strangers, who claim to be his true friends from Hyderabad, save an unconscious Bala. INTERMISSION.

Now, the true identity of Bala is told in a flashback by these friends, that he is a rich son of an industrialist. Malar saves Bala from an accident, and soon they are in love. But her brothers take her back to Chennai, as their sister had already eloped with someone. The brothers do not want her to commit the same mistake and make her promise that she will only marry someone of their choice. Also, it is revealed that Malar is suffering from some brain disease and will die soon. Knowing this only, Bala has come to stay opposite her house with the hope of seeing and making her happy till the end. Malar's health condition worsens, and she gets admitted to hospital with minimal chances of survival. Bala leaves the hospital crying as he does not want to see Malar die in front of him. The movie ends there.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

The film marked the directorial debut of Santhosh who earlier assisted R. Parthiban, Ezhil and Sasi.[1] Vidya Balan was initially selected as the lead actress but was subsequently replaced by Trisha.[2][3] Vidya was removed as the director was dissatisfied with her work.[4] Shooting took place at Vijaya Vauhini Studios in Chennai.[5] For a scene where Srikanth required to stand at a height of 60 feet (18 m) surrounded by fire, he got severely burnt. Despite doctor's advise to him to rest for three months, he proceeded working on the film after a month.[6]

Soundtrack

[edit]

Soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[7] Sajahan Waheed of New Straits Times wrote the "melodious music is definitely the saving grace in this otherwise much recycled and uninspiring love tale".[8]

Song Singer(s) Lyrics
"Chinna Kuyile" Karthik Ra. Karunanidhi
"Kaiyil Deepam" Sadhana Sargam, Chorus Muthulingam
"Ilaya Nadhi" Srinivas, Sadhana Sargam Vaali
"Nee Thoongum Nerathil" Hariharan Palani Bharathi
"Nee Thoongum Nerathil" Sadhana Sargam
"Highwasiley Ley Ley" S. N. Surendar, Tippu, Karthik
"Midnightula" Malgudi Subha, Karthik
"Nilavinile Oli" Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam
"Oru Jodi Kuyil" Vijay Yesudas Mu. Metha

Reception

[edit]

NanjilOnline.com wrote: "On the whole Manasellam leaves you with a migraine".[9] BizHat.com praised the performances: "Trisha, snatches everyone's attention with her flashing smile. Srikanth has delivered his role very comfortably and carries the movie elegantly proving to find his hand over all type of roles and now rolling to reels".[10] Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote: "Manasellam has the ingredients of an entertaining fare — but the worn-out storyline and trying sequences are stumbling blocks".[11] Malini Mannath of Chennai Online wrote "The first half moves at an interesting pace, and the twist just before the second half, leaves the audience in a state of suspense and curiosity. But then the second half falls short of expectations. There are quite a few cliches, co-incidences, and unanswered questions".[12] Krishna Chidambaram of Kalki praised the pairing and acting of Srikanth and Trisha but panned Vaiyapuri's humour and felt in the name of an unexpected twist, rubberizing the first half and forcing the entire story in the second half is new and called the film average.[13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "அரசியல்ல சாதிக்க சினிமா வேணும்!". Kalki (in Tamil). 30 March 2003. pp. 52–53. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ "Cine News". Dinakaran. 3 July 2002. Archived from the original on 12 March 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Cinebits". Nilacharal. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  4. ^ "When Vidya Balan was kicked out". The Times of India. 13 July 2012. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  5. ^ "ALL SMILES: Miss Chennai Trisha in between shoots on the sets of Manasellam at the Vijaya Vauhini Studio on Dec. 21, 2002. (TOI Photo) (TNN)". The Times of India. 24 December 2002. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  6. ^ Warrier, Shobha (11 March 2003). "Mani Ratnam signs upcoming hero Srikkant". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Manasellam". JioSaavn. January 2003. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  8. ^ Waheed, Sajahan (10 April 2003). "Illayaraja weaves his magic again". New Straits Times. Retrieved 28 February 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  9. ^ "Manasellam – Tamil Movie". NanjilOnline.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  10. ^ "Manasellam". BizHat.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  11. ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (4 April 2003). "Manasellam". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 April 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  12. ^ Mannath, Malini (30 March 2003). "Manasellam". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 8 April 2005. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  13. ^ சிதம்பரம், கிருஷ்ணா (13 April 2003). "மனசெல்லாம்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 17. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024 – via Internet Archive.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Manasellam&oldid=1253924049"