Minmini
Encyclopedia
Minmini is a South Indian film playback singer
. She is remembered especially for the song "Chinna Chinna Aasai" from Roja
, the debut work of film composer A. R. Rahman
. Though she is from Kerala
, most of her memorable songs are in Tamil
, most of them composed by Ilaiyaraaja
and A. R. Rahman. Her hit Malayalam songs include "Souparnikamritha" from Kizhakkunarum Pakshi, "Oonjal Urangi", and "Neelaraavi" from Kudumbasametham. She has lent her voice to hit songs from films including Enga Thambi (1993), Karuththamma
(1994), and Thevar Magan
(1992).
, Kochi, Kerala
, India
on 12 August 1970, as the fourth daughter of P. A. Joseph and Treeza. Minmini was known as P. J. Rosily in school. She was also fondly called Mini. Her father, P. A. Joseph, was crazy about art and artistes. Starting her career at the age of 5 with the Kalabhavan orchestra, she became a professional singer at 10. Treeza was a singer, though not a professional. Mini's elder sisters sang in the choir in their village church. Emulating them, Mini also began to sing. Her father taught her to sing in rhythm and pitch. The sisters participated in competitions while they were studying in St Francis Girl's High School, Aluva. One of the sisters, Jancy, sang in Kalabhavan's ganamela troupe.
She won numerous prizes in singing competitions right from her childhood, including the first prize in light music in the 1986 state youth festival and the 1987 university youth festival. She had become a regular singer at Cochin Arts and Communication (CAC) by then. After pre-degree, Mini decided to study music. She was admitted to RLV Music Academy in Thrippunithura
. However, she could not concentrate on studies as she had many stage programmes and recordings.
Her big break came in 1992 when she sang "Chinna Chinna Aasai" for the film Roja
. It took Minmini to international fame, along with A.R. Rahman. The song which set a new trend in the music world was remade in Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi and Minmini sang them too.
Minmini has sung around 2,000 film songs in seven different languages: Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, Oriya and Baduga. In Malayalam she became the favourite of music directors like Johnson
, Raveendran
, S. P. Venkatesh
, Bombay Ravi and Mohan Sithara
. Many of her songs turned into hits, including "Souparnikamritha" (Kizhakkunarum Pakshi), "Oonjal Urangi", "Neelaraavil" (Kudumbasametham), "Kakka Poocha" (Pappayude Swantham Apoos), "Paathiraavayi" (Vietnam Colony
), "Swayam Varamai" (Paithrukam
), "Vellithinkal" (Meleparambil Aanveedu), "Aarunee Jinmakale Peru Cholamo" (Ghazal), and many others.
, Filmfare Award, Cinema Express Award, Film Fans Association Award (Telugu), Kerala Film Chamber Award and SUMU Award, to name a few.
's troupe and later in a Dubai radio station. Like Mini, Joy also got inspiration from the choir in the church in his native place, Koratty
. Minmini now is the mother of two: Allan Joy Mathew and Anna Keerthana. Minmini lost her voice in 1992 on a stage show in London. She was unable to even speak for six months. She regained her voice in 1995 after undergoing vocal cord treatment. With her husband's encouragement, she is now making a comeback to the music industry and has also opened a music school in Cochin. Minmini also anchors for TV channels.
Playback singer
A playback singer is a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras, while the actual singer does not appear on screen.-South Asia:...
. She is remembered especially for the song "Chinna Chinna Aasai" from Roja
Roja
Roja is a 1992 Tamil political drama, romance film directed by Mani Ratnam. The film was subsequently dubbed in Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam and Telugu....
, the debut work of film composer A. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman
Allah Rakha Rahman is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and philanthropist. Described as the world's most prominent and prolific film composer by Time, his works are notable for integrating eastern classical music with electronic music sounds, world music genres and...
. Though she is from Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, most of her memorable songs are in Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, most of them composed by Ilaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraaja is an Indian film composer, singer, and lyricist mainly in the Tamil film Industry. He is regarded as one of the finest music composers in India. Ilaiyaraaja is also an instrumentalist, conductor, and a songwriter...
and A. R. Rahman. Her hit Malayalam songs include "Souparnikamritha" from Kizhakkunarum Pakshi, "Oonjal Urangi", and "Neelaraavi" from Kudumbasametham. She has lent her voice to hit songs from films including Enga Thambi (1993), Karuththamma
Karuththamma
Karuthamma is a Tamil feature film directed by Bharathiraja. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by A. R. Rahman. The film was noticed as a milestone in the Tamil Film Industry. Bharathiraja even told that this film is the finest one that he ever done...
(1994), and Thevar Magan
Thevar Magan
Thevar Magan is a 1992 Indian Tamil film produced by, written by, and starring Kamal Hassan in the title role. It was directed by Bharathan and also stars Sivaji Ganesan, Nasser, Revathi and Gouthami. The film met with a very strong critical and commercial reception upon release. The film score...
(1992).
Early life
Minmini was born in Keezhmedu, near AluvaAluva
Aluva , is a suburb of the city of Kochi, situated north of the city center and a municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. Aluva is also a major industrial center of the state....
, Kochi, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
on 12 August 1970, as the fourth daughter of P. A. Joseph and Treeza. Minmini was known as P. J. Rosily in school. She was also fondly called Mini. Her father, P. A. Joseph, was crazy about art and artistes. Starting her career at the age of 5 with the Kalabhavan orchestra, she became a professional singer at 10. Treeza was a singer, though not a professional. Mini's elder sisters sang in the choir in their village church. Emulating them, Mini also began to sing. Her father taught her to sing in rhythm and pitch. The sisters participated in competitions while they were studying in St Francis Girl's High School, Aluva. One of the sisters, Jancy, sang in Kalabhavan's ganamela troupe.
She won numerous prizes in singing competitions right from her childhood, including the first prize in light music in the 1986 state youth festival and the 1987 university youth festival. She had become a regular singer at Cochin Arts and Communication (CAC) by then. After pre-degree, Mini decided to study music. She was admitted to RLV Music Academy in Thrippunithura
Thrippunithura
Thrippunithura or Tripunithura is a suburb of the city of Kochi in the state of Kerala, India and an integral part of the Kochi metropolitan area. In local administration it is a municipality...
. However, she could not concentrate on studies as she had many stage programmes and recordings.
Career
Mini had her film debut with Swagatham (1988), directed by Venu Nagavalli. She sang three songs in it, composed by Rajamani. She was introduced to Tamil film industry by Ilayaraja through Meera (1991). Ilayaraja christened her Minmini, making her name more appealing to the Tamilians.Minmini's first Telugu movie is "Aathmabandham" music by Maragathamani (Keeravani).Her big break came in 1992 when she sang "Chinna Chinna Aasai" for the film Roja
Roja
Roja is a 1992 Tamil political drama, romance film directed by Mani Ratnam. The film was subsequently dubbed in Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam and Telugu....
. It took Minmini to international fame, along with A.R. Rahman. The song which set a new trend in the music world was remade in Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi and Minmini sang them too.
Minmini has sung around 2,000 film songs in seven different languages: Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, Oriya and Baduga. In Malayalam she became the favourite of music directors like Johnson
Johnson (composer)
Johnson was an Indian film score composer and music director who has given music to some of the most important motion pictures of Malayalam cinema, including those for Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal, Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam, Vadakkunokkiyantram, Perumthachan, Amaram, Njan...
, Raveendran
Raveendran
M. Raveendran , fondly called as "Raveendran Master" was a popular South Indian music composer and Playback singer from Kerala. He was always referred to as the aristocratic music director of Malayalam who had a distinctive style of his own. He composed more than 150 films primarily for the...
, S. P. Venkatesh
S. P. Venkatesh
S. P. Venkatesh is a music director and composer popular for his works in the Malayalam film industry. He has also scored for some Bollywood and Bengali films. S. P. Venkatesh who is a Tamilian, was introduced into the Malayalam film industry by Dennis Joseph. The major break for S. P. Venkatesh...
, Bombay Ravi and Mohan Sithara
Mohan Sithara
Mohan Sithara, is a leading malayalam film music composer in Kerala. He is very much talented in making super hit songs. He won Kerala State Award for applying music for the songs in Priyanandan's "Sufi Paranja Kadha". Since 1986 he is an active musician in malayalam film industry...
. Many of her songs turned into hits, including "Souparnikamritha" (Kizhakkunarum Pakshi), "Oonjal Urangi", "Neelaraavil" (Kudumbasametham), "Kakka Poocha" (Pappayude Swantham Apoos), "Paathiraavayi" (Vietnam Colony
Vietnam Colony
Vietnam Colony is a 1992 Malayalam film written and directed by Siddique-Lal . With Mohanlal, Innocent, Kanaka and K. P. A. C. Lalitha appearing in lead roles, this film was a huge hit in theatres.-Plot:...
), "Swayam Varamai" (Paithrukam
Paithrukam
Paithrukam is a 1993 Malayalam drama film directed by Jayaraaj, and staring Suresh Gopi, Narendra Prasad and Jayaram in lead roles. Scripted by Kaloor Dennis, this film revolves around a traditional Brahmin family and the fight between their beliefs and atheism.-Plot:Devadathan Chemmathiripadu , a...
), "Vellithinkal" (Meleparambil Aanveedu), "Aarunee Jinmakale Peru Cholamo" (Ghazal), and many others.
Awards
She has received many awards, including the Singapore State Government Award, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female PlaybackTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback
The Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer is given by the state government as part of its annual Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Tamil films.-The list:Here is a list of the award winners and the films for which they won....
, Filmfare Award, Cinema Express Award, Film Fans Association Award (Telugu), Kerala Film Chamber Award and SUMU Award, to name a few.
Personal life
Minmini has been married to Joy Mathew since 1995. Joy is a keyboardist who worked in Unni MenonUnni Menon
Unni Menon is an Indian film playback singer. He has sung over 3000 songs in South Indian languages like Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. In the early part of his career, he spent many years as a low-profile playback singer. The turning point in his career came when he sang the song "Pudhu...
's troupe and later in a Dubai radio station. Like Mini, Joy also got inspiration from the choir in the church in his native place, Koratty
Koratty
Koratty is a census town in Thrissur district in the Indian state of Kerala.- Demographics :As of 2001 India census, Koratty had a population of 17,463. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Koratty has an average literacy rate of 85%, higher than the national average of 59.5%:...
. Minmini now is the mother of two: Allan Joy Mathew and Anna Keerthana. Minmini lost her voice in 1992 on a stage show in London. She was unable to even speak for six months. She regained her voice in 1995 after undergoing vocal cord treatment. With her husband's encouragement, she is now making a comeback to the music industry and has also opened a music school in Cochin. Minmini also anchors for TV channels.