Ooo La La La, we’ve been humming that song nonstop since we watched the Tamil movie Minsara Kanavu.
Close your eyes…think of Bollywood actress Kajol in a tight black mini-frock, her luscious, more than a handful size tits jutting out, her plump thighs, plumper buttocks, captivating eyes and a bewitching smile.
And yes, some Chivas Regal with Perrier water on the side would be nice.
Life is good, na. 😉
We would never have borrowed Minsara Kanavu from Netflix and watched the movie but for the request from a SearchIndia.com blog reader.
While Minsara Kanavu is not a non pareil movie like Mullum Malarum, it’s quite an entertainer.
Not the garbage that baboons like Vishal bring you in garbage like Satyam.
Featuring some fine music, an OK story and a bunch of real actors in Arvind Swamy, Kajol, Girish Karnad, Nasser (and to some extent Prabhu Deva too) not the migraine-inducing clowns like Simbhu, Ajith and Vishal, Minsara Kanavu is that unusual Tamil movie that does not give you nightmares for years on end.
Directed by Rajiv Menon, Minsara Kanavu (1997) is a romantic comedy with Arvind Swamy, Kajol and Prabhu Deva playing key roles.
The movie actually starts slowly, and tends to drag in the first 20 minutes or so, but then picks up steam and proceeds at a brisk pace.
So, if you are the restless kind, we’d recommend that you exercise some patience because Minsara Kanavu is a hugely enjoyable movie.
Thomas (Arvind Swamy) returns from higher studies to his father’s textile business when he encounters the beautiful Priya (Kajol), a student in the convent run by his aunt, a nun. Oh Boy, is he smitten with this girl possessing a pair of magical eyes and an angelic smile.
Alas for him, the girl, who was admitted in a convent at a young age by her widower father (Girish Karnad), is set on becoming a nun.
Enter Deva (Prabhu Deva), a resourceful hair stylist and possessing a knack for pressing the right buttons with women. So Thomas engages Deva to help win the girl, who is haunting all his waking moments.
But things take an unusual twist in a manner unexpected by the audience or the dramatis personae.
If you thought Ooo La La La was the only appealing song from Minsara Kanavu, you couldn’t be further from the truth. Vennillavae Vennillavae, Anbendra Mazhai, Thanga Thamarai and Poo Pookum are as pleasing. Music director A.R.Rehman deserves all the accolades.
It’s always a joy to see Prabhu Deva dance.
After all, he’s the only actor in India who can dance.
There’s a grace in Prabhu Deva’s steps completely missing from his younger and older peers. The rest including Vijay, Abhishek Bachchan, Ajith, even King Khan are just apes tromping their feet up and down.
Kajol is also an absolutely hideous dancer but that’s a minor complaint given her other bountiful assets and the other pluses in Minsara Kanavu.
Minsara Kanavu is testimony that in every decade, Tamil movie-makers make one or two fine movies.
Eleven years after the movie debuted, Minsara Kanavu is still a joy to watch.
Pick up the DVD from Netflix (if you are in the U.S.) or from other DVD rental services if you live in India.
Minsara Kanavu is an easy movie to love.
Minsara Kanavu Review – Ooo La La La added by SearchIndia.com on
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“thanga thamarai” is arguably the best song in this movie.. SPB won a national award for it.. And I thought Kajol and assets looked best in this song.
Grab another glass of whiskey and watch this song.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
The song was nice (and we’ve fixed this omission in the review, Tks) but we felt the picturization of the song itself wasn’t that great.
and among the 4 you mentioned, vijay stands apart.. he is definitely not in the same league as Prabhu Deva.. but he is better than Ajit and Abhishek.. and King Khan too.. King Khan is more agile that the 2 As, but Vijay is more graceful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ8ddqGaoD0
Lawrence wins this duel, but Vijay does a decent job for a big star.
And Prabhu Deva will struggle mightily to enter the top 20 of “So you think you can dance”.. the kids are awesome and versatile!
Boo hoo.. Tom Brady is out.. I have him in my fantasy team.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write above: but Vijay does a decent job for a big star
We don’t think Vijay is a good dancer at all. On the contrary, he’s comical.
Here’s an example of Vijay’s crude attempt at dancing from Pokiri. The first 45 seconds or so are absolutely weird.
SUPERB REVIEW… i really liked the movie especially the songs.. Strawberry kanne, oo la la la and vennilave vennilave are my favs…
actually i didnt like Prabhu deva at first.. i was of the opinion that he was probably the worst dancer in the whole world.. It was only after i saw “mastana mastana” song-dance video that i knew i was wrong.. WOW..Prabhu Deva a.k.a Benny Lava is an amazing dancer.. but i want to know.. Can Prabhu Deva be compared to GREAT dancers like Michael Jackson?? :O
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: Can Prabhu Deva be compared to GREAT dancers like Michael Jackson
No. Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk dance alone is probably worth more than Prabhu Deva and all other non-traditional Indian dancers put together.
ah.. i see.. some people were telling me that Prabhu Deva is equal to Michael Jackson in dancing.
But u got to admit that he’s the BEST dancer in India at least. 😛
Oh and a request.
Can u pls review Dhaam Dhoom and some other films like Kandukondein kandukondein and Ghilli?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: But u got to admit that he’s [Prabhu Deva] the BEST dancer in India at least.
Definitely. You can watch the Mukkala Mukkabala dance here.
2. You write: Can u pls review Dhaam Dhoom and some other films like Kandukondein kandukondein and Ghilli?
We’ll see if they’re available on Netflix.
Among the current tamil actors (assuming that Prabhudeva has retired), Bharath has some awesome dance moves.
I liked Kandukondein squared.. Aishwarya looked ravishing.. but Tabu dominated the movie.. Mammooty was awesome in some scenes.. Ajith was adequate.. Abbas was the weak link.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I liked Kandukondein squared…but Tabu dominated the movie..
Tabu is always a class act. We liked her in Cheeni Kum, Mira Nair’s Namesake & even that small role in Fanaa.
I haven’t seen this film yet, but I have seen the songs over a hundred times. I’ve been a fan of Prabhu Theva’s dancing (definitely not acting) since I saw Kadhalan. That movie had some classic songs like Mukkala, Pettai Rap, Urvasi and Ennavale. The last song didn’t have him dancing in it but it’s one of my all time favourites. You should check out (if you haven’t seen it already) Chikku bukku from the film Gentleman. He’s awesome in that one song.
I definitely agree that he’s no Michael Jackson. But his dancing skills are a rarity in India. In my opinion, he set a new standard of dancing in Indian cinema back in the early 90’s, when all the actors could only shuffle their feet to and fro (that’s all that Rajinikanth can still do).
Even though Prabhu Theva’s given up his acting career (thank god), he’s definitely one of the top choreographers in the South. Too bad no one can actually pull off his dance moves. A lot of the time Vijay jumps around like a crazy person. But when comparing him to monkeys like Ajith or Jayam Ravi, he’s tolerable.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Just added Kadhalan to our Netflix queue.
A good cool movie to watch on a week end.. Kajol is fresh and so does the cinemotography.. dont expect much of comedy .. extraodinary music.. the rocking beat towards the end of “Ooh la la” is one of the all time sensations in tamil movie music.. I dont know what happened to Rajiv menon after this movie he just gave one more (kandukonden kandukonden).. then disappeared for ever….
Yes, “Chikku Bukku Railay..” was a big hit in Sri Lanka too. That was the time the CD players were flooding the Lankan markets.
I remember one of my friends having one always plays this song repeatedely with maximum loud to be heard to 02 blocks of street.
But, luckily at that time people in the vicinity didn’t mind that since everybody liked to hear that song many times over.
Minsara Kanna is probably one of the best hits of Prabhu Deva still loved by many.
Oh, thanks for the video. But I got to say that Mastana Mastana and Romeo attam potaal are my favourite songs till date… I never get tired of seeing Prabhu Deva (or Benny Lava as he’s known abroad, not sure though) dance… as u said, there definitely IS a grace in his steps that is COMPLETELY missing from his younger or older peers.. including Vijay,Simbhu,Ravi etc etc…!!!
If you haven’t seen “Mastana Mastana” or “Romeo attam potal”.. i recommend you to see them… coz Prabhu Deva is DAMN GOOD..!!!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We’re getting Kadalan (Prabhu Deva) tomorrow from Netflix.
Just an ok movie. Better than usual garbage. I didn’t find anything rocking. Nasser was good in cameo. Aravind swamy too is as good. Pls review kandukondein too.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: Pls review kandukondein too
Will do if it’s available on Netflix.
We’re getting kadalan(Prabhu Deva) tomorrow from Netflix
That’s cool.. Kadhalan was Prabhu’s first movie as a hero… By the way.. here is the youtube link of “Romeo attam potaal” song… do see this if you haven’t already…!!!! 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9WraPGIld0
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Thanks for the link to Romeo attam potaal. Just watched it. Prabhu Deva is a great dancer…if only he could act as well. Sigh.
[i]if only he could act as well[/i]
yeah true…but he’s an OK actor in my opinion… his SUPERB dancing makes up for his AVERAGE acting i believe 😀 .. people like him more for his dancing..!!
By the way Reviewer.. what’s your name?? 😉
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: his SUPERB dancing makes up for his AVERAGE acting i believe 😀 .. people like him more for his dancing..!!
True.
2. You write: By the way Reviewer.. what’s your name?? 😉
The name is SearchIndia.com – Pera Keta Chumma Athiruthulla 🙂
Peraye sollale.. adhukkulla build up ah?? 😀
SearchIndia.com Responds:
🙂
I am guessing SI is a husband (Chivas Regal and tittie-lover) and wife (ex-M&B lover) team.. I will go further in my analysis 🙂 and say that the husband is not as fluent as the wife in Tamil.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Thank you, Freud.
his interview in ‘koffee with anu’ was very good.
you will know how a big guy he is in the industry (not just in tamil).
his choreography is very creative and original (except in intial few movies)
Thank you for accepting my request and reviewing this movie .. I personally like the way the cinematographer captured the beauty of the lead actress.No bollywood movie can match this romantic musical..Thank you very much again.
Reading this review makes me nostalgic.
I’d watched this movie some ten years ago in Jyothi theater (in St Thomas Mount, Chennai), which is infamous for showing ‘A’ movies.
I remember writing in my diary then that Kajol was angel on earth, that Prabhu Deva was a revelation as an actor in the movie, and that ‘vennilave vennilave’ was the best choreographed song in Tamil movie history. Could also see that with this movie Aravind Swamy had begun to become conscious about his hair (he is beautifully bald these days) . However, I associate the movie most with the strange sight (and sounds) of flocks of bats flying in and out of the theater at regular intervals, throwing eerie shadows on the screen.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I associate the movie most with the strange sight (and sounds) of flocks of bats flying in and out of the theater at regular intervals, throwing eerie shadows on the screen
Bats….throwing eerie shadows?
Are you sure that was not Prabhu Deva? 😉