{{short description|Indian singer (born 1970)}} {{other uses}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Minmini | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = P. J. Rosily | spouse = joy | origin = | birth_date = | occupation = Singer | years_active = 1988–1995 <br /> 2005–present }}
'''Minmini''' (born '''P. J. Rosily'''; 12 August 1970) is a [[South Indian]] film [[playback singer]]. She is best remembered for the song "Chinna Chinna Aasai"<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-24 |title=Singer Minmini reveals that Ilaiyaraaja refused to work with her after she sang 'Chinna Chinna Aasai' for AR Rahman |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/singer-minmini-reveals-that-after-she-sang-chinna-chinna-aasai-for-ar-rahman-ilaiyaraaja-refused-to-copperate-with-her/articleshow/101238006.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-01-03 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> from ''[[Roja (film)|Roja]]'', the debut work of film composer [[A. R. Rahman]],<ref name=song>{{Cite web |date=2007-12-15 |title=The Hindu : Metro Plus Kochi : It happened one day... |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2007/07/14/stories/2007071452210100.htm |access-date=2022-02-16 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215202442/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2007/07/14/stories/2007071452210100.htm |archive-date=15 December 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> which was dubbed in Hindi as "Choti Si Asha". Most of her songs are in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], most of them composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]] and A. R. Rahman. Her Malayalam songs include "Souparnikamritha" from ''Kizhakkunarum Pakshi'', "Oonjal Urangi", and "Neelaraavi" from ''Kudumbasametham''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=T. N. M. |date=2021-08-09 |title=How AR Rahman's first song 'Chinna Chinna Asai' was recorded |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/how-ar-rahman-s-first-song-chinna-chinna-asai-was-recorded-153658 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref> She has lent her voice to songs from films including ''Enga Thambi'' (1993), ''[[Karuththamma]]'' (1994), and ''[[Thevar Magan]]'' (1992). She made a [[Comeback (publicity)|comeback]] in 2015 with the song "Kanmaniye" from ''[[Mili (Malayalam film)|Mili]]''.
== Early life and education == Minmini was born at Keezhmedu, Aluva, Kerala.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Kollywood Playback Singer Minmini Biography, News, Photos, Videos |url=https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/playback-singer/minmini |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=nettv4u |language=en}}</ref> She is the youngest of four girls. Her parents are P. A. Joseph and Treeza. Her name was P. J. Rosily in school. While her elder sisters were part of the choir at the village church, she started her singing career at the age of 5 with Kalabhavan, a local orchestra. She studied at St Francis Girl's High School, Aluva.
== Career == Minmini had her film debut with Malayalam film [[Swagatham (1989 film)|Swagatham]] (1989), directed by [[Venu Nagavalli]]. She sang three songs in it, composed by Rajamani. She was introduced to Tamil film industry by [[Ilayaraja]] through Tamil film - ''[[Meera (1992 film)|Meera]]'' (1992).<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]|language=ta|url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1999-08-01/page/n5/mode/2up|pages=4–5|access-date=13 June 2023|date=1 August 1999|title=மறுபிறவி }}</ref> Ilayaraja christened her Minmini, making her name more appealing to the Tamilians.<ref name=song/> Minmini's first Telugu movie is "''Aathmabandham''" with music by [[Maragathamani]].<ref name=":1" />
Her big break came in 1992 when she sang "Chinna Chinna Aasai" for the film ''[[Roja (film)|Roja]]''.<ref name=song/> The number became such a big hit that the location where it was shot, Paana Theertham Falls in Tirunelveli district, attracted huge visitors and the Tamil Nadu government had to ban tourists to protect environment for almost nine years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-14 |title=Tamil Nadu: 'Chinna chinna aasai' falls make a comeback |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tamil-nadu-chinna-chinna-aasai-falls-make-a-comeback/articleshow/103651307.cms |access-date=2024-01-03 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
Minmini has sung a few [[Kannada]] film songs in 1995 for the movies [[Putnanja]], shelved ''Rama'' and ''Betegara''. ''Rangero holi'' a duet song with [[Mano (singer)|Mano]] from the movie Putnanja for [[Hamsalekha]]. In the same film she rendered humming in the song ''Putamalli puttamalli'' with Mano and Shyamala G. Bhave. ''Thayiya Neneyona'' from the movie ''Rama'' in 1995 for A. R. Rahman. She went on to work with [[Sadhu Kokila]] for the movie Betegara where she sang the song ''Mididiralu saviganasugalu'' with Mano.
[[Gopi Sundar]] brought her back to the industry with the song "Kanmaniye" for the film ''[[Mili (Malayalam film)|Mili]]'' in 2015.<ref name=":0" />
== Personal life ==
Minmini married Joy Mathew<ref name=":0" /> in 1995 (Keyboard player of Koratty). The couple have a son and daughter. Minmini lost her voice in 1993 on a stage show in London.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2017-01-16 |title=I never knocked on doors for chances: Minmini |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/music/i-never-knocked-on-doors-for-chances-minmini/articleshow/45855036.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-07-10 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> She was unable to even speak for some years. She regained her voice through treatments. Later she made a comeback. Along with her husband, she has also started a music school named Joy's Academy Of Performing Arts at Kakkanad in the then Cochin (now Kochi).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Creating a legacy on his own |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2019/apr/29/creating-a-legacy-on-his-own-1970231.html |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=The New Indian Express|date=29 April 2019 }}</ref>
== Discography == List of songs recorded by Minmini
== Tamil film songs == {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year !! Song Title !! Movie !! Composer |- | 1991 || Methuva Thanthi || Thalattu || |- | 1991 || Ennodu Potti Ittu || Thalattu || |- | 1992 || Chinna Chinna Aasai || Roja || [[A. R. Rahman]] |- | 1992 || Love Na Love'vu Mannena Stove'vu || Meera || |- | 1992 || Amman Koil Vaasaliley || Thirumathi Palanisamy || |- | 1992 || Kuthaala Kuyilea || Thirumathi Palanisamy || |- | 1992 || Oru Maalai Chandiran || Unnai Vaazhthi Paadugiren || |- | 1993 || Kurukku Paathaiyile || I Love India || |- | 1993 || Malaiyoram Maankuruvi || Enga Thambi || |- | 1993 || Adi Poonguyile Poonguyile || Aranmanai Kili || |- | 1993 || Amman Kovil Kumbam Inge || Aranmanai Kili || |- | 1993 || Raathiriyil Paadum Paattu || Aranmanai Kili || |- | 1993 || Kanmanikkul Chinna Chinna || Chinna Mappillai || |- | 1993 || Anbe Vaa Anbe Vaa Unnodu Naan || Ezhai Jathi || |- | 1993 || Parkathey Parkathey || Gentleman || A. R. Rahman |- | 1993 || Sambo Sambo || Pudhiya Mugam || A. R. Rahman |- | 1993 || Ada Aathiram Kollathe || Rakkayi Koyil || |- | 1994 || Kothamalli Vaasum (Vaa Munimaa) || Indhu || Deva |- | 1994 || Pacha Kili Paadum || Karuththamma || A. R. Rahman |- | 1994 || Chithirai Nilavu || Vandicholai Chinraasu || A. R. Rahman |- | 1994 || Chinna Mullu Thottuvida || Vedan || |- | 1994 || Thendral Varum Munne || Dharma Seelan || |- | 1994 || Thottu Thottu Thukkiputtu || Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen || |- | 1994 || Vaadi En Sengamalam || Rasukutty || |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=1524253|name=Minmini}} * {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20071215202442/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2007/07/14/stories/2007071452210100.htm Article on The Hindu Newspaper]}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Indian women playback singers]] [[Category:Tamil-language playback singers]] [[Category:Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners]] [[Category:Singers from Kochi]] [[Category:Malayalam-language playback singers]] [[Category:Singers from Kerala]] [[Category:Film musicians from Kerala]] [[Category:Women musicians from Kerala]] [[Category:21st-century Indian women singers]] [[Category:People from Aluva]] [[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]