View source for Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities

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{{Infobox film
| name           = Meenaxi: Tale of Three Cities
| image          = Meenaxi, A Tale of Three Cities, 1995 film.jpg
| writer         = [[Owais Husain]]<br/>M. F. Husain
| starring       = [[Tabu (actress)|Tabu]]<br/>[[Kunal Kapoor (actor, born 1977)|Kunal Kapoor]]<br/>[[Raghuvir Yadav]]
| director       = [[M. F. Husain]]
| producer       = Reima Husain
| music          = [[A. R. Rahman]]
| cinematography = [[Santosh Sivan]]
| editing        = [[Sreekar Prasad]]
| released       = {{Film date|2004|4|2|df=y}}
| language       = [[Hindi]]
| country        = India
}}

'''''Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities''''' (or '''''Meenaxi''''') is a 2004 Hindi film<ref>https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0366761/</ref> directed by [[M. F. Husain]] and starring [[Tabu (actress)|Tabu]], [[Kunal Kapoor (actor, born 1977)|Kunal Kapoor]] and [[Raghuvir Yadav]]. The film is centered on [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] novelist Nawab (Yadav) who is suffering from [[writer's block]]. After five years and no stories, Nawab comes across an unconventional muse, Meenaxi (Tabu). The three cities referred to in the title are [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], [[Jaisalmer]] and [[Prague]]. The film features an acclaimed [[Meenaxi (soundtrack)|score and soundtrack]] by [[A.R.Rahman]].

It is semi-autobiographical in some respects. There are allusions to Husain's own experiences with his muse, [[Madhuri Dixit]], with whom he made his previous film, ''[[Gaja Gamini]]'' (2000).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040629184700/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2004/03/21/stories/2004032100370500.htm Cinematic vision], ''[[The Hindu]]'', 21 July 2005.</ref> The film was screened in the Marché du Film section of the [[2005 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Meenaxi-Tale-of-3-cities-screened-at-Cannes/223181|title=Meenaxi: Tale of 3 cities screened at Cannes|publisher=}}</ref>

== Synopsis ==
Nawab, a popular Hyderabadi novelist, is suffering from a classic case of writer's block. Five years have passed, and stories of substance seem to have dried up. Then, almost providentially, Nawab comes across a young woman named Meenaxi. She's enigmatic and individualistic – and not quite willing to perform the part of a passive muse. But that doesn't deter a rejuvenated Nawab from giving her different personae – she can be the mysterious perfume trader of Hyderabad, the exotic desert bloom of Jaisalmer or the orphaned Maria of Prague. Inexorably, she consolidates her command over the novelist. She dismisses his renewed attempts at writing as insubstantial and hackneyed, plunging him into a state of deeper despair. She is scathingly critical about his story and is amused by one of his characters, the lovelorn and awkward Kameshwar. Finally, as Nawab strives on a new page all over again, Meenaxi comments that perhaps the book is in vain. In any case, it is much too late. The writer must survive and live, if he can, without her support, inspiration and criticism.<ref name="synopsis">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0366761/plotsummary|title=Plot summary for Meenaxi: Tale of 3 Cities}}</ref>

==Cast==
* [[Tabu (actress)|Tabu]] – Meenaxi
* [[Kunal Kapoor (actor, born 1977)|Kunal Kapoor]] – Kameshwar Mathur
* [[Remo D'Souza]] – Kameshwar's Friend
* [[Raghuvir Yadav]] – Nawab
* [[Nadira Babbar]] – Khala / Masi

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name       = Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
| type       = soundtrack
| artist     = [[A. R. Rahman]]
| cover      =
| alt        =
| released   = 24 January 2004 (India)
| recorded   = [[Panchathan Record Inn]]
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[World Music|World]]
| length     = 39:52
| label      = [[Sony BMG]]
| producer   = [[A. R. Rahman]]
| prev_title = [[Lakeer – Forbidden Lines]]
| prev_year  = 2004
| next_title = [[Yuva]]
| next_year  = 2004
}}
[[A. R. Rahman]] composed the music on lyrics written by [[Rahat Indori]], [[M. F. Husain]], and [[Sukhwinder Singh]]. The music for ''Meenaxi'' was released on 24 January 2004 creating great controversies regarding the song "Noor-Un-Ala" which had lyrics directly adapted from the [[Quran]].<ref name="controversy">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110618001719/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/does-mf-husain-love-controversy/9569-8.html ]</ref><ref name="controversy2">http://www.mumbai-central.com/nukkad/apr2004/msg00244.html</ref> The soundtrack of the movie got high appreciations from the critics. Rahman composed some of his career best songs for it.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} The background score was also composed by Rahman. Rahman goes completely into Qawwali rhythms for Hyderabad, a rustic, earthy, Arabic rhythms for Jaisalmer and a rich lavish strings for Prague and brings out the essence and cultures of the three cities through his enticing scores.{{original research inline|date=June 2012}}

The initial lines of "Chinnamma Chilakamma" give a feel of [[Telugu language|Telugu]] peppy number, but as [[Sukhwinder Singh]] picks up his lines, a [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabadi]] accent is revealed. The lyrics are penned by [[Sukhwinder Singh]]. "Rang Hai" is like a rustic mysterious cry of a woman. [[Alka Yagnik]] is the main vocalist whilst Lebanese singer Dallinda provided additional vocals. "Dhuan Dhuan" is a sultry and seductive number sung by [[Asha Bhosle]]. Additional vocals is by Kunal and percussions by Rahman's usual associate [[Sivamani]]. Rahman said about recording of this song at the filmfare: "For one song, we started with no tune and no lyrics either. One afternoon I bumped into Lataji and Ashaji in London. I asked Ashaji if she'd do a song with me the next day. She had to go to Scotland the next day. But she returned in a few days and we finished the track "Dhuan Dhuan" in four hours in London."{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} "Yeh Rishta" is a melody sung by [[Reena Bhardwaj]] who has previously worked with Rahman in a chartbuster song for the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] movie ''[[Baba (2002 film)|Baba]]''. It was later reused by Rahman in the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] movie ''[[Sakkarakatti]]'' as "Naan Epodhu" with the same singer which then became a chartbuster.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} It was picturised as Tabu's solo entrance piece in the film. "Do Kadam" is highly regarded as one of Rahman's best compositions.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} This song is sung by [[Sonu Nigam]] with lyrics provided by Rahat Indori. ''Planetbollywood'' referred to this song as the best from [[Sonu Nigam]].<ref>[http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=042806113230 Do Kadam, The best from Sony Nigam]</ref> The controversial song "Noor-Un-Ala-Noor" is a [[Sufi music|Sufi style]] song sung by Murtaza Khan and Qadir Khan, together called Khan brothers. Lyrics for the song were by [[M. F. Hussain]] which slightly adapted the [[Quran]]ic verses honouring [[Allah]] to honour the lead character Meenaxi.<ref name="controversy" /><ref name="controversy2" /> Husain wrote in ''[[The Hindu]]'' about this song, "There is a qawwali written by me and sung by classical musicians Ustad Ghulam Mustafa and his son for which Rahman has tuned unusual music. The film opens with this qawwali, the picturisation of which is a major highlight ... The qawwali is exultant about the presence of the light and what a light it is! It is a Sufi thought, a thought that keep us going even when there is pitch darkness."{{citation needed|date=June 2012}}

"Cyclist's Rhythm" and "Potter's Village" were [[instrumental]]s composed by Rahman with percussions by [[Sivamani]] and flute by Navin Kumar in the former and percussions by [[Hossam Ramzy]] and strings by [[John Themis]] in the latter.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}}

=== Track listing ===
{| class="wikitable tracklist" style="font-size:95%;"
! Track # !! Song !! Singer(s) !! Lyrics !! Length !! Notes
|-
| 1
| "Yeh Rishta"
| [[Reena Bhardwaj]]
| [[Rahat Indori]]
| 4:40
| [[Strings (music)|Strings]] by [[John Themis]] <br /> Reused in [[Sakkarakatti]] as "Naan Eppodhu"
|-
| 2
| "Chinnamma Chilakkamma"
| [[Sukhwinder Singh]]
| [[Sukhwinder Singh]]
| 5:45
| Reused in [[Sakkarakatti]] as "Chinnamma Chilakkamma".
Partly sung in [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|-
| 3
| "Do Kadam"
| [[Sonu Nigam]]
| [[Rahat Indori]]
| 5:58
| [[Strings (music)|Strings]] by [[Rashid Ali (singer)|Rashid Ali]] <br /> Flute by [[Naveen Kumar (Flautist)|Naveen Kumar]]
|-
| 5
| "Dhuan Dhuan"
| [[Asha Bhosle]]
| [[Rahat Indori]]
| 5:42
| Additional vocals by [[Kunal Ganjawala]] <br /> Percussions by [[Sivamani]] <br /> [[Groove (music)|Additional Grooves]] by [[James Asher]]
|-
| 4
| "Rang Hai"
| [[Alka Yagnik]]
| [[Rahat Indori]]
| 5:21
| Additional Vocals by Dallinda <br /> Percussions by [[Hossam Ramzy]]
|-
| 6
| "Noor-Un-Ala-Noor"
| Murtuza Khan, Qadir Khan
| [[M. F. Husain]]
| 6:55
|
|-
| 7
| "Cyclist's Rhythm"
| [[Instrumental]]
| 
| 3:01
| Percussions by [[Sivamani]] <br /> Flute by [[Naveen Kumar (Flautist)|Naveen Kumar]]
|-
| 8
| "Potter's Village"
| [[Instrumental]]
| 
| 2:28
| Percussions by [[Hossam Ramzy]] <br /> [[Strings (music)|Strings]] by John Themis
|}

=== Reception ===
{{Album reviews
|rev1 = Planet Bollywood
|rev1score = {{Rating|10|10}}<ref>[http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=042806113230 Planet Bollywood review]</ref>
|rev2 = Smashits
|rev2score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>[http://ww.smashits.com/news/bollywood/music-review/3314/meenaxi.html Smashits review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229220638/http://ww.smashits.com/news/bollywood/music-review/3314/meenaxi.html |date=29 February 2012 }}</ref>
|rev3 = [[Bollywood Hungama]]
|rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>[http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/musicreview/7123/index.html Bollywood Hungama review]</ref>
}}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->

The soundtrack for ''Meenaxi'' has received positive reviews from critics and fans. Since the film failed at the box office due to controversies created, the soundtrack too remained unnoticed. But the tracks "Yeh Rishta" and "Chinnamma Chillakkamma" were successful when they were reused in the [[2008 film|2008]] [[Tamil language|Tamil]] movie ''[[Sakkarakatti]]''.

=== Noor-Un-Ala controversy ===
The audio was released on 24 January 2004 creating controversy regarding the song "Noor-Un-Ala" which had lyrics directly taken from the [[Quran]].<ref name="controversy"/><ref name="controversy2" /> The movie was pulled from cinemas a day after some Muslim organisations raised objections to the song.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040417/nation.htm#8 Husain pulls Meenaxi out of theatres], ''The Tribune''</ref> The All-India Ulema Council complained that the [[Qawwali]] song was blasphemous. The council was supported by Muslim organisations like the Milli Council, All-India Muslim Council, Raza Academy, Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Hind and Jamat-e-Islami. Husain's son stated that the words were a phrase referring to divine beauty that were being sung for the central character played by [[Tabu (actress)|Tabu]]. He said there was no intention to offend. Following the wave of protests the enraged artist pulled his movie from theatres.

==Awards==
* [[51st National Film Awards|2003]]: [[National Film Awards]]: [[National Film Award for Best Production Design|Best Production Design]]:  [[Sharmishta Roy]]<ref name="51stawardPDF">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/51st_nff_2004.pdf|title=51st National Film Awards|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|accessdate=3 November 2014}}</ref>
* 2005: [[Screen Awards]]
** [[Zee Cine Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]: [[Santosh Sivan]]
* 2005: [[Zee Cine Awards]]
** Best Art Direction: [[Sharmishta Roy]]
** Best Cinematography: [[Santosh Sivan]]<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0366761/awards Awards] [[IMDb]].</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0366761}}

[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:2000s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Urdu-language films]]
[[Category:2004 films]]
[[Category:Films shot in the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Films scored by A. R. Rahman]]
[[Category:Films whose production designer won the Best Production Design National Film Award]]
[[Category:Films distributed by Yash Raj Films]]