Manasellam

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.

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 listing|

• Srikanth as Bala
• Trisha as Malar
• Cochin Haneefa as Sundaram
• Nizhalgal Ravi as Rajasekar (Malar’s elder brother)
• Rajashree as Geetha (Rajasekar's wife)
• Anand as Malar’s elder brother
• Rajeev as Bala's father
• Fathima Babu as Bala's mother
• Vaiyapuri as Guru (Bachelor)
• Shyam Ganesh as Ashok (Bachelor)
• Sukran as Sathya (Bachelor)
• Chandra Lakshman as Subha (Sundaram's daughter)
• Chaplin Balu as Murugan
• Scissor Manohar
• Baby Akshaya
• Besant Ravi
• Ilavarasu
• Laxmi Ratten as Doctor
• Ishwarya as Priya

}}

The film marked the directorial debut of Santhosh who earlier assisted R. Parthiban, Ezhil and Sasi.{{Cite magazine |date=30 March 2003 |title=அரசியல்ல சாதிக்க சினிமா வேணும்! |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2003-03-30/page/52/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240219141610/https://archive.org/details/kalki2003-03-30/page/52/mode/2up |archive-date=19 February 2024 |access-date=19 February 2024 |magazine=Kalki |pages=52–53 |language=ta |via=Internet Archive}} Vidya Balan was initially selected as the lead actress but was subsequently replaced by Trisha.{{Cite web |date=3 July 2002 |title=Cine News |url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/cinenews/2002/july/03-07-02.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050312005639/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/cinenews/2002/july/03-07-02.html |archive-date=12 March 2005 |access-date=21 November 2020 |website=Dinakaran}}{{Cite web |title=Cinebits |url=http://www.nilacharal.com/enter/cinebit/c66.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522103318/http://www.nilacharal.com/enter/cinebit/c66.html |archive-date=22 May 2013 |access-date=4 August 2012 |website=Nilacharal}} Vidya was removed as the director was dissatisfied with her work.{{Cite web |date=13 July 2012 |title=When Vidya Balan was kicked out |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-13/did-you-know-/31160200_1_vidya-balan-hindi-films-south-filmmakers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707065803/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-13/did-you-know-/31160200_1_vidya-balan-hindi-films-south-filmmakers |archive-date=7 July 2012 |access-date=4 August 2012 |website=The Times of India}} Shooting took place at Vijaya Vauhini Studios in Chennai.{{Cite web |date=24 December 2002 |title=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) |url=http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/chennai/Trisha/articleshow/32248973.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314082920/http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/chennai/Trisha/articleshow/32248973.cms |archive-date=14 March 2017 |access-date=14 March 2017 |website=The Times of India}} For a scene where Srikanth was required to stand at a height of {{Convert|60|ft|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.{{Cite web |last=Warrier |first=Shobha |author-link=Shobha Warrier |date=11 March 2003 |title=Mani Ratnam signs upcoming hero Srikkant |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/mar/11srikkant.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211214946/https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/mar/11srikkant.htm |archive-date=11 February 2021 |access-date=9 April 2023 |website=Rediff.com}}

Soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.{{Cite web |date=January 2003 |title=Manasellam |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/manasellam/RY7JDG7SEqM_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411050646/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/manasellam/RY7JDG7SEqM_ |archive-date=11 April 2023 |access-date=9 April 2023 |website=JioSaavn}} Sajahan Waheed of New Straits Times wrote the "melodious music is definitely the saving grace in this otherwise much recycled and uninspiring love tale".{{Cite news |last=Waheed |first=Sajahan |date=10 April 2003 |title=Illayaraja weaves his magic again |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9j4hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U3sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5250%2C6009012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227044744/https://news.google.com/newspapers?sjid=U3sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5250%2C6009012&id=9j4hAAAAIBAJ |archive-date=27 December 2024 |access-date=28 February 2024 |work=New Straits Times |via=Google News Archive}} Vignesh Ram of Nilacharal felt "it is a nice album with more appealing melodies and pathetic dance numbers. Though Ilaiyaraja has tried his best to cater the needs of young generation only his melodies leave a mark and Yuvan shankar Raja or other younger MD would have been a better choice for this film".{{Cite web |last=Ram |first=Vignesh |title=Manasellam – Music Review |url=http://www.nilacharal.com/enter/review/manasellam_audio.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040101165655/http://www.nilacharal.com/enter/review/manasellam_audio.html |archive-date=1 January 2004 |access-date=1 March 2025 |website=Nilacharal}}

NanjilOnline.com wrote: "On the whole Manasellam leaves you with a migraine".{{Cite web |title=Manasellam – Tamil Movie |url=http://www.nanjilonline.com/movies/manasellam_rev.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827020204/http://www.nanjilonline.com/movies/manasellam_rev.asp |archive-date=27 August 2010 |access-date=4 August 2012 |website=NanjilOnline.com}} 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".{{Cite web |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=4 April 2003 |title=Manasellam |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/04/04/stories/2003040400950200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040422111753/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/04/04/stories/2003040400950200.htm |archive-date=22 April 2004 |access-date=4 August 2012 |website=The Hindu}} 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".{{Cite web |last=Mannath |first=Malini |date=30 March 2003 |title=Manasellam |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/Moviereviews/tammov258.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050408210844/http://www.chennaionline.com/Moviereviews/tammov258.asp |archive-date=8 April 2005 |access-date=15 May 2022 |website=Chennai Online}} 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.{{Cite magazine |last=சிதம்பரம் |first=கிருஷ்ணா |date=13 April 2003 |title=மனசெல்லாம் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2003-04-13/page/n17/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240220120030/https://archive.org/details/kalki2003-04-13/page/n17/mode/2up |archive-date=20 February 2024 |access-date=20 February 2024 |magazine=Kalki |page=17 |language=ta |via=Internet Archive}}

Cinesouth wrote, "According to the story, the heroine, Trisha gets frequent headaches in the film. But, more than her, it is the audience who complains of a nagging pain in the head after watching the film, thanks to director Santosh".{{Cite web |title=Manasellam |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/manasellam.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031121184140/http://www.cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/manasellam.shtml |archive-date=21 November 2003 |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=Cinesouth}} Indiainfo wrote, "MANASELLAM starts off with promising note but when the film inches towards the climax, confusion creeps in. Debutant director Santhosh’s lack of command over screenplay leaves the audience in boredom at the end of the film. Charming Srikanth’s acting and Trisha’s beauty are the major attractions of the film. Director Santosh seeks all sorts of gimmicks in the second half of the film to prolong the story. And the film has so many traces of so many love stories like GEETANJALI, IDHAYAM etc".{{Cite web |title=MANASELLAM, Average lovestory |url=http://movies.indiainfo.com/tamil/reviews/manasellam.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030819112823/http://movies.indiainfo.com/tamil/reviews/manasellam.html |archive-date=19 August 2003 |access-date=28 January 2025 |website=Indiainfo}} Deccan Herald wrote "A tragic love story woven beautifully with hummable songs, an average script and a little bit of unwanted violence.

Director Santosh has treated the theme of love well but at times it looks like he has run out of ideas. The narration lacks punch in the second half with director introducing so many elements and characters".{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr06/filmr.asp|title=Manasellam|website=Deccan Herald|access-date=16 March 2025|date=6 April 2003|first=C.|last=Shivakumar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030622172057/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr06/filmr.asp|archive-date=22 June 2003}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

Category:2000s Indian films

Category:2000s Tamil-language films

Category:2003 films

Category:2003 directorial debut films

Category:2003 romantic drama films

Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja

Category:Indian romantic drama films

Category:Tamil-language Indian films

Category:Tamil-language romantic drama films