Minmini Biography 
Minmini is an Indian playback singer known for the Roja song, “Chinna china asai/Dil hai chota sa choti si aasha”. She has sung only a few songs for Indian cinema, yet music lovers remember her most for this single song. She has sung maximum songs with Ilaiyaraaja and A. R. Rahman. Her top songs from Malayalam cinema include – ‘Souparnikamritha’ from Kizhakkunarum Pakshi, ‘Paathiraavai neeram’ from Vietnam colony, ‘Velli thingal’ of Mele parambil aanveedu and ‘Neelaraavilinnu ninte’ of Kudumba sametham. All these songs belong to the first half of 1990’s when she was one among the top singers of the time. Other hits from Tamil include - Enga Thambi (1993), Karuththamma (1994), and Thevar Magan (1992). Minmini lost her voice in 1992 on a stage show in London and retained her voice only in 1995 after undergoing vocal cord treatment. But by that time, she was out of the industry! Though she has sung only a few songs, they are all evergreen ones.
Minmini was born in Keezhmedu, Aluva, Kerala on 12 August 1970 as the daughter of P. A. Joseph and Treeza. Her school name is P. J. Rosily, but fondly called Mini. Starting her career at the age of 5 with the Kalabhavan orchestra, she became a professional singer at 10. Mini used to sing in the choir in their village church, alongside her sisters. She participated in competitions and won the first prize in light music in the 1986 state youth festival and the 1987 university youth festival.
Mini had her film debut with Swagatham (1988). She was introduced to Tamil film industry by Ilayaraja through Meera (1991) who later rechristened her as Minmini. Minmini's first Telugu movie is "Aathmabandham", composed by Keeravani. Her big break came in 1992 when she sang "Chinna Chinna Aasai" for the film Roja and she sang its Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam versions too. She has sung around 2,000 film songs in seven different languages.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 10, 2014
