Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities(2004)
Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities is a 2004 Indian Hindi-language musical drama film directed by painter M.F. Husain. The film stars Tabu in a dual role, alongside Raghubir Yadav, Nadira Babbar, and Kunal Kapoor. The story follows Nawab, a novelist in Hyderabad, who creates a female character named Meenaxi. She comes to life and travels across Hyderabad, Jaisalmer, and Prague, seeking freedom from her creator. The film is notable for its experimental narrative structure and Husain's signature visual style. It received mixed reviews from critics but was praised for its music and cinematography. The film was released on 2 April 2004 in India.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 2004
- Director
- M. F. Hussain
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 54m
- Rating
- 7.3/10
Storyline
A lonely novelist named Nawab creates a fictional woman named Meenaxi. She comes to life and refuses to follow his story. She travels across three cities, falls in love, and fights for her freedom. Nawab must decide whether to control her or let her go.
“When art comes alive”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
Cast reunions in this film: Tabu & Rajpal Yadav (3 films together), Santosh Sivan & Tabu (2 films together), and Santosh Sivan & Rajpal Yadav (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film was directed by M.F. Husain, who was a world-famous painter but made very few movies.
- Tabu's character is named after Husain's own famous series of paintings called the 'Meenaxi' series.
- The soundtrack was composed by A.R. Rahman, but the song 'Yeh Rishta' faced controversy for its lyrics.
- It was shot in three different cities: Jaisalmer, Hyderabad, and Prague, which inspired the subtitle.
- The film performed poorly at the box office and had a very limited theatrical release.
- Husain also painted many canvases specifically for the film's sets and promotional material.
- A legal case was filed against the film for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, leading to some scenes being cut.