AVM Productions wanted to make a film to commemorate its 50th anniversary in 1997 and signed on Prabhu Deva to play a lead role and AR Rahman to score the music for this project.
Rahman was, however, initially reluctant as he had scored music for three of Prabhu Deva's films in the recent past.
The producers revealed that they were looking for a new director and Rahman suggested the name of cinematographer Rajiv Menon.
Rahman and Rajiv Menon had previously collaborated in jingles for many ad films.
Menon thought about the offer for two months and was ultimately convinced by Rahman and Mani Ratnam, who he had been working with in Bombay (1995).
Madhuri Dixit was the first choice for the film. Kajol was cast after Madhuri opted out because of date issues.
Arvind Swamy was then signed up for a role as was Hindi actress, Kajol, to make her debut in Tamil films. Minsara Kanavu was Arvind Swami 9th Tamil film in six years.
Kajol later revealed that she found dancing alongside Prabhu Deva stressful and took up to 20 retakes and 30 rehearsals for a particular song.
Nassar, often seen in intense roles, was cast against type to play a bubbly character in the film and described the shoot as a 'delightful experience'.
SP Balasubrahmanyam, who had previously appeared in father roles in Kaadhalan and Kadhal Desam in the '90s, was signed up to play Arvind Swami's dad.
Rajeev Menon later revealed that Girish Karnad was his first and only choice to play Kajol's father character.
Prakash Raj played a small character in the film.
Director Gautham Menon was a clap boy for Minsara Kanavu and also made a cameo appearance in the scene where Prabhudheva rescues a girl from suicide, while Arvind Swami looks on.
Theatre actor Arundathi Nag made her Tamil debut as the head nun.
The film was shot in 1996 with two songs and the climax being shot at Lawrence School Chapel, Lovedale, Ooty.
During post-production, Vikram, then a struggling actor, dubbed for Prabhu Deva's character for few scenes, and Revathi dubbed for the non-Tamil speaking Kajol.
Minsara Kanavu was released for Pongal 1997, alongside Mani Ratnam's political drama film Iruvar.
Although the two films initially opened to lukewarm responses, Minsara Kanavu eventually emerged triumphant at the BO.
The film's dubbed Telugu version, Merupu Kalalu, had a good opening in Andhra Pradesh.
After audiences were initially unhappy with the sad climax of the film, distributors reverted and used an alternate ending which had also been shot for the film.
Minsara Kanavu went on to win four National Film Awards, three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and a Filmfare Award mostly for the film's soundtrack.
The soundtrack earned AR. Rahman the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the second time, while he also secured his fourth Tamil Nadu State Award and his sixth consecutive Filmfare Award.
KS. Chitra and SPB won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer and Best Male Playback Singer for the tracks 'Ooh La La La' and 'Thanga Thamarai' respectively.
Sujatha and Unni Menon won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback and Best Male Playback for two different tracks, 'Poo Pookkum Oosai' and 'Ooh La La La' respectively.
Prabhu Dheva won the National Film Award for Best Choreography for his work in the song, 'Vennilavae' and 'Strawberry Kannae'
The lyrics for all the six songs were written by Vairamuthu.
The Hindi dubbed version was titled Sapnay and had lyrics penned by Javed Akhtar, with a new song titled 'Teri Meri Baat' added to this version.
The song 'Ooh La La La' was re-edited by Rahman and featured on his hit international musical production, Bombay Dreams, which ran in Europe and North America from 2002 to 2005.
The sad version of the song 'Vennilave' and was sung by Shankar Mahadevan and Kavita Paudwal, and this track was featured only in the film.
For the choir music in the film, Rahman used Sankarabharanam raga.[
The song 'Anbendra Mazhayile' is based on the Ananthabhairavi raga.
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam recalls the recording session of 'Thanga Thamarai', mentioning that 'it required a tone that reflected the feelings of someone totally smitten and intoxicated by love.'
'The character singing the song in the film is on a high after finding his girl. I only tried my best to imitate Rahman, who sang it for me. The imitation fetched me a national award,' SPB said.
Playback singer Kay Kay once again sung for Rahman (Strayberry Kanney) after he was introduced by Rahman through the song 'Hello Doctor.'
When Rahman chose Chitra for the track 'Ohh La la', he advised her not to sing as usually as she does, but asked her to open her voice completely and sing the track.
Chitra completely followed Rahman's advice and sang the 'Ohh La la' track, which made her win National Film Award for National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
The film's hospital sequences were shot at the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai.
Javed Jaffery dubbed for Prabhudevaa in the Hindi version.
Arvind Swamy,Kajol & Prabhudheva appeared on the cover of the Filmfare magazine to promote the film. This was in 1997. It was very unusual for a South Indian film to get this level of publicity then.
The dubbed Hindi version Sapnay had a theatrical release in Canada.
Here are a few more memorable snapshots and rare posters from the movie, and its dubbed versions
