The re-edited version of the track was featured on the international musical Bombay Dreams. The soundtrack album was released on 25 December 1996, with the cast and crew attending the event and M. K. Stalin, the then-Mayor of Chennai, as the chief guest. Lyrics for the dubbed-Telugu soundtrack were written by Vennelakanti. Javed Akhtar wrote lyrics for the Hindi version of the soundtrack and a new song titled "Teri Meri Baat" was added. Release Minsara Kanavu was released on 14 January 1997 during the Pongal festival released at the same time as Ratnam's Iruvar, with which it competed. On its opening, Minsara Kanavu drew mediocre box-office earnings but it was eventually a success after running for 216 days in Chennai. On 3 August 1997, an event was held to celebrate its silver jubilee. In order to celebrate the film's silver jubilee, AVM collaborated with 3 Roses tea brand and conducted a contest where audience who answered questions from the film will be travelling in a special train with cast and crew specially organized for the film's silver jubilee. Minsara Kanavu Telugu-dubbed version Merupu Kalalu, which was also released on 14 January, was a commercial disappointment. Screen suggested the possibility of the film, whose themes are intended for youths, being rejected by youths themselves. The magazine also thought that this was due to the producers, who took "a gamble in acquiring the rights of the films without knowing anything of their story or content". Minsara Kanavu was dubbed into Hindi as Sapnay, which premiered on 2 May 1997 and also failed commercially. The result of the Hindi version caused Menon to stop dubbing his films into that language. Critical reception Minsara Kanavu received mixed response from critics. S. R. of Kalki praised the film's cinematography and music but criticised the plot and found the climax tiring. K. N. Vijiyan, who reviewed the film for the New Straits Times, likened its plot with that of a Hollywood film, finding it to be "vaguely similar. But even so, it has been adapted well to suit Indian culture." Calling the film "good entertainment", he lauded its screenplay and Kajol's performance, adding that she was at her best when she is "her naughty self or belting out songs" such as "Manna Madurai". Writing for The Indian Express, M. S. M. Desai was ambivalent about the film, saying it is filled with many songs and dances