Mani Ratnam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mani Ratnam
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Ratnam in April 2015
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| Born |
Gopalaratnam Subramaniam
2 June 1956 |
| Alma mater | Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 1983–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives |
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| Awards | Full list |
| Honours | Padma Shri (2002) |
Gopalaratnam Subramaniam (born 2 June 1956), known as Mani Ratnam, is a famous Indian film director, producer, and writer. He mostly makes films in Tamil cinema. He has also worked on movies in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada languages.
Mani Ratnam has won many awards for his films. These include seven National Film Awards and several Filmfare Awards. In 2002, the Government of India gave him the Padma Shri award. This award recognized his important work in Indian cinema.
Even though he came from a film family, Mani Ratnam wasn't interested in movies when he was young. After studying management, he first worked as a consultant. He started his film career with the 1983 Kannada film, Pallavi Anu Pallavi. After some early challenges, he became very successful. His film Mouna Ragam (1986) made him a top filmmaker in Tamil cinema.
Some of his most famous films include Nayakan (1987) and Anjali (1990). Both of these were chosen as India's official entries for The Academy Awards. He also directed popular films like Thalapathi (1991), Roja (1992), and Bombay (1995). His recent historical dramas, Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) and Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), were huge hits.
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Early Life and Education
Mani Ratnam was born on June 2, 1956, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He was the second child in a Tamil Brahmin family. His family was closely involved in making films. His father, S. Gopalaratnam, was a film distributor. His uncle, "Venus" Krishnamurthy, was a film producer. His older brother, G. Venkateswaran, and younger brother, G. Srinivasan, also produced some of his films later on.
Mani Ratnam grew up in Madras (now Chennai). Even though his family was in films, the children were not allowed to watch movies much. He started watching films more when he was at Besant Theosophical School. He admired actors like Sivaji Ganesan and Nagesh. He also became a big fan of director K. Balachander.
After school, he got a degree in commerce from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College. Then, he earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in finance. He studied at Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies in Mumbai. After finishing his studies in 1977, he worked as a management consultant in Madras for some time.
Personal Life
Mani Ratnam married actress Suhasini on August 26, 1988. They have one son together. The family lives in Alwarpet, Chennai. Mani Ratnam also runs his film production company, Madras Talkies, from there.
Film Career Highlights
Starting Out: 1983–1986
Mani Ratnam was not happy with his job as a consultant. He wanted to make films. He worked on a script and found a producer for his first film, Pallavi Anu Pallavi. This film was made in Kannada in 1983. It explored the relationship between a young man and an older woman. The film won him the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Screenplay.
After this, he directed Unaroo (1984) in Malayalam. Then he made two Tamil films, Pagal Nilavu (1985) and Idaya Kovil (1985). These early years were challenging, but he learned a lot.
Becoming Famous: 1986–1991
In 1986, Mani Ratnam directed the Tamil romantic drama Mouna Ragam. This film was praised for showing urban Tamils in a real way. It told the story of a newly married couple. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. He also won his first Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil.
In 1987, he directed Nayakan with Kamal Haasan. This film was a huge success. It was inspired by the American crime film The Godfather. Nayakan was even included in Time magazine's Time's All-TIME 100 Movies list in 2005. It won three National Awards. The film was also India's official entry for the Oscars.
After these successes, he directed Agni Natchathiram (1988). This film was about half-brothers and was a box office hit. In 1989, he made the Telugu film Geethanjali. It was about a couple with serious illnesses. This film won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
In 1990, Mani Ratnam directed Anjali. It was about an autistic child and was a commercial success. It was also nominated as India's official entry to the Oscars. His 1991 film, Thalapathi, starred Rajinikanth and Mammootty. It was loosely based on the Indian epic Mahabharata. This film was highly praised and very successful.
National Recognition: 1992–1999
In 1992, Mani Ratnam worked with new music director A. R. Rahman for his film Roja. This romantic film was about terrorism in the Kashmir region. It became very popular and is considered an iconic film in Indian cinema. It was also nominated for an award at the 18th Moscow International Film Festival.
His 1995 film, Bombay, told the story of a Hindu-Muslim couple during the 1993 Bombay riots. This film also gained much attention and won several awards. It was the first Indian film to focus on marriage between Hindu and Muslim people.
In 1998, he directed Dil Se.., starring Shahrukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. This film explored a complex relationship. Its music, again by A. R. Rahman, was very popular. Dil Se.. was screened at many international film festivals.
In 2000, Mani Ratnam directed the romantic drama Alaipayuthey. This film focused on marriage and relationships in modern India. It was praised by critics and was also shown at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Later Works: 2002–Present
Mani Ratnam's film Kannathil Muthamittal (2002) was about a child adopted by Indian parents who wants to meet her biological mother during the Sri Lankan civil war. The film was very successful and won six National Film Awards.
In 2004, he made Aayutha Ezhuthu, which told the story of three young people whose lives connect after one event. He also made this film in Hindi as Yuva.
His 2007 film, Guru, was a biographical film. It was based on the life of a business leader from India. The film starred Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai and was a box office success. Guru was shown at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
In 2010, Mani Ratnam directed a bilingual film, Raavanan in Tamil and Raavan in Hindi. The story was loosely based on the Hindu epic Ramayana.
After a film that didn't do well, Kadal, Mani Ratnam made a successful comeback. His romantic drama O Kadhal Kanmani (2015) was a big hit. It showed the life of a young couple in a live-in relationship in Mumbai. The film was praised for showing modern relationships.
His next film was Kaatru Veliyidai (2017). It was set during the Kargil War in 1999. In 2018, he directed the crime thriller Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, which was a box office success.
Mani Ratnam's most recent major projects are the historical dramas Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) and Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023). These films are based on a famous Indian epic by Kalki Krishnamurthy. They feature a large cast of actors and were very successful.
Film-making Style
Mani Ratnam is known for his unique film-making style. He grew up watching films by directors like K. Balachander and Guru Dutt. He is also influenced by international directors like Akira Kurosawa and Martin Scorsese.
He often explores social and political themes in his films. He combines artistic elements with commercial appeal, making his films both critically acclaimed and popular. Many of his films, like Nayakan and Bombay, are inspired by real-life events. Others, like Thalapathi, are based on Indian epics.
Mani Ratnam writes the screenplays for most of his films. He is also known for his excellent casting choices. He works closely with his actors to bring their characters to life. His films are known for their high technical quality, especially in cinematography, art direction, editing, and music.
He has worked with talented cinematographers like P. C. Sreeram and Santosh Sivan. Since 1992, A. R. Rahman has composed the music for all his films.
Awards and Recognitions
Mani Ratnam is well-known around the world. His films have been shown at many international film festivals. These include the Toronto International Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival.
The Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri in 2002. He has won many National Film Awards, Filmfare Awards, and state awards. His film Geethanjali won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Films like Mouna Ragam, Anjali, and Kannathil Muthamittal have won Best Regional Film awards.
His films Roja and Bombay won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. In 2010, he received the Jaeger-Lecoultre Glory to the Filmmaker award at the 67th Venice International Film Festival. In 2015, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival. The Museum of the Moving Image in New York City also paid a special tribute to him.
Filmography
Images for kids
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Mani Ratnam with AR Rahman & Vairamuthu at the Chekka Chivantha Vaanam Audio Launch
See also
- List of films directed by Mani Ratnam featuring A. R. Rahman
- List of awards and nominations received by Mani Ratnam
