Mani Ratnam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mani Ratnam
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Mani Ratnam At Vaanam Kottatum Audio Launch
|
|
| Born |
Gopalaratnam Subramaniam
2 June 1956 |
| Alma mater | Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 1983–present |
|
Works
|
Full list |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives |
|
| 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 works in Tamil cinema, but has also made films in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada.
Mani Ratnam has won many awards, including seven National Film Awards and several Filmfare Awards. In 2002, the Government of India gave him the Padma Shri award for his great work in films. Even though he grew up in a film family, he wasn't interested in movies at first. He started his career as a consultant after studying management.
He began his film journey with the 1983 Kannada film, Pallavi Anu Pallavi. After some early challenges, he became very successful with Mouna Ragam (1986). This film made him a top director in Tamil cinema. He also directed Nayakan (1987) and Anjali (1990), which were India's official entries for The Academy Awards. His popular films include Roja (1992), Bombay (1995), and Dil Se.. (1998).
His films often have a special style, with beautiful songs and unique lighting. He has made successful movies in different genres, like romance, action, and drama. His recent historical dramas, Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) and Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), were huge hits. These films were based on a famous Indian story by Kalki Krishnamurthy.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mani Ratnam was born on 2 June 1956 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. His family was deeply involved in film production. 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.
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 once said that films seemed like a "waste of time" when he was young. However, 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 earned a degree in commerce from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College. He then completed his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in finance from 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 26 August 1988. They have one son. The family lives in Alwarpet, Chennai. He runs his film production company, Madras Talkies, from there.
In 1995, Mani Ratnam was injured when his home was attacked. This happened after his film Bombay was released. The film showed a love story between a Hindu man and a Muslim woman.
Film Career
Starting Out: 1975–1986
Mani Ratnam was not happy with his job as a consultant. He wanted to make films. He worked with friends on a film script, but the project didn't happen. He was determined to become a filmmaker. He admired films like 16 Vayathinile (1977) and Apoorva Raagangal (1975).
He tried to find a producer for his script. He met many people, but it was difficult. Finally, his uncle agreed to produce his first film, Pallavi Anu Pallavi. It was made in Kannada with a small budget. The film was about a young man and an older woman. It earned him the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Screenplay in 1983.
After this, he directed Unaroo (1984) in Malayalam. Then he made two Tamil films, Pagal Nilavu (1985) and Idaya Kovil (1985). Idaya Kovil was a big success at the box office. The years between 1983 and 1986 were tough for him. Only Pallavi Anu Pallavi felt truly satisfying.
Big Success: 1986–1991
In 1986, Mani Ratnam directed the Tamil romantic drama Mouna Ragam. This film starred Revathi and Mohan. It was praised for showing urban Tamils in a real way. The story was about a newly married couple facing problems. The music by Ilaiyaraaja was very popular. Mouna Ragam won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. Mani 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 film The Godfather. Nayakan told the story of an orphaned boy who rises to power in the Bombay underworld. Time magazine included it in its "All-Time 100 Greatest Movies" list in 2005. It won three National Awards and was India's official entry for the Oscars.
After these hits, Mani directed Agni Natchathiram (1988). This film was about two half-brothers. It was known for its new camera techniques and was a box office success.
In 1989, Mani Ratnam directed his only Telugu film, Geethanjali. It starred Nagarjuna and Girija Shettar. The film was about a couple with serious illnesses. Geethanjali won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
In 1990, he made Anjali, starring Baby Shamili. The film was about an autistic child who changes the lives of those around her. It was a commercial success and 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. The film showed the strong friendship between two characters. It was praised by critics and was a commercial success.
National Recognition: 1992–1999
After Thalapathi, Mani Ratnam started working with a new music director, A. R. Rahman. Their first film together was Roja (1992). This romantic film was about a woman whose husband is taken by terrorists in Kashmir. Roja 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.
In 1995, Mani Ratnam directed Bombay. This film starred Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala. It told the story of a Hindu-Muslim couple during the 1993 events in Bombay. The film caused some discussion but was very successful. It won several awards, including the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration.
He also produced his wife's first film as a director, Indira. Then he directed Iruvar (1997), which won an award at the FEST film festival in Belgrade. In 1998, he made Dil Se.., starring Shahrukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. This film explored a complex relationship. The music by A. R. Rahman was very popular. Dil Se.. was shown at many international film festivals.
In 2000, Mani directed the romantic drama Alai Payuthey. This film starred R. Madhavan and Shalini. It focused on marriage and relationships in modern India. The film was praised by critics and was also shown at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Later Films: 2002–Present
Mani Ratnam's 2002 film, Kannathil Muthamittal, was about a child adopted by Indian parents. She wants to meet her birth mother during the Sri Lankan Civil War. The film was highly praised and won six National Film Awards.
In 2004, he made Aayutha Ezhuthu. This film showed how one event changes the lives of three young people. He also made a Hindi version of the film called Yuva.
In 2007, Mani directed Guru. This film was based on the life of a famous Indian businessman. It starred Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai. Guru was a box office success and was shown at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
In 2010, Mani worked on two versions of a film: Raavanan in Tamil and Raavan in Hindi. The story was loosely based on the Hindu epic Ramayana. The Tamil version received good reviews and was a box office success.
His 2013 film, Kadal, received mixed reviews and was not a big success. However, his next film, O Kadhal Kanmani (2015), was a hit. This romantic drama starred Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menen. It showed the lives of a young couple in a live-in relationship in Mumbai. The film was praised for showing modern Indian relationships.
His film Kaatru Veliyidai (2017) was set during the Kargil War. It followed a pilot who thinks about his love life while being a prisoner of war.
In 2018, Mani Ratnam directed the crime thriller Chekka Chivantha Vaanam. This film was about three brothers fighting for control of their family's business after their father's death. It received positive reviews and was a box office success.
His most recent projects are the epic historical dramas Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) and Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023). These films are based on a famous Indian story by Kalki Krishnamurthy. They feature a large cast of actors and were very successful.
Film Style and Collaborations
Mani Ratnam learned filmmaking by watching movies from directors like K. Balachander and Guru Dutt. He is also inspired by international directors like Akira Kurosawa and Martin Scorsese.
Unlike many directors, Mani Ratnam did not work as an assistant before making his own films. Many of his movies explore social and political topics. He is known for mixing artistic and commercial elements in his films. This helps his movies get both critical praise and audience success.
He writes the screenplays for most of his films. He is also known for choosing the right actors for each role. He discusses the characters and scenes with his actors, letting them bring the roles to life.
His films are known for their excellent technical quality. He works with talented people for cinematography (camera work), art direction, editing, and music. For his first film, he worked with experts like Balu Mahendra and Ilaiyaraaja. Later, he often worked with his childhood friend P. C. Sreeram for cinematography.
Since 1992, A. R. Rahman has been his regular music composer. They have created many popular soundtracks together. He has also worked with cinematographers like Santosh Sivan and Ravi Varman. Since 2000, Sreekar Prasad has been his regular film editor.
Awards and Recognition
Mani Ratnam is well-known outside India. 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 Mani with the Padma Shri award 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. Other films like Mouna Ragam, Anjali, and Kannathil Muthamittal have won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.
Two of 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 honored him with a special tribute.
Filmography
See also
In Spanish: Mani Ratnam para niños
- List of films directed by Mani Ratnam featuring A. R. Rahman
- List of awards and nominations received by Mani Ratnam
