Mani Ratnam is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter who predominantly works in Tamil films. He is known for creating films such as Roja (1992), Nayakan (1987), Bombay (1995), Dil Se.. (1998), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), Guru (2007), Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022), and Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023).
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Mani Ratnam was born as Gopala Ratnam Subramaniam on Saturday, 2 June 1956 (age 67 years; as of 2023) in Madurai, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), India. His zodiac sign is Gemini. He studied at Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School in Chennai and Besant Theosophical School Higher Secondary School in Chennai. He has a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai. He studied MBA in Finance from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 7″
Hair Colour: White – While (semi-bald)
Eye Colour: Black
Family & Caste
Mani Ratnam was born in a Tamil Brahmin family.
Parents & Siblings
Mani Ratnam’s father, S. Gopala Ratnam, was a film distributor. He has a sister, Sharda Ratnam, and two brothers, G. Venkateswaran, and G. Srinivasan. G. Venkateswaran was a chartered accountant and a film producer for Venus Films. In 2003, he passed away at the age of 55 by committing suicide.
G Venkateswaran
Mani Ratnam and G. Srinivasan founded Madras Talkies, an Indian entertainment company, in Chennai, in 1995.
G Srinivasan
Wife & Children
Mani Ratnam married Indian film actress, director, producer, and writer, Suhasini Maniratnam in 1988. She is a niece of Indian actor, Kamal Haasan, and has won a National Award for her performance in ‘Sindhu Bhairavi’ (1985).
Mani Ratnam with his wife Suhasini
Their son, Nandan Maniratnam, was born in 1992. He is an alumnus of Oxford University, England.
Suhasini with son Nandan Maniratnam
Other Relatives
Mani Ratnam’s uncle, S Krishnamurthy (also known as Venus Krishnamurthy), is a famous film producer. He was the founder of Venus Pictures and is known for producing films such as Uthama Puthiran (1958), Nazrana (1961), and Manchi Vadu (1973).
Religious Views
Mani Ratnam is an atheist. [1]YouTube – O2india
Signature/Autograph
Signature of Mani Ratnam
Career
Films
Kannada Film
In 1983, Mani Ratnam wrote and directed ‘Pallavi Anu Pallavi.’ The film was highly praised by the critics.
Poster of the film Pallavi Anu Pallavi
Malayalam Film
In 1984, Mani Ratnam directed a political drama, ‘Unaroo.’
Poster of the film Unaroo
Tamil Film
In 1985, Mani Ratnam wrote and directed ‘Pagal Nilavu.’ In 1986, he wrote and directed a critically acclaimed film, ‘Mouna Ragam.’
Poster of the film Pagal Nilavu
In 1987, he wrote and directed ‘Nayakan.’ In 1990, he wrote and directed ‘Anjali.’ In 1992, he wrote and directed the box-office hit film, ‘Roja.’ In 1995, he wrote, produced, and directed a highly acclaimed film, ‘Bombay.’
Poster of the film Bombay
In 2004, he wrote, produced, and directed ‘Aayutha Ezhuthu.’ In 2010, he wrote, directed, and produced ‘Raavanan.’ In 2020, he wrote and produced ‘Vaanam Kottattum.’ In 2022, he wrote, produced and directed ‘Ponniyin Selvan – I,’ and subsequently its second part, ‘Ponniyin Selvan – II’ in 2023.
A poster of the Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan: I (PS1)
Telugu Film
In 1989, Mani Ratnam wrote and directed ‘Geethanjali.’ In 1993, he wrote the story of ‘Gaayam.’
A poster of the Telugu film Geethanjali
Hindi Film
In 1998, Mani Ratnam wrote, produced, and directed ‘Dil Se..’ In 2002, he produced and wrote ‘Saathiya.’ In 2004, he wrote, produced, and directed ‘Yuva.’
Poster of the film Dil Se
In 2007, he wrote, produced, and directed ‘Guru.’ In 2017, he wrote and produced ‘Ok Jaanu.’
Poster of the film Ok Jaanu
Web Series
In 2021, Mani Ratnam wrote and produced a Tamil series titled ‘Navarasa’ for Netflix.
Poster of the web series, Navarasa
Controversy
Falsely accused of cheating film distributors of Rs. 16 crore
In 2013, Mannar Mannan of Mannan Films alleged that Mani Ratnam had cheated him of Rs 16 crore over the distribution rights for the film, ‘Kadal’ as the film failed to impress at the box office. Mani Ratnam was forced to take police protection against Mannan Films. However, the case was soon resolved and the Madras High Court found that the case was falsely filed by Mannan Films to hurt the reputation of Mani Ratnam. Mani then filed a countersuit against Mannan Films of Rs. 5 crore for the damages that he suffered due to the false case. [2]The New Indian Express
Awards & Honours
1982-83
- Mani Ratnam won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Screenplay for ‘Pallavi Anu Pallavi.’
1986
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare Award South for Best Director – Tamil for ‘Mouna Ragam.’
- He won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for ‘Mouna Ragam.’
1988
- He won the third prize in the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film for ‘Agni Natchathiram.’
1989
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare Award South for Best Director – Tamil for ‘ Geethanjali.’
- He won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for ‘ Geethanjali.’
1990
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare Award South for Best Director – Tamil for ‘Anjali.’
- He won the Nandi Award for Best Story Writer for ‘Geethanjali.’
- He won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for ‘Anjali.’
1991
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare Award South for Best Director – Tamil for ‘Thalapathi.’
1992
- Mani Ratnam won the V. Shantaram Award for Best Director for ‘Roja.’
- He won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director for ‘Roja.’
- He won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration for ‘Roja.’
1995
- Mani Ratnam won the Special Award at the Political Film Society Awards for ‘Bombay.’
- He was awarded Honorable Mention at the Jerusalem Film Festival for ‘Bombay.’
- He was honoured with the Gala Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival for ‘Bombay.’
- He was awarded the Star Screen Award for Best Director for ‘Bombay.’
- He won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration for ‘Bombay.’
- He won the Filmfare Award South for Best Director – Tamil for ‘Bombay.’
1996
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film for ‘Bombay.’
1997
- Mani Ratnam won the Best Film Award at the Belgrade International Film Festival for ‘Iruvar.’
1998
- Mani Ratnam won the NETPAC (Special Mention) at the Berlin Film Festival for ‘Dil Se..’
2002
- Mani Ratnam was honoured with Padma Shri by the Government of India.
- He won the Filmfare Award South for Best Director – Tamil for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal.’
- He won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal.’
Mani Ratnam receiving the National Award
- He won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal.’
- He won the second prize at the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal.’
- He was honoured with ‘In The Spirit of Freedom Award – Best Feature Film’ at the Jerusalem Film Festival for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal.’
- He won the Best Director and Best Film at the International Tamil Film Awards for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal.’
- He won the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the RiverRun International Film Festival for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal.’
- He won the Best Film Award at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal.’
- He won the Audience Award, Jury Award, and Special Award at the Film Fest New Haven for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal.’
- He won the Best International Film Award at the West Chester Film Festival for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal.’
- He won the Best Film Award at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal.’
2003
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay for ‘Saathiya.’
2005
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film for the film ‘Yuva.’
2007
- Mani Ratnam won the V. Shantaram Award for Best Director for ‘Guru.’
2008
- Mani Ratnam won the Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for Excellence in Indian Cinema.
2010
- He won the Jaeger-Lecoultre Glory To The Filmmaker (Honorary Award) at the 67th Venice International Film Festival.
Mani Ratnam with Jaeger-Lecoultre Glory To The Filmmaker
2015
- Mani Ratnam won the Icon Award at the London Indian Film Festival.
Mani Ratnam with Icon Award
2022
- Mani Ratnam was honoured by Pune’s MIT World Peace University with the Bharat Asmita National Award.
2023
- Mani Ratnam won the Best Director Award at the Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards for ‘Ponniyin Selvan:I.’
- He was honoured by SIIMA with the Extraordinary Achievement Award for promoting Oneness in Indian Cinema and bringing the world together through outstanding filmmaking.
Mani Ratnam (Centre) with SIIMA
Net Worth
Mani Ratnam’s net worth is estimated to be around Rs 130 crore.
Facts/Trivia
- Mani Ratnam is considered one of India’s biggest and most respected film directors.
- Mani Ratnam worked as a management consultant before deciding to become a filmmaker.
- He worked on his first script in 1979 with his friend Ravi Shankar. In an interview, Mani Ratnam said that he found the process of scriptwriting to be very exciting. He quit his job to become a part of the film shoot. Although the film wasn’t completed, the whole process of script writing and film shooting inspired him to enter the film industry.he would go for the shooting of the film and this whole process got him interested in films.
- He wrote the script of his first film, ‘Pallavi Anu Pallavi’ (1983) in English but made the film in Kannada despite not knowing the language.
- Inspired by the American film, ‘The Godfather’ (1972), Mani Ratnam directed ‘Nayakan’ (1987) which was based on the life of underworld don, Varadarajan Mudaliar. The Time magazine listed the film in its ‘All-TIME 100 list of the greatest films made since 1923’ in 2005.
- Mani Ratnam was hospitalised in 1995 after religious extremists threw homemade bombs at his home due to his portrayal of inter-faith marriage in the film, ‘Bombay’ (1995).
- In 2019, an FIR was filed against Mani Ratnam and 49 others after he signed a petition addressed to PM Narendra Modi to stop mob lynching.
- He created ‘Navarasa’ (2021), a web series with film director and producer, Jayendra Panchapakesan, to help the daily wage workers and the members of the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) who had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by generating funds for them through the series.
- Mani Ratnam stated in an interview that despite coming from a family of filmmakers, children in his family weren’t encouraged to watch films other than those which were made by his family as films were considered to be taboo at his home.
- In an interview, when asked about his influences, Mani Ratnam said that he grew up watching Tamil films by K Balachandra and Shivaji Ganesan. He talked about how he started watching other filmmakers, such as Akira Kurosawa and Guru Dutt, as he became more involved in filmmaking. He also mentioned being inspired by directors like Martin Scorsese, Krzysztof Kieslowski, and Ingmar Bergman.
- Mani Ratnam became the first Tamil film director to join the Oscar committee in 2023. [3]India Today
- Mani Ratnam’s films, ‘Nayakan’ (1987) and ‘Anjali’ (1990) were selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars.
- In 2023, PIL was filed against Mani Ratnam for allegedly portraying the wrong history of the Chola empire. The PIL was dismissed after the judges made it clear that the film is inspired by the fictional novel, ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ and has no relation with history. [4]DT Next
- Mani Ratnam used to collaborate with the famous Indian musician and composer, Ilaiyaraaja in his films before introducing singer and music composer, A. R. Rahman in the film industry with his box office hit film, ‘Roja’ (1992). Mani Ratnam frequently contributes with A. R. Rahman and has worked with him in over 18 films.
Mani Ratnam with A. R. Rahman
- Mani Ratnam, being a beginner, couldn’t find a producer for his first film, ‘Pallavi Anu Pallavi’ (1983). His uncle, S Krishnamurthy, produced the film on the condition that the film be made under a limited budget in the Kannada language. Mani talked about his uncle’s condition for his film, in an interview, and said that the condition was reasonable since his uncle had a distribution office in Bangalore.
References
| ↑1 | YouTube – O2india |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | The New Indian Express |
| ↑3 | India Today |
| ↑4 | DT Next |
