Welcome to the world of Mani Ratnam. South Indians affectionately addresses this maverick Indian filmmaker as Mani Sir! I call him Jewel of India. Once a precious jewel of South Indians in early his career has become proud of quality Indian commercial cinema making him one of those living legend filmmakers still producing quality cinema for masses.
Mani Ratnam who started his career in early 80s as a director soon established himself in South Indian’s heart with classic Tamil film, Mouna Ragam. After working for south Indian cinema for almost 8 years with prestigious projects like Nayagan, Agni Nakshatram, Gitanjali, Anjali, and Thalapathi, he propelled himself into national front with dubbed version of Roja. After that, he never looked back and worked on many Hindi(Dil Se, Guru), Tamil(Bombay, Iruvar, Alai Payuthey, Kannathil Muthamittal), and duel language(Ayitha Ezhuthu/Yuva) projects producing mesmerizing cinema.
Its without doubt, Mani Ratnam is one of the greatest directors of India in the league of incomparable like Satyajit Ray, Bimal Roy, Raj Kapoor, Shyam Benegal, and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Man who wrote screenplay of most of all his movies, Mani Ratnam is known for beautiful films with substance, innovative camera angles, Illyaraja and AR Rahman’s music companionship, brilliantly photographed songs, and working with best talents available in industry at that time. Mani’s work spanned from different genres like love stories(Gitanjali), human emotions and relationships dramas(Mouna Ragam, Anjali, Alai Payuthey, Kannathil Muthamittal), Terrorism(Dil Se, Roja), Gangster(Nayagan, Thalpathi), and Biopics(Nayagan, Iruvar, Guru).
Looking back his last 25 years of career, the rate he is producing brilliant cinema, it’s always hard to pick mere five best films. Instead of picking best of the best, here is countdown of my Mani Ratnam’s favorite films.
- Kannathil Muthamittal(2002) -** A classic drama of child’s choice between her surrogate mother and biological mother. In the backdrop of Tamil terrorism in northern Srilanka, an adopted girl’s search of her terrorist mother is Mani Ratnam’s most poignant yet uplifting human drama. Although it tends to be melodramatic in later half, Mani’s ability to work with kids(See Anjali and Bombay along with this), Young Keerthana’s acting, and Simran, Nandita Das, and Madhavan’s standout performances makes it one of the precious hidden jewels of Tamil Cinema.
- Thalpathi(1991) -** Mani’s modern version of Mahabharata’s Karna-Arjuna-Duryodhana chapter from Karna’s angle where friendship and loyalty triumph over family ties. It’s a battlefield where brilliant star cast consisting Rajnikanth, Mammootty, Arvind Swami, and Shobhana playing their cards in modern streets. Mani Ratnam’s perfect blend of commercialism, Santosh Sivan’s cinematography especially at the backdrop of sunset or sunrise, opening mythical B&W sequence, star power of Rajnikanth and Mammootty, and Illyaraja’s impressive score especially Sundari Kannal are highlights of the film.
- Roja(1992) -** Ratnam’s take on Kashmir terrorism is a story of simple village girl facing harsh conditions in unknown troublesome land of Himalaya when her husband is kidnapped by militants is tour-de-force classic from Ratnam’s camp. Brilliantly acted by Arvind Swami, Madhoo as vulnerable south Indian woman, and Pankaj Kapur as Kashmiri Militant and equally stunning visuals photographed by Santosh Sivan who takes normal Indian viewers into the heartlands of Kashmir region. Roja marks arrival of both Mani Ratnam and A.R. Rahman at the national level. AR Rahman’s music especially Chhotisi Aasha, Yeh Haseen Vaadian, and Roja Jaaneman were fresh breath of air.
- Mouna Ragam(1986) -** Mani’s brilliant take on Indian arrange marriages issue. It’s story of troubled marriage of free-spirited girl and well-behaved guy against her wishes and how they overcome their marital problems with love, mutual understanding, and importance of marital life. Mani’s subtle touch and sophisticated approach, sensitive screenplay, Revathi’s powerhouse performance, Illyaraja’s outstanding background score, and evergreen soundtracks especially Chinna Chinna means its one of the most magical movies of Tamil Cinema.
- Iruvar(1997) -** Mani Ratnam’s take on the M.G. Ramachandran and Karunanidhi’s real-life political rivalry - popular actor and the leading scriptwriter and how they become foes from friends in aspiration of political heights. Once discarded by Tamil cinema fans when it was released, Ratnam’s engrossing screenplay, A.R. Rahman’s soulful music, Santosh Sivan’s brilliant camerawork, Mohanlal and Prakash Raj’s performances, Aishwarya Rai’s debut film can’t hide it from quality cinema seekers. A.R.Rahman’s classical melody Narumugaiyae is one of the best produced by the AR-Mani combo.
2. Guru(2007) - Mani’s take on Dhirubhai Ambani’s biography. Guru traces story of simple yet visionary, Gurukant Desai’s rise from simple villager to Indian business tycoon and Robin Hood of Indian middle class. Its complex drama of visionary man’s success at any cost be its unethical, corruption, or maneuvering government laws to break into the once pre-liberalization Indian business sector. Gripping screenplay, Rajiv Menon’s Cinematography, Abhishek Bachchan’s powerhouse performance, Aishwarya Rai, Mithun Chakraborty, and Madhavan are unforgettable pillars of this modern classic.
- Nayakan(1987) -** Mani’s brilliant take on Karma’s theory and proud Indian reply to Copolla’s Godfather. An epic gangster drama loosely based on the life of a real South Indian underworld don, Varadarajan Mudaliar. Story of orphan boy Shakti Velu’s journey from Bombay slums to the underworld kingpin to the savior of needy people and yet how he looses one by one all his loved ones. Just like Abhishek bachchan as Guru, Kamal Hassan as Velu is one of the most brilliantlly written character in Indian cinema. P.C. Sriram’s cinematography of 1970s Bombay, Illyaraja’s music, Kamal Hassan’s National Award winning performance, Mani Ratnam’s brilliant direction and screenplay puts Nayakan on world map where it considered as one of the Time’s Top 100 world films of last century.