A great story needs an equally brilliant storyteller who can infuse life into it. Classics such as Dil Se, Bombay, Roja, and Sathiya would have never come into existence, had it not been for one man, Mani Ratnam. He is a magic weaver who created timeless tales on screen, and as the Madurai-born film director, screen writer and producer, Mani Ratnam turns 62, we take a look at his nine best creations:
1. Pallavi Anu Pallavi: Mani Ratnam left an illustrious career in management to pursue his dreams, and the first stepping stone in his great journey as a director was Pallavi Anu Pallavi. Based on a mature theme, it centers around a man who is trying to prove his self, maintain a long distance relationship, and at the same time analyzing his platonic relationship with an older woman. The refinement with which each scene has been handled is brilliant as Ratnam managed to underplay a lot of moments in the movie that could have been overly cliché in the hands of another director.
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2. Nayakan: When three titans of the Cinema of South India come together on one platform, the result is Nayakan. Kamal Haasan, Illayaraja, and Mani Ratnam put their collective talents into this Godfather inspired epic that is partly based on the real-life Tamil gangster Varadarajan Mudaliar. The seedy underbelly of the underworld and one man’s determination to avenge his father and sister is shown at a languid pace and in a manner that it looks realistic. This done-to-death genre in the hands of another director would have made for a mediocre movie, but that’s impossible with Mani Ratnam. The film made to the Times list of All-Time 100 Greatest Movies and was India's official entry at the 60th Academy Awards.
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3. Dile Se: A movie that is hailed as a masterpiece and brought out probably the best performance of their lifetime from Shahrukh Khan and Manisha Koirala, had to make our list. From the carefree youth to a passionate lover, heartbroken by the denial of his beloved and a woman fighting a battle between her conscious, her feelings and her mission, the two actors displayed layers of emotions that make for a spectacular watch. The cinematography will leave you entranced.
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4. Roja: This classic by Mani Ratnam was also the debut movie of the brilliant music composer AR Rehman. Roja had everything, a great storyline, talented actors who portrayed their distinct and layered characters very well, great visuals and an enchanting soundtrack. Despite some of the minor flaws, the emotional appeal that this movie holds; surpassed everything and it continues to be one of Mani Ratnam’s most admired works. Pankaj Kapoor’s enactment of a kind hearted jihadist makes it a must watch for everyone.
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5. Mouna Ragam: Mani Ratnam’s penchant for exploring complex emotions and displaying a certain amount of playfulness with his characters was quite apparent on this one. The way he presented the protagonist as a thoughtful, soft-spoken and patient man and the female lead as a beautiful mixture of coyness and rebellion makes for a great watch. It’s a love story like none other.
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6. Bombay: Tu hi re... is hummed by us countless times and the heart-wrenching tune casts a magical spell on us. The strong emotions that this movie stirred are unparallel to any other. The superb director handled a sensitive subject of communal violence and inter-caste marriage very well, and the strong narrative was supported by an equally amazing sound score. This movie was the highest-grossing film in the Chennai Film Industry.
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7. Thalapathi: Only a director such as Mani Ratnam could have dared to take a subject such as Mahabharata's Arjuna-Karna-Kunti relationship and made a spectacular movie out of it. The story is set in the modern world and told from Karan’s perspective. Here again, the cinematography is brilliant! Every scene has been handled with great care and is a display of the pure brilliance of Ratnam and his cinematographer Santosh Sivan.
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8. Alaipayuthey: Telling love stories in an unimaginable and unique way seems to be the acclaimed director’s forte. The love tale of two youngsters who rebel against their families and get hitched has been told innumerable times, but the array of emotions that range from seriousness, joy to even profound sadness has never been shown entirely. Small incidents that blow up to major matters are dealt with really well and even little squabbles and petty jealousy has a fresh twist to them.
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9. Guru: Mani Ratnam is a blessing to Indian cinema and Guru is a shining example of that. Loosely based on the life of business tycoon Dhirubhai Ambani, the movie is also a very beautifully told love story. It is the simplicity of Sujata, played by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who provides unyielding support to her husband, played by Abhishek Bachchan, and the camaraderie between them that makes it a believable and realistic love tale.
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Indian Cinema would not have been the same without the string of fantastic movies that Mani Ratnam has so beautifully created.
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