Mani Ratnam – Biography, Movies, Family, Wife, Net Worth and More

Biography

Indian filmmaker Gopalaratnam Subramaniam, more famously known as Mani Ratnam, was born on 2 June 1956. Predominantly known for his work in Tamil cinema, Ratnam also has contributions in the Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada film industries. His reputation as an acclaimed and commercially successful director crosses the country’s boundaries. His accolades include six National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards, six Filmfare Awards South, and multiple recognitions at worldwide film festivals. In 2002, the Indian Government awarded him the Padma Shri for his significant contributions to the cinema world.

While he was born into a family with a film background, Ratnam didn’t show interest in films during his early years. After earning his post-graduate degree in management, he embarked on a career as a consultant. It was only in 1983 that he stepped into filmmaking with his Kannada film, ‘Pallavi Anu Pallavi.’ Despite experiencing failure in subsequent films, his breakthrough arrived with the Tamil film ‘Mouna Ragam’ in 1986. The film won him the Filmfare Best Director Award, and he never looked back. His directorial ventures, ‘Nayakan’ (1987) and ‘Anjali’ (1990), were even India’s official entries for The Academy Awards.

Ratnam is a trailblazer who brought significant innovations to Tamil cinema, thus earning the respect and admiration of his peers across India. His filmmaking style, characterised by unique song sequences and back-lighting, is distinct. His films often delve into a range of themes that includes romance, terrorism, war, and drama. His historical epics based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s Indian epic, ‘Ponniyin Selvan: I’ (2022) and ‘Ponniyin Selvan: II’ (2023) are met with critical and commercial success. The former holds the distinction of being the 25th highest-grossing film in India and the 5th highest-grossing Tamil film.

Age

Born into a Tamil Brahmin family immersed in film production, Mani Ratnam was born on June 2, 1956, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He was the second child in his family, brought up in an environment deeply connected to cinema. Presently, he is 67 years old.

Childhood and Early Life

His upbringing took place in Madras which is currently known as Chennai, where he lived with his siblings and cousins. Interestingly, despite their significant involvement in the film industry, the children in Ratnam’s family were not permitted to watch movies, as the elders considered it inappropriate. Ratnam, reflecting in a 1994 interview, even remarked that he viewed films as a waste of time during his youthful years.

Family

Mani Ratnam’s father, S. Gopalaratnam, was a film distributor for Venus Pictures, and his uncle, ‘Venus’ Krishnamurthy, was a movie producer. Ratnam’s elder brother, G. Venkateswaran, would later produce some of his films. Similarly, his younger brother, G. Srinivasan, also co-produced several of his film projects.

Ratnam grew up in what is now known as Chennai, formerly Madras, alongside his siblings and cousins. He tied the knot with actress Suhasini on August 26, 1988, and together they have a son. Currently, the family resides in Alwarpet, Chennai, where Ratnam operates his production company, Madras Talkies.

Education

It was during his tenure at the Besant Theosophical School that Mani Ratnam began to take a more active interest in films. Upon completing his early education, he pursued a commerce degree from the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, which is affiliated with Madras University. He continued his academic pursuit and earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA), specialising in finance, from the prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies in Mumbai.

After concluding his postgraduate studies in 1977, he joined a firm in Madras as a management consultant, where he served for a certain period.

Wife

Mani Ratnam married actress Suhasini on August 26, 1988. The couple was later blessed with a son. They currently reside in Alwarpet, Chennai, which is also the headquarters of Ratnam’s production house, Madras Talkies.

Son

Nandhan Maniratnam is the son of the honoured filmmaker couple, Mani Ratnam and Suhasini Maniratnam. Born into a family blessed with creativity and artistic talents, Nandhan curiously grows within a home pulsating with creative and intellectual pursuits.

While specific personal details about Nandhan remain largely private, being the son of such renowned figures in the Indian film industry indicates he has inherited a rich artistic legacy. Whether in front of the camera like his mother, Suhasini, or behind the scenes like his visionary father, Mani, Nandhan Maniratnam certainly hails from a lineage that respects the power of storytelling and the beauty of cinema.

Living in their beautiful home in Alwarpet, Chennai, Nandhan is part of a thriving household that also serves as the very heart of Madras Talkies, the production company his father built. This unique combination of personal and professional spaces likely provides Nandhan with a fascinating front-row seat to the world of cinema. This immersive artistic environment could potentially influence Nandhan’s future choices and pursuits.

Career

Mani Ratnam is an acclaimed figure in the sphere of Indian film making, specialising particularly in Tamil cinema. His work has made such a significant impact that he is frequently considered as one of the greatest Indian filmmakers. This recognition is attributed to his innovative approach to cinema that revolutionised the Tamil film industry, notably adding more depth and range to it.

Blending unique storytelling with engaging narrative arcs, Ratnam has been an influencer for a generation of filmmakers. His films often exude a humane element and social relevance, which has continuously set him apart.

As of 2019, Ratnam’s creative prowess has manifested in the 28 films he has directed. Apart from directing, Ratnam is also a successful producer. He launched his production company, Madras Talkies, that has already produced over 15 films under his oversight. His dual role as a director and a producer illustrates his deep understanding and command over various aspects of film making, from pre-production conceptual work right through to post-production marketing and distribution strategies. This ability to juggle multiple facets of cinema only serves to cement Ratnam’s position as a multifaceted stalwart in the Indian film industry.

1977–1983

Mani Ratnam, feeling unfulfilled in his job as a consultant, decided to work on a screenplay with friends Ravi Shankar and Raman. Despite his commitment to the project, which involved leaving his job, the film ultimately never completed production.

Undeterred, Ratnam continued his pursuit to become a filmmaker, drawing inspiration from prominent directors such as Bharathiraja, K. Balachander, and Mahendran. During this time, he developed connections with like-minded individuals such as P. C. Sreeram, Santhana Bharathi, and P. Vasu.

Ratnam’s plan was to either find a producer for his film or collaborate with a recognised director to learn about filmmaking firsthand. Despite attempts to approach three renowned directors and meeting with around 20 potential producers, he was unsuccessful in securing support for his project.

1983–1986

Mani Ratnam turned an English script into a Kannada film, ‘Pallavi Anu Pallavi’, produced by his uncle Krishnamurthy. Despite moderate box-office success, Ratnam earned the Best Screenplay Award from the Karnataka State Government in 1983.

Afterwards, he directed a Malayalam film ‘Unaroo’, which reflected on corruption in Kerala’s labour unions. The film, however, failed due to disagreements between Ratnam and the producer.

Transitioning to Tamil cinema, he directed ‘Pagal Nilavu’ (1985), introducing dance and comedy sequences. The same year, he directed ‘Idaya Kovil’, a romantic drama influenced by Charlie Chaplin’s ‘Limelight’. Despite his reservations, it turned out to be a major box office success. Nevertheless, he viewed this phase (1983-1986) as challenging with most projects requiring major compromises.

1986–1991

Mani Ratnam, a renowned filmmaker, directed a series of successful movies from 1986 to 1991. His 1986 film ‘Mouna Ragam’, a realistic portrayal of urban Tamils and marital discord, won him a National Film and Filmfare Award. ‘Nayakan’ (1987) won three National Awards, was listed in Time magazine’s All-Time 100 Greatest Movies, and was the official Indian submission to the Oscars. Ratnam’s 1988 film ‘Agni Natchathiram’ was recognized for its innovative camera work and box office success. In 1989, his only Telugu film ‘Geethanjali’ earned him another National Film Award and a Nandi Award for Best Story Writer. Lastly, his films ‘Anjali’ (1990) and ‘Thalapathi’ (1991), received critical acclaim, commercial success and award recognitions, with ‘Anjali’ being another official Indian entry to the Oscars.

1992–1999

Mani Ratnam shifted his musical partnership to A.R. Rahman for the award-winning ‘Roja’ in 1992. The lighter ‘Thiruda Thiruda’ premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 1993. He continued to explore socio-political themes in ‘Bombay’ (1995), amidst controversy. After producing his wife’s directorial debut ‘Indira’ in 1997, he directed the critically acclaimed ‘Iruvar’ and ‘Dil Se..’ which gained cult status. In 2000, he directed ‘Alaipayuthey’ and organised a charitable stage musical.

2002–2010

Mani Ratnam explored the theme of the Sri Lankan Civil War in ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’, earning critical acclaim and multiple awards including six National Film Awards. In 2004, he made ‘Aayutha Ezhuthu’ and its Hindi counterpart ‘Yuva’, focusing on the intersecting lives of three youths. His biographical film, ‘Guru’ (2007), based on businessman Dhirubhai Ambani, was a box office success and was screened at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.

In 2010, Mani directed a bilingual project, ‘Raavanan’ in Tamil, dubbed as ‘Villain’ in Telugu, and ‘Raavan’ in Hindi. Inspired by the Hindu epic, Ramayana, the Tamil version received positive reviews and was a box office success, while the Hindi version received mixed reviews.

2013–present

Mani Ratnam’s ‘Kadal’ (2013) was a box office failure. His 2015 film, ‘O Kadhal Kanmani’, about urban India’s modern mindset, was critically acclaimed. His war-based film ‘Kaatru Veliyidai’ (2017) had mixed reviews, but ‘Chekka Chivantha Vaanam’ (2018) was well-received at the box office. He then directed a two-part film, ‘Ponniyin Selvan: I and II’, based on an Indian epic, released in 2022 and 2023.

In 2021, Mani Ratnam took an impressive step in the digital space by directing and producing a Tamil anthology series named ‘Navarasa’. Showcasing Ratnam’s skilled storytelling, ‘Navarasa’ is centred around the theme of the nine human emotions, which are love, laughter, compassion, anger, courage, disgust, horror, wonder, and peace. The series was exclusively released on the popular streaming platform, Netflix, further expanding Ratnam’s audience both nationally and internationally.

Best Movies Directed

Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983)

‘Pallavi Anu Pallavi’ is a romantic drama film, marking the directorial debut of Mani Ratnam. Released in 1983, this Indian Kannada-language film features Anil Kapoor, Lakshmi, and Kiran Vairale, and tells the story of a young man who falls for an older woman. With Ilaiyaraaja as the music composer and Balu Mahendra handling the cinematography, the film was also Anil Kapoor’s first foray into Kannada cinema.

Upon its release on January 7, 1983, ‘Pallavi Anu Pallavi’ was met with critical praise, but it only had a moderate performance at the box office. It did well in major cities, but its reception was less impressive in smaller towns and rural areas. The film won three Karnataka State Film Awards, including Best Screenplay for Mani Ratnam, Best Cinematographer for Balu Mahendra, and Best Dialogue for R. N. Jayagopal.

Geethanjali (1989)

‘Geethanjali’ is a 1989 Telugu-language romantic drama film, both written and directed by Mani Ratnam. The film features Nagarjuna and Girija making her film debut as the eponymous character. The music for the film is composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Upon its release, ‘Geethanjali’ enjoyed commercial success, with a theatrical run exceeding 100 days.

The movie was recognized with the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and received six Nandi Awards. A Hindi remake, titled ‘Yaad Rakhegi Duniya,’ was released in 1992.

Dil Se.. (1998)

‘Dil Se..’ is a 1998 Hindi-language romantic thriller film. The film was written and directed by Mani Ratnam, who co-produced it with Ram Gopal Varma and Shekhar Kapur. Set against the backdrop of insurgency in Assam, it stars Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. At the same time, Preity Zinta made her silver screen debut in a supporting role.

‘Dil Se..’ is known as the final instalment in Ratnam’s acclaimed trilogy following ‘Roja’ (1992) and ‘Bombay’ (1995), representing a significant contribution to parallel cinema. The film’s soundtrack, scored by A. R. Rahman saw tremendous success selling six million units in India.

Guru (2007)

‘Guru’ is a Hindi-language drama film from 2007, directed and co-written by Mani Ratnam. The notable cast includes Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Mithun Chakraborty, R. Madhavan, Vidya Balan, and Roshan Seth, with A. R. Rahman providing the film’s score and soundtrack. Interestingly, Mithun Chakraborty starred in two different films of the same name prior to this one, one in Hindi in 1989 and another in Bengali in 2003.

Though there were rumours that ‘Guru’ was a biographical depiction of industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani, Mani Ratnam stated that the film was a work of fiction. The film premiered in Toronto, Canada on January 11, 2007, before its official release on January 12, marking the first time an Indian film saw an international mainstream premiere. This milestone was facilitated by Roger Nair Productions, which acquired the rights for Canada and flew most of the cast and crew to Toronto for the event.

On a global stage, ‘Guru’ was featured in the Tous Les Cinemas du Monde (World Cinema) section of the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. The film was dubbed and made available in Tamil under the same title and in Telugu as ‘Gurukanth’ to cater to a wider audience.

Kaatru Veliyidai (2017)

‘Kaatru Veliyidai’ or ‘Amidst the Air’ is a Tamil romantic war film originating from India in 2017, bearing the signature of Mani Ratnam as its producer, writer, and director. The film is a production under the Madras Talkies banner, featuring A. R. Rahman’s music, Ravi Varman’s cinematography, and A. Sreekar Prasad’s editing.

Starring in the film are Karthi and Aditi Rao Hydari, supported by Lalitha, Rukmini Vijayakumar, Delhi Ganesh, and RJ Balaji in substantial roles. The film’s narrative, set against the 1999 Kargil War, revolves around an Indian Air Force pilot reflecting on his past romance with a doctor while being a prisoner of war in a jail in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Photography for the film started in July 2016 in various locations such as Ooty, Hyderabad, Ladakh, Chennai, and Belgrade, concluding in January 2017. On 7 April 2017, the film entered the worldwide cinema scene, alongside its Telugu dubbed version ‘Cheliyaa’. Winning accolades, the film received Best Music Direction for A. R. Rahman and Best Female Playback Singer for Shashaa Tirupati at the 65th National Film Awards.

Career Timeline

Controversy

• In 1995, Mani Ratnam experienced a traumatic event when unidentified assailants, who law enforcement officials suspected to be Muslim extremists, attacked his home by throwing homemade explosives. The assault appeared to be a backlash against his film ‘Bombay,’ which depicted a romantic relationship between a Hindu man and a Muslim woman. Furthermore, in 2019, an FIR (First Information Report) was lodged against Mani Ratnam and an additional 49 individuals. They had penned a letter to Prime Minister Modi, where they laid out certain statistics and voiced their worries about an increasing trend in sectarian violence against minority groups. They noted that such incidents, targeted at Muslims, Christians, and Dalits, had escalated since Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power in 2014.

• The professional association between Mani Ratnam and Ilaiyaraaja came to an end in 1992, a critical turning point in their careers. Up until the film ‘Roja,’ Ratnam had exclusively collaborated with Ilaiyaraaja for musical compositions. However, for ‘Roja,’ producer K. Balachander insisted on bringing A.R. Rahman on board instead of Ilaiyaraaja for the film’s music direction. This change lead to the separation of Ratnam and Ilaiyaraaja’s professional partnership, and they have not collaborated since.

Net Worth

Mani Ratnam is a famous film director who has made a lot of money from his work. He is estimated to be worth about $18 million, which he earned mostly from directing films. His unique way of telling stories through his movies is not only widely appreciated but also has helped him make good money. His big net worth shows how successful he’s been in his career.

Awards

• Civilian Honours – Padma Shri – Government of India – Won
• Filmfare Awards – Best Film (Critics) – Bombay – Won
• Filmfare Awards – Best Screenplay – Saathiya – Won
• Filmfare Awards – Best Film (Critics), Best Director, Best Story – Yuva & Guru – Won,Nominated,Nominated
• Filmfare Awards South – Best Director – Mouna Ragam, Nayakan, Agni Natchathiram, Geethanjali, Anjali, Thalapathi, Roja, Bombay, Iruvar, Alaipayuthey, Kannathil Muthamittal, O Kadhal Kanmani, Chekka Chivantha Vaanam -Won, Nominated, Nominated, Won, Won, Won, Nominated, Won, Nominated, Nominated, Won, Nominated, Nominated
• Karnataka State Film Awards – Best Screenplay – Pallavi Anu Pallavi – Won
• Nandi Awards – Best Story Writer – Geethanjali – Won
• National Film Awards – Best Regional Film (Tamil), Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment (Telugu), Best Regional Film (Tamil), Best Film on National Integration – Mouna Ragam, Geethanjali, Anjali, Roja, Bombay, Kannathil Muthamittal – Won
• Star Screen Awards – Best Director, Best Screenplay – Bombay, Yuva – Won, Nominated
• Tamil Nadu State Film Awards – Third Best Film, Best Director, Second Best Film – Agni Natchathiram, Roja, Kannathil Muthamittal – Won
• Moscow International Film Festival – Golden St. George for Best Film – Roja – Nominated
• Edinburgh International Film Festival – Gala Award – Bombay – Won
• Jerusalem Film Festival – Honourable Mention, In The Spirit of Freedom Award – Best Feature Film – Bombay, Kannathil Muthamittal – Won
• Political Film Society Awards – Special Award – Bombay – Won
• Belgrade Film Festival – Best Film – Iruvar – Won
• International Tamil Film Awards – Best Film, Best Director – Kannathil Muthamittal – Won
• Berlin Film Festival – NETPAC (Special Mention) – Dil Se – Won
• RiverRun International Film Festival – Audience Award for Best Feature Film – Kannathil Muthamittal – Won
• Zimbabwe International Film Festival – Best Film – Kannathil Muthamittal – Won
• Film Fest New Haven Awards – Audience Award, Jury Award, Special Award – Kannathil Muthamittal – Won
• Westchester Film Festival – Best International Film – Kannathil Muthamittal – Won
• Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles – Best Film – Kannathil Muthamittal – Won
• Venice International Film Festival – Jaeger-Lecoultre Glory To The Filmmaker (Honorary Award) – Not applicable – Won
• V. Shantaram Awards – Best Director – Roja, Guru – Won
• Vijay Awards – Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award – Indian Cinema – Not applicable – Won
• Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards – Best Director – Ponniyin Selvan:I – Won

Interesting Facts

• Mani Ratnam completed his MBA (finance) from the prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), one of the top 10 B-schools in India.
• He does not smoke.
• Throughout his childhood, watching movies was considered a waste of time by his parents and was not allowed.
• Mani Ratnam’s films ‘Anjali’ and ‘Nayagan’ were nominated for the Academy Awards (Oscars) and were official entries from India.
• He has a long-standing professional relationship of over 25 years with music maestro A.R. Rahman.
• Mani Ratnam has been honoured with various awards, including the Padma Shri Award (2002), Filmfare Awards for films like Yuva, Bombay, and Guru, and National Film Awards for Roja, Bombay, Anjali, and Geethanjali.
• He also received the prestigious Gala Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival for his film, Bombay.
• Mani Ratnam does not consume alcohol.

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