Mani Ratnam is one of the most popular and respected names of Indian cinema. The full name of Mani Ratnam is Gopala Ratnam Subramaniam. Mani Ratnam is a film director, screenwriter, and producer who predominantly works in Tamil Cinema. He is an award-winning filmmaker who has earned his popularity due to his unique and effective storytelling style. He has won several prestigious awards, including six National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards, six Filmfare Awards South, and other awards. It might shock many that Mani Ratnam didn’t start his career in films at an early age.
He has given numerous gems to Indian cinema over the past few decades. The Padma Shri-awardee filmmaker rose through several controversies to give us some unforgettable stories along with stellar music. He started his career in the film industry with the Kannada film Pallavi Anu Pallavi in 1983. Despite failing to impact his first few films, Mani Ratnam remained dedicated to his work. Only after his fifth film-Mouna Ragam, he established himself as a successful filmmaker in the industry.
The name of the film was Mouna Ragam, and it came out in 1986. As we celebrate his legacy, let’s have a look at some of the best Mani Ratnam Movies.
Mouna Ragam:
As mentioned in the introduction, Mouna Ragam was Mani Ratnam’s first major success. The 1986 Tamil romantic drama featured Mohan and Revathi in the lead roles. Mouna Ragam helped Mani Ratnam earn a National Award for Best Film and Best Director. The film portrayed the dissatisfaction of the lead female character with married life and how her husband dealt with the rejection with utter calmness. The movie narrated a very progressive story.
Thalapathi:
Thalapathi is among the most popular movies directed by Mani Ratnam. The 1991 crime drama starred Mammootty and Rajinikanth in the lead roles. The movie also featured Arvind Swami, Jaishankar, Amrish Puri, and others in supporting roles. Mani Ratnam took the inspiration from Mahabharat to write the story drafted on the lines of the relationship between Duryodhan and Karna. The movie portrays a unique friendship between a slum dweller and a powerful don.
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Roja:
Roja has to be the most popular film of Mani Ratnam. The romantic thriller showcases how love flourished amidst politics and terrorism. The movie features Arvind Swamy and Madhoo in the lead roles who have been presented as lovers. The film received huge praise for the story and the soothing music by AR Rahman. It received 3 National Awards for Music direction, Best Lyrics, and Best Film on National integration.
Bombay:
Bombay is another very popular film by Mani Ratnam. The Tamil language romantic drama featured Arvind Swami and Manisha Koirala in the lead roles. The film was released in 1995. It depicted the story of an inter-religious family in Bombay during the Bombay Riots between December 1992 and January 1993. It was an epic film whose story created an impact on millions of minds. AR Rahman once again created magic with his soulful music for the film. It won the National Award for Best Film.
Dil Se:
The list would’ve been incomplete without the inclusion of Dil Se. It was a Hindi language romantic drama film that starred Shahrukh Khan and Manisha Koirala in the lead roles. The movie also featured Preity Zinta, who made her Bollywood debut in a supporting role. The film’s story was set in the backdrop of insurgency in Assam, and it was a huge commercial success. The film was also released in Tamil and Malayalam. It was the first Indian film to enter the top 10 in the United Kingdom box office charts. The movie bagged two National Awards.
Iruvar:
Iruvar is a very popular political drama film co-written by Mani Ratnam. The film was released in 1997, and its story was inspired by the lives of MG Ramachandran, M Karunanidhi, and J Jayalalithaa. The movie talks about cinema and politics in Tamil Nadu in the ’90s. The film starred Mohanlal and Prakash Raj as friends who become political opponents. The film also featured Aishwarya Rai, who made her screen debut with the film. The film was released in Telugu and Malayalam as well. Once again, the music was given by AR Rahman. The film won 2 National Awards for Best Cinematography and Best supporting actor.
Guru:
Guru is a Hindi language biological drama that brought the magical pair of Mani Ratnam and AR Rahman together once again. The film is said to be based on the life of industrial tycoon late Dhirubhai Ambani. Featuring Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai in the lead roles, it was the first Indian film to have a mainstream international première in Canada. The movie also featured Mithun Chakraborty, Roshan Seth, and Mallika Sherawat.
