On his 69th birthday, let’s celebrate the films by Mani Ratnam that won National Film Awards and made him a legend.
Mani Ratnam, fondly known as “Mani Sir” in the entertainment industry, is celebrating his 69th birthday today. A recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri, he has been redefining love in his films for over three decades. An acclaimed Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter primarily associated with Tamil cinema, Mani Ratnam surprisingly showed little interest in films during his youth, despite being born into a film family. Yet, through a blend of fate and dedication, he carved out an extraordinary career in filmmaking. Known for his distinct storytelling, backlighting, and beautifully-shot song sequences, each of his films bears a unique visual and emotional style. Let’s take a look at some of Ratnam’s celebrated works that have earned National Film Awards.
‘Mouna Ragam’ is a Tamil romantic drama featuring Mohan and Revathi in the lead roles, with Karthik making a guest appearance. The supporting cast includes V. K. Ramasamy, Ra. Sankaran, Bhaskar, Kanchana, Vani, Kalaiselvi, and Sonia. Though it opened to a modest response, the film went on to become a box-office success, enjoying a theatrical run of over 175 days. It marked a significant breakthrough in Mani Ratnam’s career. Critically acclaimed, ‘Mouna Ragam’ earned the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.
‘Geethanjali’ is a Telugu-language romantic drama starring Nagarjuna and Girija. The film tells the poignant story of two terminally ill individuals who fall in love, fully aware that their time together is limited. It was a commercial hit, enjoying a theatrical run of over 100 days, and was widely praised for its direction, cinematography, music, and performances. ‘Geethanjali’ also garnered several accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Written and directed by Mani Ratnam, ‘Anjali’ is a Tamil children's drama featuring Raghuvaran and Revathi in lead roles, with Tarun, Shruti, and Shamili in key supporting parts. The film centers on the story of a mentally disabled child with a terminal illness and the emotional struggles faced by her family. Deeply emotional and critically acclaimed, ‘Anjali’ went on to win three National Film Awards, including Best Feature Film in Tamil.
This Tamil-language romantic thriller, directed and co-written by Mani Ratnam, marked the debut of music maestro A. R. Rahman, introducing the world to his extraordinary talent. Starring Arvind Swamy and Madhoo, the film received widespread acclaim and went on to win three National Film Awards, including Best Film on National Integration.
Starring Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala, ‘Bombay’ is a Tamil-language bilingual musical-romantic drama directed by Mani Ratnam. The film follows the journey of an inter-religious couple and their family in Bombay, set against the backdrop of the Bombay riots that occurred between December 1992 and January 1993 following the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Critically acclaimed for its powerful narrative, ‘Bombay’ won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration.
‘Kannathil Muthamittal’ is a Tamil musical war drama directed by Mani Ratnam, based on the short story ‘Amuthavum Avanum’ by Sujatha. The film stars R. Madhavan, Simran, and P. S. Keerthana, with notable performances by Nandita Das, J. D. Chakravarthy, Prakash Raj, and Pasupathy in key roles. Upon its release, the film received widespread critical acclaim and went on to win six National Film Awards, including Best Feature Film in Tamil.
‘Ponniyin Selvan: I’ is an epic historical fiction action drama in Tamil, featuring a star-studded ensemble cast including Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Ravi Mohan (in the title role), Karthi, Trisha Krishnan, Jayaram, and others. Directed by Mani Ratnam, the film is the first of a two-part adaptation of Kalki Krishnamurthy's classic 1955 novel ‘Ponniyin Selvan’. At the 70th National Film Awards, it received four accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film.
