Mani Ratnam is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter who predominantly works in Tamil films. He is known for making films like Roja (1992), Nayakan (1987), Bombay (1995), Dil Se.. (1998), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), Guru (2007), Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) . and Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023).
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Mani Ratnam was born as Gopal Ratnam Subramaniam on Saturday, 2 June 1956 (age 67 years; as of 2023) in Madurai, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), India. Their zodiac sign is Gemini. He studied at Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Chennai and Besant Theosophical School Higher Secondary School, Chennai. He holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai. He studied MBA in Finance from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 7″
Hair Colour: White – While (Semi-Bald)
Eye colour: black
family and caste
Mani Ratnam was born in a Tamil Brahmin family.
parents and siblings
Mani Ratnam’s father S. Gopal Ratnam was a film distributor. He has one sister, Sarada Ratnam and two brothers, G. Venkateshwaran and G. Srinivasan. G Venkateshwaran was a chartered accountant and film producer of Venus Films. He died by suicide in 2003 at the age of 55.
G Venkateshwaran
Mani Ratnam and G. Srinivasan founded Madras Talkies, an Indian entertainment company in Chennai in 1995.
G Srinivasan
wife and children
Mani Ratnam married Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Indian film actress, director, producer and writer, in 1988. She is the niece of Indian actor Kamal Haasan and won a National Award for her performance in ‘Sindhu Bhairavi’ (1985).
Mani Ratnam with his wife Suhasini
Their son, Nandan Mani Ratnam, was born in 1992. He is an alumnus of Oxford University, England.
Suhasini with son Nandan Mani Ratnam
other relatives
Mani Ratnam’s uncle, S. Krishnamurthy (also known as Venus Krishnamurthy), is a renowned film producer. He was the founder of Venus Pictures and is known for producing films such as Uthma Puthiran (1958), Nazrana (1961), and Manchi Vaadu (1973).
religious viewpoint
Mani Ratnam is an atheist.
signature/autograph
Mani Ratnam’s signature
livelihood
movies
kannada movie
In 1983, Mani Ratnam wrote and directed ‘Pallavi Anu Pallavi’. The film was highly appreciated by critics.
Poster of movie Pallavi Anu Pallavi
malayalam movie
In 1984, Mani Ratnam directed a political drama, ‘Unaru’.
poster of movie unaru
tamil movie
In 1985, Mani Ratnam wrote and directed ‘Pagal Nilavu’. In 1986, he wrote and directed the critically acclaimed film ‘Mouna Ragam’.
Movie Pagal Nilavu Poster
In 1987, he wrote and directed ‘Nayakan’. In 1990, he wrote and directed ‘Anjali’. In 1992, he wrote and directed the box-office hit film ‘Roja’. In 1995, he wrote, produced and directed the highly acclaimed film ‘Bombay’.
movie poster of bombay
In 2004, he wrote, produced and directed ‘Ayutha Ezhuthu’. In 2010, he wrote, directed and produced ‘Raavanan’. In 2020, he wrote and produced ‘Vanam Kottattam’. In 2022, he wrote, produced and directed ‘Ponniyin Selvan – I’ followed by its sequel, ‘Ponniyin Selvan – II’ in 2023.
A poster of the Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan: I (PS1)
telugu movie
In 1989, Mani Ratnam wrote and directed ‘Geethanjali’. In 1993, he wrote the story ‘Gaayam’.
A poster of the Telugu film Geethanjali
Hindi movie
In 1998, Mani Ratnam wrote, produced and directed ‘Dil Se…’. In 2002, he produced and wrote ‘Saathiya’. In 2004, he wrote, produced and directed ‘Youth’.
poster of the movie dil se
In 2007, he wrote, produced and directed ‘Guru’. In 2017, he wrote and produced ‘Ok Jaanu’.
Ok Jaanu movie poster
web series
In 2021, Mani Ratnam wrote and produced a Tamil series titled ‘Navarasa’ for Netflix.
poster of web series navarasa
Controversy
Film distributors were falsely accused of embezzlement of Rs. 16 crores
In 2013, Mannar Mannan of Mannan Films alleged that Mani Ratnam had defrauded him of Rs 16 crore over the distribution rights of the film ‘Kadal’ as the film failed to impress at the box office. Mani Ratnam was forced to seek police protection against Mannan Films. However, the case was soon resolved and the Madras High Court found that the case was falsely filed by Mannan Films to damage Mani Ratnam’s reputation. Mani then filed a counter-suit against Mannan Films for Rs. Rs 5 crore for the loss he suffered due to the false case.
Awards and Honors
1982-83
- Mani Ratnam won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Screenplay for ‘Pallavi Anu Pallavi’.
1986
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare South Award for Best Tamil Director for ‘Mouna Ragam’.
- He won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for ‘Mouna Ragam’.
1988
- He won the third prize at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Film for ‘Agni Nachathiram’.
1989
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare South Award for Best Tamil Director for ‘Geethanjali’.
- He won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for ‘Geetanjali’.
1990
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Director South for ‘Anjali’.
- He won the Nandi Award for Best Story Writer for ‘Geetanjali’.
- He won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for ‘Anjali’.
1991
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare South Award for Best Tamil Director for ‘Thalapathy’.
1992
- Mani Ratnam won the V. Shantaram Award for Best Director for ‘Roja’.
- He won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director for ‘Roja’.
- She won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration for ‘Roja’.
1995
- Mani Ratnam won a special award at the Political Film Society Awards for ‘Bombay’.
- For ‘Bombay’ he was awarded Honorable Mention at the Jerusalem Film Festival.
- For ‘Bombay’ he was honored with the Gala Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
- He was awarded the Star Screen Award for Best Director for ‘Bombay’.
- She won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration for ‘Bombay’.
- He won the Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Director South for ‘Bombay’.
1996
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film for ‘Bombay’.
1997
- Mani Ratnam won the Best Film Award at the Belgrade International Film Festival for ‘Iruvar’.
nineteen ninety eight
- Mani Ratnam won NETPAC (Special Mention) at the Berlin Film Festival for ‘Dil Se…’.
2002
- Mani Ratnam was honored with Padma Shri by the Government of India.
- He won the Filmfare Award South for Best Tamil Director for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’.
- He won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’.
Mani Ratnam receiving the National Award
- He won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’.
- He won the second prize at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Film for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’.
- For ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’ he was awarded the ‘In the Spirit of Freedom Award – Best Feature Film’ at the Jerusalem Film Festival.
- He won the Best Director and Best Film awards at the International Tamil Film Awards for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’.
- He won the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the Riverrun International Film Festival for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’.
- He won the Best Film Award at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’.
- He won the Audience Award, Jury Award and Special Award at the Film Fest New Haven for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’.
- He won the Best International Film Award at the West Chester Film Festival for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’.
- He won the Best Film Award at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’.
2003
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay for ‘Saathiya’.
2005
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film for the film ‘Yuva’.
2007
- Mani Ratnam won the V. Shantaram Award for Best Director for ‘Guru’.
2008
- Mani Ratnam won the Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for excellence in Indian cinema.
2010
- He won the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker (Honorary Award) at the 67th Venice International Film Festival.
Mani Ratnam with Jaeger-LeCoultre, hails filmmaker
2015
- Mani Ratnam won the Icon Award at the London Indian Film Festival.
Mani Ratnam with Icon Award
2022
- Mani Ratnam was honored with the Bharat Asmita National Award by MIT World Peace University, Pune.
2023
- Mani Ratnam won the Best Director award at the Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards for ‘Ponniyin Selvan:I’.
- He was awarded the Exceptional Achievement Award by SIIMA for promoting unity in Indian cinema and bringing the world together through excellent filmmaking.
Mani Ratnam (centre) with SIIMA.
net worth
Mani Ratnam’s net worth is estimated to be around Rs 130 crore.
Facts/General Knowledge
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn