Mani Ratnam is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter who mostly works in Tamil films. He is known for creating 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).
Wiki/Biography
Mani Ratnam was born Gopala Ratnam Subramaniam on Saturday, 2 June 1956 (age 67 years; in 2023) in Madurai, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), India. His zodiac sign is Gemini. He studied at Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School in Chennai and Besant Theosophical School Higher Secondary School in Chennai. He has 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 Color: White – Temporary (half bald)
Eye Color: Black
Family & Caste
Mani Ratnam was born into a Tamil Brahmin family.
Parents & Siblings
Mani Ratnam’s father, S. Gopala Ratnam, was a film distributor. He has one sister, Sharda Ratnam, and two brothers, G. Venkateswaran, and G. Srinivasan. G. Venkateswaran is a chartered accountant and film producer for Venus Films. In 2003, he died at the age of 55 by suicide.
G Venkateswaran
Mani Ratnam and G. Srinivasan founded Madras Talkies, an Indian entertainment company, in Chennai, in 1995.
G Srinivasan
Wife & Children
Mani Ratnam married Indian film actress, director, producer, and writer, Suhasini Maniratnam 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 Maniratnam, was born in 1992. He is an alumnus of Oxford University, England.
Suhasini with son Nandan Maniratnam
Other relatives
Mani Ratnam’s uncle, S Krishnamurthy (also known as Venus Krishnamurthy), was a famous film producer. He is the founder of Venus Pictures and is known for producing films such as Uthama Puthiran (1958), Nazrana (1961), and Manchi Vadu (1973).
religious views
Mani Ratnam is an atheist.
Signature/Autograph
Mani Ratnam’s signature
Career
Movie
Kannada movies
In 1983, Mani Ratnam wrote and directed ‘Pallavi Anu Pallavi.’ The film was highly praised by critics.
Pallavi Anu Pallavi movie poster
Malayalam movies
In 1984, Mani Ratnam directed the political drama, ‘Unaroo.’
Unaroo movie poster
Tamil movies
In 1985, Mani Ratnam wrote and directed ‘Pagal Nilavu.’ In 1986, he wrote and directed the critically acclaimed film, ‘Mouna Ragam.’
Pagal Nilavu movie 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, ‘Roja.’ In 1995, he wrote, produced, and directed the highly acclaimed film, ‘Bombay.’
Bombay movie poster
In 2004, he wrote, produced, and directed ‘Aayutha Ezhuthu.’ In 2010, he wrote, directed and produced ‘Raavanan.’ In 2020, he wrote and produced ‘Vaanam Kottattum.’ In 2022, he wrote, produced and directed ‘Ponniyin Selvan – I,’ followed by the second part, ‘Ponniyin Selvan – II’ in 2023.
Tamil movie poster Ponniyin Selvan: I (PS1)
Telugu movies
In 1989, Mani Ratnam wrote and directed ‘Geethanjali.’ In 1993, he wrote the story ‘Gaayam.’
Geethanjali Telugu movie poster
Hindi movies
In 1998, Mani Ratnam wrote, produced, and directed ‘Dil Se..’ In 2002, he produced and wrote ‘Saathiya.’ In 2004, he wrote, produced, and directed ‘Yuva.’
Dil Se movie poster
In 2007, he wrote, produced and directed ‘Teacher.’ 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 the web series, Navarasa
Controversy
Falsely accused of defrauding movie distributors of Rs. 16 crores
In 2013, Mannar Mannan of Mannan Films alleged that Mani Ratnam cheated him of Rs 16 crore over the distribution rights for the film, ‘Kadal’ as the film failed to impress at the box office. Mani Ratnam had to take police protection against Mannan Film. However, the case was quickly settled and the Madras High Court found that the case was falsely filed by Mannan Films to tarnish Mani Ratnam’s reputation. Mani then filed a counter suit against Mannan Films for Rs. 5 crore for the damages he suffered as a result of the false case.
Awards & 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 Director – Tamil for ‘Mouna Ragam.’
- He won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for ‘Mouna Ragam.’
1988
- He won the third prize in the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Film for ‘Agni Natchathiram.’
1989
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare South Award for Best Director – Tamil for ‘Geethanjali.’
- He won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for ‘Geethanjali.’
1990
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare South Award for Best Director – Tamil for ‘Anjali.’
- He won the Nandi Award for Best Story Writer for ‘Geethanjali.’
- He won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for ‘Anjali.’
1991
- Mani Ratnam won the Filmfare South Award for Best Director – Tamil for ‘Thalapati.’
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.’
- He won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration for ‘Roja.’
1995
- Mani Ratnam won the Special Award at the Political Film Society Awards for ‘Bombay.’
- He was awarded an Honorable Mention at the Jerusalem Film Festival for ‘Bombay.’
- He was honored with a Gala Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival for ‘Bombay.’
- He was awarded the Star Screen Award for Best Director for ‘Bombay.’
- He won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration for ‘Bombay.’
- He won the Filmfare South Award for Best Director – Tamil 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.’
1998
- Mani Ratnam won the NETPAC (Special Mention) at the Berlin Film Festival for ‘Dil Se..’
2002
- Mani Ratnam was honored with the Padma Shri by the Government of India.
- He won the Filmfare South Award for Best Director – Tamil for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal.’
- He won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal.’
Mani Ratnam received 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.’
- He was awarded the ‘Spirit of Freedom Award – Best Feature Film’ at the Jerusalem Film Festival for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal.’
- He won Best Director and Best Film 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 New Haven Film Fest 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 Los Angeles Indian Film Festival 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 at the 67th Venice International Film Festival.
Mani Ratnam with Jaeger-Lecoultre Glory To The Filmmaker
2015
- Mani Ratnam won the Icon Award at the London Indian Film Festival.
Mani Ratnam with the Icon Award
2022
- Mani Ratnam has been honored by Pune’s MIT World Peace University with the Bharat Asmita National Award.
2023
- Mani Ratnam won the Best Director Award at the Norwegian Tamil Film Festival Awards for ‘Ponniyin Selvan:I.’
- He was honored by SIIMA with the Outstanding Achievement Award for promoting Oneness in Indian Cinema and bringing the world together through brilliant filmmaking.
Mani Ratnam (Center) with SIIMA
Net worth
Mani Ratnam’s net worth is estimated to be around Rs 130 crore.
Facts/Trivia
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
