20 Best Mani Ratnam Movies and Where to Watch Them
Having directed numerous Tamil and Hindi cult favourites, Mani Ratnam stands as a cinematic maestro who has left an indelible mark on the world of cinema with his thought-provoking narratives, compelling characters, and visually stunning storytelling. With a career spanning decades, the writer and director has become a trailblazer in Indian cinema, known for his ability to seamlessly blend artistry with mass appeal.
A Diverse Storyteller
Mani Ratnam is a master storyteller who consistently pushes the boundaries of narrative conventions. From his early works like the political thrillers/tragiromances Roja and Dil Se to later ventures like the capitalist underdog story Guru and the revisionist Ramayan adaptation Raavanan, Ratnam's narratives are marked by their originality and ability to engage audiences with fresh perspectives. He often weaves intricate plots that transcend genres, making his films a captivating blend of drama, romance, and social commentary.
And in the 2010s, just when cinephiles thought Ratnam was content with more minimalist low-budget features like the romantic comedy OK Kanmani, he went on to surprise audiences and critics in 2022 with his two-part historical epic Ponniyin Selavan. A longtime passion project of his, the film reunited frequent collaborators like Vikram and Aishwarya Rai while recounting the history of the Chola empire in ancient India.
A Man of Visuals
Ratnam's films are a visual feast, showcasing his keen eye for cinematography and aesthetics. Collaborating with acclaimed cinematographers like Santosh Sivan, Ratnam's frames are often visually striking, capturing the essence of the story through evocative visuals. The picturesque landscapes in films like Dil Se and Bombay add a layer of visual poetry to his storytelling even if both projects end up dealing with turbulent politics in the country.
The zenith of his aesthetic setpieces is obviously the aforementioned Ponniyin Selavan series that captures the larger-than-life architecture of the Chola kings in Tamil Nadu.
The Good, the Bad and the Morally Grey: Mani Ratnam’s Unforgettable Characters
One of Ratnam's strengths lies in his ability to create complex and relatable characters. Whether it's the conflicted youth politician protagonists in Yuva or the tragic lovers in Dil Se, each character is meticulously crafted, adding depth to the narrative. The nuanced performances he extracts from his actors contribute to the enduring impact of his films.
A lot of Ratnam’s classic characters are morally grey or antiheroic. There’s Kamal Haasan’s Sakthivel as a case in point, the common man-turned-crimelord in Ratnam’s Godfather-inspired crime drama Nayakan. Abhishek Bachchan stars as a budding industrialist in Guru, as he remains conflicted between his commercial hustle and personal life. In Raavanan, Vikram plays an outlaw who seems like a ruthless criminal on the surface but is leading his oppressed community to a rebellion. Ratnam doesn’t enjoy giving easy answers to his audiences. In some movies, he really wants them to question their own morals.
Why is Iruvar Mani Ratnam’s best movie?
An Indian political drama doesn’t get any better than Iruvar, a Mohanlal, Prakash Raj, and Aishwarya Rai-led star vehicle that delves into the lives of two iconic figures in Tamil Nadu's political landscape—M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and M. Karunanidhi. Using a non-linear approach to blend fact with fiction, the film explores their friendship, political rivalry, and the impact they had on the state's politics. The exceptional performances, and complex characters coupled with Ratnam staples like Santosh Sivan’s cinematography and AR Rahman’s score make it an all-time classic. And most of all, Iruvar perfectly exhibits the director’s ability to create films that are both artistically rich and socially relevant.
