Mani Ratnam is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter, mainly working on Tamil films. He is known for his films such as “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 Gopal on Saturday, June 2, 1956 in Madurai, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), India (age 67; as of 2023) Gopala Ratnam Subramaniam. His zodiac sign is Gemini. He studied at Vidya Mandir High School, Chennai and Besant Theosophical School, Chennai. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai. He pursued an MBA in Finance from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management, Mumbai.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′7″
Hair color: white-simultaneously (semi-bald)
Eye color: black
family and caste
Mani Ratnam was born into a Tamil Brahmin family.
Parents and siblings
Mani Ratnam’s father S. Gopala Ratnam is a film distributor. He has a sister, Sharda Ratnam, and two brothers, G. Venkateswaran and G. Srinivasan. G. Venkateswaran is a chartered accountant and film producer with Venus Films. In 2003, he committed suicide at the age of 55.
G Venkateswaran
Mani Ratnam and G. Srinivasan founded Indian entertainment company Madras Talkies in 1995 in Chennai.
G Srinivasan
wife and children
Mani Ratnam married Indian film actor, director, producer and writer Suhasini Maniratnam in 1988. She is the niece of Indian actor Kamal Haasan and won the National Award for her performance in “Sindhu Bhairavi” (1985).
Mani Ratnam and wife Suhasini
Their son Nandan Maniratnam was born in 1992. He is an alumnus of Oxford University in England.
Suhasini and son Nandan Maniratnam
other relatives
Mani Ratnam’s uncle S Krishnamurthy (also known as Venus Krishnamurthy) is a famous film producer. He is the founder of Venus Films 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
Profession
Movie
kannada movies
In 1983, Mani Ratnam wrote and directed Pallavi Anu Pallavi. The film was highly praised by critics.
Poster of movie Pallavi Anu Pallavi
malayalam movies
In 1984, Mani Ratnam directed Unaroo, a political drama.
Movie “Unaro” poster
tamil movies
In 1985, Mani Ratnam wrote and directed Pagal Nilavu. In 1986, he wrote and directed the critically acclaimed film Mouna Ragam.
Poster of the movie Pagal Nilavu
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 critically acclaimed film Bombay.
Movie “Bombay” poster
In 2004, he wrote, produced and directed Aayutha Ezhuthu. In 2010, he wrote, directed and produced the film Raavanan. In 2020, he composed and produced Vaanam Kottattum. In 2022, he created, produced and directed “Ponniyin Selvan – I”, and in 2023 he shot the second “Ponniyin Selvan – II”.
Poster of Tamil movie Ponniyin Selvan: I (PS1)
telugu movies
In 1989, Mani Ratnam wrote and directed Geethanjali. In 1993, he wrote the story of Gaayam.
Poster of Telugu movie Geethanjali
hindi movies
In 1998, Mani Ratnam wrote, produced and directed Dil Se. In 2002, he produced and composed Saathiya. In 2004, he wrote, produced and directed “Yuva”.
Movie “Dil Se” poster
In 2007, he wrote, produced and directed “The Master”. In 2017, he wrote and produced the song “Ok Jaanu”.
Movie “Ok Jaanu” poster
web series
In 2021, Mani Ratnam created and produced a Tamil drama series Navarasa for Netflix.
Poster of web series Navarasa
dispute
Wrongly accused of cheating film distributor of Rs. 160 million rupees
In 2013, Mannar Mannan of Mannan Films alleged that Mani Ratnam cheated him of Rs 16 crore over the distribution rights of the film Kadal as the film did not do well at the box office. Mani Ratnam was forced to take police protection against Mannan Films. However, the case was quickly resolved, with the Madras High Court finding that the case was falsely filed by Mannan Films and had damaged Mani Ratnam’s reputation. Manny subsequently filed a countersuit against Mannan Films for Rs 1,000 crore. Compensation of Rs 5 crore for losses suffered by him due to false cases.
Awards and Honors
1982-83
- Mani Ratnam won the Karnataka Film Awards for Best Screenplay for “Pallavi Anu Pallavi”.
1986
- Mani Ratnam won the South Filmfare Award for Best Director in Tamil for “Mouna Ragam”.
- He won the National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film for “Mouna Ragam”.
1988
- He won the third prize for Best Film at the Tamil Nadu National Film Award for “Agni Natchatiram”.
1989
- Mani Ratnam won the South Filmfare Award for Best Director in Tamil for “Geethanjali”.
- He won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film for Geethanjali.
1990
- Mani Ratnam won the South Filmfare Award for Best Director in Tamil for “Anjali”.
- He won the Nandi Award for Best Story Writer for Geethanjali.
- He won the National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film for “Anjali”.
1991
- Mani Ratnam won the South Filmfare Award for Best Director in Tamil for Thalapathi.
1992
- Mani Ratnam won the V. Shantaram Award for Best Director for “Roja”.
- He won the Tamil Nadu Film Award for Best Director for “Roja”.
- He won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Ethnic Integration Feature Film for “Roja”.
1995
- Mani Ratnam won the Special Mention at the Political Film Society Awards for “Bombay”.
- He received an honorable mention at the Jerusalem Film Festival for “Bombay.”
- He won the Edinburgh International Film Festival Celebration Award for Bombay.
- He won the Star Silver Award for Best Director for “Bombay”.
- He won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Ethnic Integration Feature Film for “Bombay”.
- He won the South Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Director 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 wins Berlin Film Festival NETPAC (Special Mention) Award for “Dil Se..”
2002
- The Government of India awarded Mani Ratnam the Padma Shri.
- He won the South Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Director for “Kannathil Muthamittal”.
- He won the National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film for “Kannasir Musa Mittal”.
Mani Ratnam wins National Award
- He won the Tamil Nadu Film Award for Best Director for “Kannasir Musa Mittal”.
- He won the second prize for Best Film at the Tamil Nadu National Film Award for “Kannathil Muthamittal”.
- He won the “Free Spirit Award – Best Feature Film” at the Jerusalem Film Festival for “Kannathil Muthamittal”.
- He won the International Tamil Film Awards for Best Director and Best Film 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 Kannasir Musa Mittal.
- He won the Audience Award, Jury Prize and Special Award at the New Haven Film Festival for “Kanasir Musa Mittal”.
- He won the Best International Film Award at the West Chester Film Festival for Kannasir Musa Mittal.
- He won the Best Film Award at the Los Angeles Indian Film Festival for “Kannasir Musa Mittal”.
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 “Master”.
2008
- Mani Ratnam won the Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema.
2010
- Won the Jaeger-LeCoultre Filmmaker Glory (Honorary Award) at the 67th Venice International Film Festival.
Mani Ratnam and Jaeger-Lecoultre Glory to Filmmakers
2015
- Mani Ratnam won the Icon Award at the London Indian Film Festival.
Mani Ratnam wins Icon Award
2022
- Mani Ratnam was awarded the Bharat Asmita National Award by MIT World Peace University, Pune.
2023
- Mani Ratnam won the Best Director Award at the Norwegian Tamil Film Festival for “Ponniyin Selvan:I”.
- He was awarded the Extraordinary Achievement Award by SIIMA for promoting unity in Indian cinema and bringing the world together through outstanding filmmaking.
Mani Ratnam (middle) and SIIMA
net worth
Mani Ratnam’s net worth is estimated to be around Rs 130 crore.
Facts/Trivia
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education