Mani Ratnam
Film director behind Nayakan, Roja and Ponniyin Selvan
- Age
- 71 yrs
- Birthday in 216 days
- Works listed
- 7
- Film
- Honours
- 1
- Most recent 2002
- Profile views
- 3
- 0 followers
Mani Ratnam is a Tamil film director, screenwriter and producer known for stylish, emotionally rich films that often address politics and conflict. His films include Nayakan, Roja, Bombay and the two-part epic Ponniyin Selvan, and he introduced composer A. R. Rahman to cinema.
Biography
From management to film
Born into a family of film producers, Mani Ratnam studied commerce and took an MBA from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies in Bombay. He worked as a management consultant before directing his first film, the Kannada drama Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983).
Breakthrough
Mouna Ragam (1986) was his first big success, and Nayakan (1987), with Kamal Haasan as a Bombay gangster inspired by Varadarajan Mudaliar, is often named among the greatest Indian films. Thalapathi (1991) cast Rajinikanth and Mammootty in a retelling of the Mahabharata friendship of Karna and Duryodhana.
The terrorism trilogy
Roja (1992), about a woman whose husband is kidnapped by militants in Kashmir, introduced composer A. R. Rahman and became a national hit in its dubbed versions. Bombay (1995), set during the 1992–93 riots, and Dil Se.. (1998), set in the Northeast, completed a loose trilogy on love amid political violence.
Later work
His later films include Iruvar (1997), Alaipayuthey (2000), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), Guru (2007) and the lavish two-part adaptation of Kalki Krishnamurthy’s novel Ponniyin Selvan (2022–2023). He reunited with Kamal Haasan for Thug Life (2025). He received the Padma Shri in 2002 and runs the production company Madras Talkies with his wife, actress Suhasini.
Timeline
-
1955
Born in Madurai, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu)
-
1983
Debut with Pallavi Anu Pallavi
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1986
Mouna Ragam
-
1987
Nayakan
-
1991
Thalapathi
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1992
Roja
Introduces A. R. Rahman.
-
1995
Bombay
-
1998
Dil Se..
-
2002
Padma Shri; Kannathil Muthamittal
-
2022
Ponniyin Selvan: I
-
2025
Thug Life
Notable works
-
1986
Mouna Ragam Film
-
1987
Nayakan Film
-
1992
Roja Film
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1995
Bombay Film
-
1998
Dil Se.. Film
-
2002
Kannathil Muthamittal Film
-
2022
Ponniyin Selvan: I Film
Awards and honours
-
Padma Shri
2002
Did you know?
-
1
He was a management consultant before becoming a director.
-
2
Roja was A. R. Rahman’s first film score.
-
3
Time magazine listed Nayakan among the 100 greatest films.
Connections
Related people
-
A. R. Rahman
Music · Composer and winner of two Academy Awards
Long-time composer
-
Kamal Haasan
Film & TV · Actor, filmmaker and politician known for daring roles in Tamil cinema
Directed him in Nayakan and Thug Life
-
Rajinikanth
Film & TV · Tamil cinema superstar with a five-decade career
Directed him in Thalapathi
-
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Film & TV · Actress and Miss World 1994
Directed her in Iruvar, Guru and Ponniyin Selvan
Frequently asked
Who is Mani Ratnam?
Mani Ratnam is a Tamil film director, screenwriter and producer known for stylish, emotionally rich films that often address politics and conflict. His films include Nayakan, Roja, Bombay and the two-part epic Ponniyin Selvan, and he introduced composer A. R. Rahman to cinema.
How old is Mani Ratnam?
Mani Ratnam is 71 years old, born on 2 June 1955 in Madurai, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu).
Where is Mani Ratnam from?
Mani Ratnam was born in Madurai, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu).
What is Mani Ratnam known for?
Mani Ratnam is best known for Nayakan, Roja, Bombay, Dil Se.., Kannathil Muthamittal, Ponniyin Selvan.
What awards has Mani Ratnam received?
Notable honours include Padma Shri (2002).
Who is Mani Ratnam married to?
Spouse: Suhasini Maniratnam (m. 1988).
References
- Mani Ratnam — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Mani Ratnam — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Mani Ratnam — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Mani Ratnam — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Mani Ratnam (Q174648) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Mani Ratnam”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
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About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Mani Ratnam.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/mani-ratnam
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