Mani Ratnam

Mani Ratnam

1956-06-02 Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India 46 Credits

Biography

The man who revolutionized Tamil-language cinema, Mani Ratnam is the biggest director in South India and one of the most respected directors in all of India. Each of his films contains its own unique style, with beautifully photographed songs and unique back-lighting, and deal with a wide variety of topics, from the classic Indian love story to political thrillers.

Known For

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Complete Filmography

Thug Life

Thug Life

2025

Director, Producer, Writer

5.2
Directing Producing Writing

In a world ruled by crime and betrayal, mafia kingpin Sakthivel and his brother Manikkam rescue a young boy, Amaran, during a violent police shootout ...

Jigarthanda DoubleX

Jigarthanda DoubleX

2023

Thanks

7.6

A notorious gangster is incited to transform into a film hero and opts for a filmmaker and their project descends into a scenario they had never antic...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part II

Ponniyin Selvan: Part II

2023

Screenplay, Director, Producer

6.4
Writing Directing Producing

968 AD. The Pandyan assassins gather once again to destroy the Chola dynasty. Now the mighty Chola princes must fight the Pandyas, the Rashtrakutas an...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part I

Ponniyin Selvan: Part I

2022

Director, Screenplay, Producer

7.1
Directing Writing Producing

The Chola kingdom is under threat from forces both internal and external, and with crown prince Aaditha Karikalan, his younger brother Arunmozhi Varma...

Putham Pudhu Kaalai

Putham Pudhu Kaalai

2020

Writer

6.4
Writing

Putham Pudhu Kaalai brings together 5 of the most celebrated directors in Tamil cinema - Sudha Kongara, Gautham Menon, Suhasini Mani Ratman, Rajiv Men...

Vaanam Kottatum

Vaanam Kottatum

2020

Story, Dialogue, Producer

6.4
Writing Producing

A simple father's life whose one mistake breaks him away from his dear family. Even after many years, when he finally meets his family, the same mista...

Chekka Chivantha Vaanam

Chekka Chivantha Vaanam

2018

Producer, Dialogue, Story

6.5
Producing Writing Directing

A bloody power struggle erupts between three brothers who are vying to take over the family business following the death of their father.

Kaatru Veliyidai

Kaatru Veliyidai

2017

Director, Producer, Story

5.7
Directing Producing Writing

Romance is in the air as the lives of Fighter Pilot Varun & Medical Doctor Leela collide amidst the scenic beauty of Kashmir. While Leela yearns for V...

Ok Jaanu

Ok Jaanu

2017

Story, Screenplay, Producer

5.9
Writing Producing

Adi and Tara move to Bombay to pursue their dreams. A chance meeting sparks off a heady, no strings attached romance until their careers pull them apa...

O Kadhal Kanmani

O Kadhal Kanmani

2015

Story, Producer, Director

6.9
Writing Producing Directing

Aadi and Tara fall in love but both hate the idea of marriage and plan to separate when their lives take them to different countries. However, as they...

Jai Ho

Jai Ho

2014

as self

6.0
Acting

The Film brings to its viewers, a hitherto unseen and unheard narrative of one of the greatest musicians the world has ever known: A. R. Rahman

Kadal

Kadal

2013

Producer, Director, Screenplay

5.6
Producing Directing Writing

A wrongdoer is caught red-handed and he is not going to forgive the man who exposed him.

Raavan

Raavan

2010

Director, Producer, Screenplay

4.9
Directing Producing Writing

A bandit leader kidnaps the wife of the policeman who killed his sister, but later falls in love with her.

Raavanan

Raavanan

2010

Producer, Director, Story

7.0
Producing Directing Writing

After inspector Dev stirs the reign of Veeraiya, a tribal outlaw, the latter responds by kidnapping his wife, Ragini. While she tries to escape from h...

Guru

Guru

2007

Director, Producer, Story

6.8
Directing Producing Writing

A villager, Gurukant Desai, arrives in Bombay in 1958, and rises from its streets to become the biggest tycoon in India.

Yuva

Yuva

2004

Director, Producer, Screenplay

6.5
Directing Producing Writing

An accident on a bridge ties together three young men from different social classes, sparking a course of events that will forever alter their lives.

Aayitha Ezhuthu

Aayitha Ezhuthu

2004

Producer, Director, Screenplay

7.2
Producing Directing Writing

A goon, who dreams of making it big in life, a student leader, who strives to keep politicians away from college election and a third guy who wants to...

Annavru

Annavru

2003

Story

Writing

Surya, who was abandoned by his 14-year-old unwed mother Nirmala after his birth, grows up in the slums and finds a friend in a local criminal leader,...

Saathiya

Saathiya

2002

Producer, Screenplay, Story

6.0
Producing Writing

A couple elopes to get married and set up home hoping that just love will do the trick - but that's just the beginning of their story.

Five Star

Five Star

2002

Producer

7.2
Producing

The story focuses on five friends at the Madras Institute of Technology, who want to remain friends and hope to join the same company after graduation...

Kannathil Muthamittal

Kannathil Muthamittal

2002

Producer, Director, Screenplay

7.6
Producing Directing Writing

A little girl is told by her parents that she is adopted. Determined to find her birth mother, her family eventually agrees to take her to Sri Lanka, ...

Dum Dum Dum

Dum Dum Dum

2001

Producer, Screenplay

5.8
Producing Writing

Adityan, a city slicker's marriage is fixed by his dad in the village to Ganga, a village belle. He is not happy with it, as he wants to marry a city ...

Alaipayuthey

Alaipayuthey

2000

Director, Story, Screenplay

7.3
Directing Writing

Karthik and Shakthi marry against the wishes of their families and start their new life. However, they soon realize that marriage is not the bed of ro...

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

1999

Writer

6.0
Writing

Even though Maayan and Machakanni are deeply in love with each other, her brother decides to get her married to someone else. So, Maayan's friends res...

Dil Se..

Dil Se..

1998

Story, Director, Screenplay

6.9
Writing Directing Producing

Journalist Amar falls for a mysterious woman on an assignment, but she does not reciprocate his feelings. However, when Amar is about to get married, ...

Nerrukku Ner

Nerrukku Ner

1997

Producer

6.5
Producing

Raghu and Shanti are divorced couple which sparks problems between both respective younger brothers.

Iruvar

Iruvar

1997

Director, Screenplay, Producer

7.5
Directing Writing Producing

A fictionalized account of the lives of 1980s Tamil Nadu political icons M. G. Ramachandran and M. Karunanidhi, continuing the tryst between Tamil cin...

Aasai

Aasai

1995

Producer

6.3
Producing

A man kills his wife when she learns that he lusts after her sister. He then begins to make his moves for his sister-in-law. When he tries to sabotage...

Indira

Indira

1995

Producer, Screenplay

7.2
Producing Writing

A group of villagers from Maranur, India, and their clash with a neighbouring village leader as their community begins to prosper. Soon, money and gre...

Bombay

Bombay

1995

Director, Screenplay, Producer

7.1
Directing Writing Producing

A Hindu man and a Muslim woman fall in love in a small village and move to Mumbai, where they have two children. However, growing religious tensions a...

Thiruda Thiruda

Thiruda Thiruda

1993

Director, Screenplay, Producer

7.1
Directing Writing Producing

An Inspector is assigned to track down a large sum of stolen money. His investigations lead him to a couple of small time crooks, a village belle, a m...

Gaayam

Gaayam

1993

Story, Screenplay

7.3
Writing

Durga is in love with Anith; he is all set to marry her and settle down in life. But things change when his brother Mohanakrishna is killed by a rival...

Dasarathan

1993

Producer

4.0
Producing

Dasarathan is a 1993 Tamil language film directed by Kitty. The film features Sarathkumar and Heera in lead roles whilst Sivakumar, Saranya and Gandhi...

Roja

Roja

1992

Director, Story, Screenplay

6.8
Directing Writing Producing

Roja lives in a Tamil village, and her sister is about to marry a man from the city, who decides to marry Roja instead and gets a job assignment in Ka...

Thalapathi

Thalapathi

1991

Director, Story, Screenplay

8.0
Directing Writing

Surya, a courageous man who was raised in the slums, fights for the rights of the poor and befriends Deva, who hires him as his commander and changes ...

Chathriyan

Chathriyan

1990

Producer, Screenplay, Story

7.5
Producing Writing

An honest cop's wife is murdered because of his role in the conviction of a local goon, which forces him to quit the police force.

Anjali

Anjali

1990

Director, Writer, Dialogue

7.1
Directing Writing

After a few years, Chitra learns that her child, who was believed to be dead, is alive but is suffering from a mental illness. However, her family fac...

Geethanjali

Geethanjali

1989

Director, Screenplay, Story

6.7
Directing Writing

Prakash, who is diagnosed with terminal cancer, and Geethanjali, an equally ill patient, fall in love with each other. However, when she learns about ...

Dayavan

Dayavan

1988

Writer

6.8
Writing

A tale of near Biblical proportions, telling the story of Dayavan, a heroic do-gooder who dedicates his life to helping those less fortunate then hims...

Agni Natchathiram

Agni Natchathiram

1988

Director, Writer

6.7
Directing Writing

Two step sons of an honest noble man choose different professions. One becomes a police office and the other turns into a goon. The rest of the film r...

Nayakan

Nayakan

1987

Director, Story, Screenplay

7.9
Directing Writing

Velu Naicker, who witnesses the brutal murder of his father, kills a corrupt policeman and escapes to Mumbai, only to become a gangster.

Mouna Raagam

Mouna Raagam

1986

Director, Writer

7.8
Directing Writing

Divya, a college student, is forced to marry Chandrakumar due to family pressure. However, she asks for a divorce as a wedding gift, revealing her pas...

Idhaya Kovil

Idhaya Kovil

1985

Director

5.7
Directing

Shankar, a budding singer loses his love, Gowri, who commits suicide. When Shankar turns famous, he eventually develops friendship with Surya, a colle...

Pagal Nilavu

Pagal Nilavu

1985

Director, Screenplay, Dialogue

4.0
Directing Writing

An aimless youth joins a gang out of a sense of gratitude, but complications arise when he falls in love with the sister of the new police officer in ...

Unaru

Unaru

1984

Director

Directing

Social drama realistically traces the trials and travails in the life of sincere men from impoverished backgrounds, who find themselves unable to get ...

Pallavi Anu Pallavi

Pallavi Anu Pallavi

1983

Director, Dialogue, Screenplay

Directing Writing

A man falls in love with an older woman who is separated from her husband. As he struggles between the demands of a relationship and those of society,...