Latest news with #Ratnam
India Today
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Kamal Haasan's birthday note to Mani Ratnam is love letter to their cinematic dream
Actor Kamal Haasan wishes his 'source of strength', director Mani Ratnam, on his birthday on Monday. The 70-year-old shared a heartwarming note on X, alongside a photo featuring him and Ratnam, mentioning their journey from 'Nayakan' to 'Thug Life'."Happy Birthday, Mani Ratnam. From Nayakan to Thug Life, we've journeyed through time together — as colleagues, family, co-dreamers, and above all, as lifelong students of cinema (sic)," he wrote in the caption of his who takes pride in being a student of cinema with Ratnam, added, "Through every chapter, your presence has been a source of strength — a mind I turn to in moments of doubt, and a soul deeply attuned to the language of film like few others (sic)." He then wished for more cinematic marvels for the director. "May your stories keep unfolding, for with every frame, your vision brings depth, beauty, and meaning to cinema (sic)," he concluded, signing off as "Forever your friend, Kamal Haasan." Actor Ravi Mohan, who worked with Ratnam in the 'Ponniyin Selvan' film series, also shared a note for him on X. He posted a behind-the-scenes photo from the film set, and wrote, "Wishing the epitome of Indian cinema, #ManiRatnam sir a very happy birthday! Honoured to have acted in your direction. Best wishes for #ThugLife and everything ahead sir (sic)." advertisement Ratnam turned 69 on June 2, 2025. Known as a master filmmaker, especially in the Tamil film industry, he's celebrated for directing films like 'Nayakan' (1987), 'Roja' (1992), 'Bombay' (1995), 'Iruvar' (1997), 'Dil Se...' (1998), 'Yuva' (2004), 'Guru' (2007), 'O Kadhal Kanmani' (2015), and the 'Ponniyin Selvan' series (2022, 2023), among was honoured with a Padma Shri (fourth-highest civilian award) in 2022 by the Indian government for his extraordinary contribution to Indian InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Kamal Haasan
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Mani Ratnam responds to Anurag Kashyap's criticism of English lyrics in Tamil songs
Veteran filmmaker Mani Ratnam has addressed recent remarks made by director Anurag Kashyap, who criticised the increasing use of English lyrics in Tamil film songs. Kashyap had stated that the trend 'didn't make sense at all', with the rise of bilingual and English-heavy music in South Indian cinema. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Ratnam responded to the criticism in the context of his upcoming film Thug Life, which includes a track titled 'Sugar Baby' featuring prominent English lyrics. Ratnam said such choices are guided by creative fit rather than a fixed formula. 'You don't go in with rules saying, 'I will do only this,'' he said. 'If it feels right, then you take that step which feels right for you. Why box yourself in with some false grammar?' Ratnam emphasised his long-standing respect for the Tamil language and its literary heritage, noting that many of his past collaborations with composer A.R. Rahman have drawn on Tamil poetry. However, he said there's room for a mix of styles. 'If sometimes you need a 'Sugar Baby' and it feels right, then you go for it,' he added. He also rejected the idea that English lyrics are used simply to appeal to younger audiences. 'That alone doesn't make a product. Just trying to be young and cool is not enough,' Ratnam said. He explained that audiences respond to authenticity, not trends, and that stylistic choices should serve the story and characters. On staying relevant to younger generations, Ratnam compared it to writing about unfamiliar subjects. 'If you have to write a script based on mafia people, you've never been one. But you still write films based on that,' he said. Ratnam is currently promoting Thug Life, which stars Kamal Haasan and features an ensemble cast including Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and Pankaj Tripathi. The film marks the first collaboration between Ratnam and Haasan since Nayakan in 1987.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Mani Ratnam responds to Anurag Kashyap's complaints about excessive use of English in Tamil songs: ‘Sometimes you need a Sugar Baby'
Recently, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap made headlines when he criticised the increasing use of English lyrics in Tamil songs. In his words, the trend didn't 'make sense at all.' The comments sparked debate across the industry, especially considering the rise of bilingual and English-heavy tracks in South Indian cinema. Now, legendary director Mani Ratnam, whose four-decade-long career has given Tamil cinema some of its most iconic songs, is addressing those claims. In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Ratnam offered a thoughtful response, particularly in the context of his upcoming film Thug Life, which features English lyrics in the much-discussed track titled 'Sugar Baby.' 'See, most of my film titles have been in Tamil. But it's not a restrictive thing,' Ratnam said. 'You don't go in with rules saying, 'I will do only this.' I think a medium opens itself up. If it feels right, then you take that step which feels right for you. Why box yourself in with some false grammar?' Emphasising his deep respect for Tamil language and poetry, Ratnam added, 'If you really like Tamil, which I do, I try to use a lot of it. A lot of it goes to… you know, Rehman and I have taken a lot of poetry from Tamil literature to make into songs. So it kind of brings the quality of Tamil, the thought and the content, to a much higher level when you pick it up? You bridge the gap between the two. So you can do that on one hand. And if sometimes you need a 'Sugar Baby' and it feels right, then you go for it. There's no… I mean, there's no one way or the other. As long as you care enough for both.' Also Read | Mani Ratnam threatened to throw people off fourth floor for not following direction, didn't have creative clashes with Kamal Haasan on Thug Life When asked whether English lyrics or titles are used to cater to a younger audience, Ratnam was quick to refute that idea. 'But that alone cannot sell. That alone doesn't make a product. Just trying to be young and cool is not enough. A film will show you who you are when it is finished. So you cannot get away with these false things. That can only help a story if it sets the characters like that, and you have to bring that across.' On how he continues to stay relevant to younger viewers even after four decades in the industry, Ratnam drew a parallel with writing unfamiliar characters. 'If you have to write a script based on mafia people, you've never been one. But you still write films based on that. Similarly, today's youngster, you want to write, you learn, you see, and you write on that. So it's not very difficult. The question is: is your way of thinking, your narrative, relevant? Do they have the attention span for your logic, for your narrative? Now that changes drastically. There may be some kind of jokes I would have said—that are no longer impressive these days. Then they are not going to care for it. So I think, more than knowing, it's your language and your structure that makes a difference.' And if the day comes when he no longer feels relevant? 'If I'm irrelevant, I'll just drop by,' he said with a laugh. 'Like I told you, cinema is not the end of the world. It's something which is fascinating, something that you love to do. And they pay you for it. So it's good.' Ratnam is currently gearing up for the release of Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Rohit Saraf, and Baburaj. The film marks a reunion between Haasan and Ratnam, nearly four decades after their iconic collaboration in Nayakan.
India Today
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Why Thug Life's biggest USP is Mani Ratnam, Kamal Haasan collaborating again
It's hard to believe it has taken 37 years for two stalwarts of Indian cinema to collaborate once again. Filmmaker Mani Ratnam and the multi-hyphenate Kamal Haasan join forces for Thug not the most obvious of titles to be associated with a film helmed by a 68-year-old (Ratnam) and 70-year-old (Haasan), but then Ratnam proclaimed at the Hindi trailer launch in Mumbai: 'We are Gen Z, so it works.' The title, he noted, was Haasan's suggestion and one he was happy to go they didn't delve into the reasons for the long interval since Nayakan, the mutual admiration was on full display. Haasan said the 'most exciting part of Thug Life was working with Mani—automatically all things happen', while Ratnam waxed eloquent about Haasan's cinematic abilities. 'He adds so much value to a scene; you see it grow in front of your eyes. As a director, you can take a backseat and see a scene grow.'Haasan is also the co-writer and co-producer of the film, which features Simbu, Trisha, Joju George, Abhirami, Ashok Selvan and Nasser. Ratnam described the film as an 'emotional drama within a world of crime'. With a soundtrack by A.R. Rahman and participation of the likes of Mahesh Manjrekar, Ali Fazal and Sanya Malhotra, the film (hitting screens on June 5) stands as the first of the big pan-India releases of Much of the chatter was centred around Ratnam and Haasan. For Trisha, who has worked separately with both, it was like returning to school. 'The anticipation of seeing them together, how would it be working with them, was exciting,' she said. 'They would speak with their eyes and are in total sync with each other. We all had to stop staring at them and do our work.'For Simbu, sharing screen space with Haasan, whom he equated to a 'screen guru' since childhood, was a 'special feeling'. 'I was a little nervous at the beginning, but then they (Ratnam and Haasan) make you comfortable,' he said. About his character, who going by the trailer is at crossroads with Haasan's, he said: 'He has a kind of pain. It is very important to maintain.'Action set pieces high on testosterone and screams dominated the trailer, but Ratnam emphasised on the need for an 'emotional punch'. 'Masters like Sergio Leone and Akira Kurosawa have told us that action need not be less lyrical. That sets a bar,' he was some nostalgia-tripping too as Haasan recalled their journey—from he and Ratnam living in the same area and being part of a friend circle that would discuss cinema to shooting Nayakan in Colaba in then Bombay and meeting Ramesh Sippy on that the failure of Indian 2, Haasan would be hoping that Thug Life is a course correction and return to form. Who better than his friend and acclaimed filmmaker Ratnam to help him fulfil that objective?Subscribe to India Today Magazine
Scroll.in
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘An emotional drama within the world of crime': Mani Ratnam on ‘Thug Life'
Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam are seasoned crossover artists, having working beyond the Tamil language film industry for much of their careers (Haasan longer than Ratnam). Thus it was fitting that Haasan and Ratnam included Mumbai as a pit stop for the promotions of their new collaboration, Thug Life. The crime drama will be released on June 5 in cinemas in Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada. The film's trailer identifies Haasan as Rangaraaya Sakthivel, who adopts the orphan Amaran (Silambarasan). The trailer suggests that Amaran turns against Rangaraaya, setting up a battle with him as well as other characters played by Nasser, Joju George and Mahesh Manjrekar. Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Trisha Krishnan, Ashok Selvan and Sanya Malhotra also star in the film, which will be released in regular and 2D Imax formats. 'The film isn't all about action, there is a lot of emotion too,' Haasan said during a press meet on Thursday in Mumbai. The title was among several suggested by Haasan, Ratnam added. ' Thug Life is actually an emotional drama within the world of crime,' Ratnam said. 'With a title like this, there will be action but it has to have the right emotional feel. You can give it a lyrical form because masters like Sergio Leone and Akira Kurosawa have shown that action can be lyrical too.' Thug Life marks the first collaboration between Haasan and Ratnam since Nayakan (1987). The only other time Haasan was involved with a Mani Ratnam project was to loan his voice to the opening credits of Ratnam's two-parter Ponniyin Selvan (2002 and 2023). The duo, who are related through marriage – Ratnam's spouse, the noted actor Suhasini, is Haasan's niece – have also collaborated on Thug Life' s screenplay. 'The scale of the film has been designed according to the demands of the story,' Ratnam said. 'What makes my job easy is having the right cast and crew.' Ratnam has teamed up again with his frequent collaborators, including cinematographer Ravi K Chandran and editor Sreekar Prasad. AR Rahman has composed the soundtrack, which includes the songs Jinguchaa and Sugar Baby. At the event in Mumbai, Rahman, Abhirami, Trisha Krishnan, Silambarasan and Ashok Selvan were present too. Abhirami praised the 'holy trifecta' of talent – Haasan, Ratnam and Rahman – that had come together for Thug Life. 'I will forgo anything to work with them even for a day,' Abhirami said. 'It is a dream come true to have even a small chat with Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, more so the opportunity to work with them,' Selvan added. Silambarasan, who previously starred in Ratnam's crime drama Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (2018), said that the energy created by the Haasan-Ratnam pairing was inspiring. 'I was nervous since it was the first time I was sharing the screen with Kamal sir, but Mani sir made me comfortable and said, just do that you have to do,' Silambarasan said. 'I haven't played a character [like Amaran] before. The character has a kind of pain, which was difficult to maintain.' Play Trisha Krishnan said Ratnam asked her to 'unlearn everything' she had done in Ponniyin Selvan, in which she played a key role. 'Having grown up watching Nayakan, I was curious about what they would be like on the sets,' Krishnan said. 'Kamal sir and Mani sir were in total sync with each other. As actors, we had to stop staring at them and work hard too.' Even before they were linked through marriage, Haasan and Ratnam knew each other socially, Haasan said. 'We were living in the same area, and I didn't know at the time that he belonged to a film family,' Haasan recalled. (Ratnam's father, S Gopalaratnam, was a film distributor, while Ratnam's uncle, Krishnamurthy, produced Tamil films.) 'We would talk about cinema all the time,' Haasan said. 'When we were shooting Nayakan in Bombay, Ramesh Sippy was shooting another film, and we visited him. We were cinema buffs, and we would go to sets to watch other people work.' Ratnam recalled having watched Haasan rehearse the famous climax scene from Balu Mahendra's Moondram Pirai (1982, remade in Hindi as Sadma in 1983). 'Kamal was equally involved in Nayakan – he contributed to the film in so many ways. He adds value to a scene in such a way that you can see it grow in front of your eyes.' A lot is riding on Thug Life, which is a co-production between Haasan's Raaj Kamal Films International, Ratnam's Madras Talkies and Udayanidhi Stalin's Red Giant Movies. 'I am not feeling the pressure of the box office – we have to look at least at breaking even,' Haasan said. 'You can't disrespect the business.' Thug Life is a 'Zen-Z film,' Ratnam jokingly said in response to a question about whether the movie was consciously trying to appeal to Gen Z viewers. Play
