I watched some Mani Ratnam movies recently. I was amazed at how perfect these movies are - in their stories, the choice of actors, the cinematography (beautiful), Rehman’s music and just how there were no loopholes or unfinished business anywhere. The way these stories flowed was so smooth too. Mani Ratnam has paid attention to every little detail to create these masterpieces. (Every movie on this list but one! Read on)
BOMBAY
Bombay has a political background just like Ratnam’s Iruvar, Roja, Kannathil Muthamittal, Dil Se, etc. As we all know, it is about an interfaith couple and how the aftermath of Babri Masjid demolition in the early 90s affects their life and the entire nation.
The way this story is told is straightforward, it evokes the right emotions. The actors are such a treat to watch! I could not get enough of Aravind Swamy and the 2 child actors. Manisha Koirala, also, as someone who is not a Tamilian has done a pretty decent job (I am a “nouveau-Tamilian” myself, so I am only speaking from that POV).
KANNATHIL MUTHAMITTAL
Kannathil Muthamittal is about a child born to a Srilankan adopted by Indian parents in the backdrop of the Srilankan civil war. You have a star cast of Madhavan, Simran, Prakash Raj and Nandita Das at the helms along with the fantastic child actor, P.S. Keerthana. Each actor knows perfectly what’s expected out of them. And Nandita Das in those red sarees makes for such a beautiful woman 8)
OK KANMANI
Another Mani Ratnam movie that is an absolutely bliss has to be O K Kanmani! What I loved about this film was that even though its a romantic movie, its does not depict overtly dramatic loving between the couple like in Bollywood movies, no masala for the sake of masala. Its a simple story with complexities of a young couple in love with life decisions in front of them. Dulqer Salman is good as usual but Nitya Menon outshines him with her natural adorableness and splendid acting! Like Bombay and Kannathil Muthamittal, this one seems near to reality too- the way the characters handle different situations.
After those master pieces, I watched Chekka Chivantha Vanam and was surprised to learn that it is from the same director! Surprised because it's a thoroughly disappointing fare. This movie spoils it all for you, the image you have of Ratnam, the kind of stories he can churn out and even getting his actors to their best.
It’s so mindless, you keep looking for a story but never find it. The writing is insincere- why and how would someone like Mani Ratnam with movies like Bombay create this disappointment willingly? There are so many loose ends to this movie. While it was a delight to watch Aravind Swamy and Vijay Sethupathi, the climax drilled a hole in my brain. How lazy and insincere can you get? And really? People spent their money and efforts to create this disaster and present it to an audience with so much confidence and so little respect to their intelligence?
I get really irritated when a male writer tries to present expectations from females from his perspective (Looking at you, Ally McBeal!). The character played by Jyothika is supposed to be perceived as strong not only because she is ok with the fact that her husband is having an affair with another lady but also runs to be there by his side during his time of need. Arent these kind of messages dangerous? Any human being with self respect should move out of such a relationship imho. We need to call out such narratives in movies. Even today, men write such characters, its pukeworthy.
It makes one wonder how this mess has a rating of 7.3 on IMDB and made a ton of money (”declared the biggest opening for a Mani Ratnam movie”). Have we been consuming such bad content that something like this is not just tolerable but worthy of the “biggest opening” tag? The answer could not be that simple because Netflix, Prime, Hotstar etc have been doling out some seriously good shows and movies of late. May be, we are so bored at home since the past 2 yrs of the gloomy pandemic that we are willing to watch movies that are just entertaining even if they are mindless! I would not go as far as saying Ratnam knows people watch his movies, so he decided to create a joke and make money of it or would I?! I am in two minds!
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