Published By: Satavisha

Five Cinematic Masterpieces By Mani Ratnam That Every Movie Buff Should Watch

Mani Ratnam is a thespian storyteller and master of sentiments who has given the Bollywood and Tamil film industry some of the most thought-provoking and compelling films between 1980 and 2000.

His incredible skill of storytelling is always intertwined with some stellar music. Mani Ratnam has an eye for all things picturesque. Be it actors, stories, music, or the background score that adds glamour even to the simplest of scenes. Here is a list of five Mani Ratnam films that every movie buff must watch.

Roja (1992)

This film is set against the backdrop of war-affected Kashmir, and Roja illustrated how love could be torn between terrorism and politics. This beautifully crafted cinema depicted crackling chemistry between the lead actors. The romance was so heart-touching that the audience got engaged in their story and felt their trauma. Roja bagged three National Awards for Best Lyrics, Music Direction, and Best Film on National integration.

Bombay (1995)

For Mani Ratnam, it was not the first time he was dealing with the subject of terrorism, but this time he had pushed the bar higher. Bombay depicted a sensitive love story of a Muslim girl with a Hindu boy around the time Babri Masjid was demolished and the aftermath resulting in the horrific Hindu-Muslim riots. This film also won the National Award for Best Film editing and Best Film on national integration.

Dil Se (1998)

With Manisha Koirala and Shah Rukh Khan in pivotal roles, the narrative of Dil Se depicted a love story between a terrorist and a civilian. But the story of this film did not just showcase the typical communal riots that Ratnam illustrated in his earlier films; Dil Se was more on the lines of human rights violation.

Iruvar (1997)

Iruvar was inspired by the rivalry between two Politicians, M.G Ramachandran and Karunanidhi. This film is a cult classic, and it received immense critical acclaim for its bold narrative. This film won two National Awards for Best supporting actor and Best cinematography.

Anjali (1990)

This children's film was made during the '90s, and the directors handled a sensitive subject with finesse. Anjali starring Raghuvaran and Revathi in the lead, bagged three National Awards and was also dubbed in Telugu and Hindi. The style employed by Ratnam to portray the apathy of a family with a special child was truly commendable and is a flash of cinematic brilliance.

There’s no better way of spending your weekends at home and catching some of Mani Ratnam’s best work!