I find it difficult to revisit my work

Tucked away on a narrow lane behind Chennai’s upscale Greenways Road, the Madras Talkies office exudes the same aesthetic and visual artistry as Mani Ratnam’s films. Journalists, TV crews and assistant directors crowd the front office, eager to catch a glimpse of the director a day before the release of Thug Life. The office, flooded with natural light, feels as vibrant as his work. Young staff, fashionably dressed and reminiscent of his movie characters, discuss their mentor, “Mani Sir”.

- BY LAKSHMI SUBRAMANIAN

On his 70th birthday, Ratnam is dressed in a minimalist white shirt and blue trousers, projecting an aura of energy and craft that define his career. Having first revolutionised Tamil cinema in 1986 with the romantic drama Mouna Raagam, he has over four decades explored a range of genres—crime, comedy, mythology, thriller and more. From Nayakan (1987) to Ponniyin Selvan (2022), Ratnam’s films have always succeeded in sparking conversations—especially for their blend of compelling narrative and sociopolitical commentary. Thug Life may not have garnered critical acclaim, but it remains a work to be revisited for its complex characters and themes.

As a filmmaker, Ratnam has always been ahead of his time, creating ‘pan-Indian’ films even before the term was coined. Yet, curiously, he chose not to learn Hindi.

In an interview with THE WEEK, Ratnam speaks about his creative journey, sharing sharp insights on how he keeps up with the changing times to stay relevant as a filmmaker.

Edited excerpts:

Q. The last film you did with Kamal Haasan before Thug Life was Nayakan, around 38 years ago. How has he changed?

A. He was an evolved artist even then—an award winner and one of the best talents. Give him any role and he inhabits it. To me, it did not feel like a long time, even though it was, because I had been in touch with him. I see all his films. Nayakan came in the early part of my career. He trusted us with the film and gave us the freedom to do it. After all these years, that trust and freedom continue.

Q. Would you compare Nayakan Kamal and Thug Life Kamal?

A. The characters are very different. In