Nayakan, Thalapathi, Iruvar: Five unique films by Mani Ratnam you must watch before Thug Life

Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan’s upcoming movie Thug Life, which is all set to hit theatres on June 5, has been making headlines ever since it was announced. The movie’s cast, songs, and trailer are all igniting excitement about the much-awaited collaboration between Kamal and Mani Ratnam after 38 years since their hit movie Nayakan. Ahead of the much-anticipated release of the movie, it is important to explore the craftsmanship of Mani Ratnam and his versatile art of storytelling through cinema. Here are the best watches from Mani Ratnam’s filmography before watching Thug Life.

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Nayakan, released in 1987 by Mani Ratnam, featured Kamal Haasan and Saranya in the lead roles. Janagaraj, Karthika, Vijayan, M. V. Vasudeva Rao, Delhi Ganesh, Nizhalgal Ravi, Nassar, and Tara played key roles in the movie. The film explored the Bombay underworld and a pure love between Kamal and Saranya’s characters, which stands out as one of the most unique narrations of love even after many years. It won the National Film Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Haasan), Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction. It was India’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 60th Academy Awards.

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Thalapathi, starring Rajinikanth in the lead role, was released in 1991. The film stars Mammootty, Arvind Swamy, Jaishankar, Amrish Puri, Srividya, Bhanupriya, Shobana, and Geetha in key roles. Thalapathi unfolds the gripping tale of a brave young man from the slums who forms an unlikely bond with an influential gangster. Their powerful alliance draws the attention of a determined district collector, who is bent on dismantling their partnership. The storyline draws inspiration from the legendary bond between Karna and Duryodhana in the Mahabharata.

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Released in 1997, Iruvar, directed by Mani Ratnam, draws inspiration from the lives of prominent figures M. G. Ramachandran, M. Karunanidhi, and J. Jayalalithaa. The film explores the intricate interplay between the worlds of cinema and politics in the region. The movie features a stellar cast including Mohanlal, Prakash Raj, Aishwarya Rai, Revathi, Gautami, Tabu, and Nassar. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made her acting debut portraying two distinct roles. The film’s music was composed by A. R. Rahman.

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Mani Ratnam’s 2000 film Alai Payuthey is a romantic musical featuring R. Madhavan and Shalini in the lead roles. The story delves into the challenges faced by a young couple who run away to marry, highlighting the complexities of love and relationships in modern urban India, caught between traditional values and contemporary lifestyles.

The film’s memorable music was composed by A. R. Rahman. Alai Payuthey gained recognition at several national and international film festivals. It was also dubbed into Telugu as Sakhi and later inspired a Hindi remake titled Saathiya.

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Mani Ratnam’s 2007 film Guru features a star-studded cast including Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Mithun Chakraborty, R. Madhavan, and Vidya Balan. The movie’s music was crafted by acclaimed composer A. R. Rahman. Guru made its international debut at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival as part of the Tous Les Cinémas du Monde (World Cinema) showcase. The film was also dubbed into Tamil under the original title and released in Telugu as Gurukanth.

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