Apr 27, 2010

Mani Ratnam

I like Mani Ratnam's movies a lot just like many others. Some of his earlier works are real masterpieces, with each subsequent movie of his exploring different genres with no similarity in the stories that would have made any Director predictable ala Shankar.

But what I don't understand and what makes me recoil with confusion bordering on hate is his obsession to simultaneously direct a version in Hindi. Why does he want to do that? Imagine filming two movies at the same time. Irrespective of both having the same storyline you still have to manage different cast, schedules, slightly modified screenplay to suit different audiences, etc. Why this masochism? What does he get out of it? Is the recognition and pleasure of seeing the movie run successfully in Tamil too small to satisfy his über sized ego? He wants his 'art pieces' to be applauded by all of India? Is the desire for wider recognition driving him to do this crazy stuff? Wasn't he recognized as a great director till Iruvar? Then why does he have to bend backwards to cater to a bigger audience? I myself can think of 10 answers to this but still none of them make sense.

4 comments:

sanpras,  April 28, 2010 at 11:22:00 AM EDT  

Well it's business, money, in simple terms. When you make and market a Hindi film, you have wider audience, wider reach, hence bigger business, bigger distribution area rights, bigger numbers, which probably covers and caters for his film's costs, that almost always run under his home banner, and that too for over very long periods. Production costs, start casts, best music Director, and other jing bangs need to be taken care of.
For a man who speaks less than a dozen words in public in a year, you can never second guess his masochism, uber sized ego.

Let the whole country enjoy his "art" ....and it fills his coffers too.

my two pence worth..

cheers
S

Ramyah May 6, 2010 at 8:14:00 AM EDT  

Hi happened to chance upon your blog. Good one. Personally, as a Maniratnam fan, i would say probably he is trying to satisfy his passion and wants to showcase his talents to the whole world. Global recognition comes easily with a Bollywood foray and may be he is aiming that.

Mambalam Mani May 6, 2010 at 8:51:00 AM EDT  

Sanpras & Ramyah: Thanks for the comment. If he makes a movie like Dil Se which was only made in Hindi it makes sense to say he is directing a wider national audience etc. But when he makes the same movie in two languages simultaneously it doesn't make sense. What I am trying to say is, there can be only one magnum opus. There cannot be two magnum opuses at the same time, especially when they are both the same. Its like saying to the Tamil audience "Don't worry you hindi-challenged fools, I will give you a piece of my art in your language so that you can revel in its glory as well while I get my fame and recognition from the rest of the national audience". Just my way of interpreting it, thats all.

,, June 12, 2010 at 12:03:00 AM EDT  

Sir, ambition is good sir.

Why do you, autokaran, take the longer safaris over the shorter ones? ambition sir.

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