List Of Maniratnam's Top Movies

Mani Ratnam is ace director of south and bollywood. He has made some of thought provoking movies and subjects which he has under took have been different from the league.

Here is list of some of finest works for mani ratnam .Some of the movies listed was made in tamil but later dubbed in hindi. The list does not include movies which were not dubbed in hindi or were not made in hindi. His work transcends language and can be considered to be classics of Indian cinema.

1) Anjali :

This was made in tamil and later dubbed in hindi. The story revolves around couple (Raghuvaran, Revathi) who settle in apartment with their two children. Life takes new turn when revathi comes to know about truth of her third child who is mentally retarded and alive. Truth which raghuvaran had hided with purpose of not causing pain to revathi. Doctors had told raghu that child won't survive for more than two months but it does see 2nd birthday. Revathi on learning of truth brings the child (anjali) to their home. What follows is reluctance of two children in accepting anjali , other children making fun of her before accepting her , neighbor's worry and acceptance and finally death of anjali. The movie was sweet story which moves one's emotion. It was well made film which went on to win national award in category of best regional film.

2) Roja :

This movie made maniratnam well known director all across India. The movie was made in tamil and later dubbed in many languages including hindi. The movie revolves around madhoo and arvind swamy. The newly married couple have to go to Kashmir as arvind swamy gets posting at an army communications center in Kashmir. There he is abducted by separatist group who are working for freeing Kashmir from India. Their demand is release of their leader.

Madhoo , a simple village girl tries everything to get her husband released. She moves from one office to another , gets hollow promises but no concrete results. Madhoo plays her part to perfection. One can sense her pains , her fears and her frustration. Arvind swamy too does a great job in the movie.

The scene where Indian flag is attempted to be burnt and how arvind throws himself on it and protects the flag makes every patriotic Indian , filled with emotions.The movie does not justify terrorism but shows human part of terrorist too as in climax arvind is released by the terrorist.

The movie won three national award including Best Film on National Integration award. The songs dil hai chota sa , roja janeman and bharat hum ko are timeless classics.

3) Bombay :

Another gem from mani ratnam , movie is based on Hindu-Muslim marriage , bombay riots and two lovers (manisha koirala and arvind swamy) .Arvind plays role of hindu man who studies journalism in bombay. His parents stay in rural village of tamilnadu. In one of his visits to his village , he comes across manish koirala . He fells in love with her. Slowly his love gets reciprocated and both decide to get married. Hindu man and Muslim girl marriage shocks both families who oppose their decision. Both settle in mumbai where they get married. Manisha gives birth to twins whom they raised with both Hindu and Muslim faiths.Babri occurs and relationship between Hindu and Muslim get deteriorated.

Riots occur and movies shows the fear , the anger , the hatred and deaths of human life from both communities.Manisha and arvind meanwhile are worried about their children who have been raised with both faiths. They remain under constant threat.Slowly dust settles down and the  Movie ends with positive note depicting birth of another life.

This movie too won national award for national integration.

4) Dil Se :

It was wonderful movie starring shahrukh khan , manisha koirala and preity zinta. Movie , though could not be as successful as  his previous works as far as business is concerned.

Movies revolves around complex relationship between shahrukh khan and manisha koirala. Shahrukh khan works in all India radio .India is celebrating 50th anniversary of Independence  and srk is sent to Assam to interview people specially separatist to understand their beliefs. There he spots manisha koirala on his way back to delhi. He bumps into manisha , time and again .

He falls in love for her but manisha remains mysterious to him. She lies to him that she is married but when a security officer inquires she tells that she is with srk during ladakh visits. Her attitude makes srk chase her to find more about her.

After disappearing for few months manisha reappears again asking srk to give her room on rent. She is accompanied by another woman. Srk agrees and manages to get her job in all India radio too. Finally srk comes to know that manisha is terrorist who is on operation of suicide bombing during republic day celebration. He confronts her and tries to stop her. Manisha too has fallen in love for shahrukh but her operation does not allow her to display her emotions. Manisha is wearing a bomb jacket while shahrukh khan confronts her. After much emotional struggle , manisha embraces shahrukh khan and detonates bomb which
kills both.

5) Yuva :
Yuva is story of three young men of India who are different in their aspirations , upbringing , environment . Abhishek plays goon , ajay plays student leader who wants to bring changes in system by becoming politician while vivek plays happy go lucky youth who eyes USA as future prospect. The paths of these three young men cross each others', resulting in major changes in their lives.

This movie played important part in abhishek bachchan's life. It revived his sinking career and he won best actor in supporting role for yuva.

6) Guru :

If yuva revived abhishek's career , guru made him in leagues of top actors of India. Movie is speculated to be based on life of dhiru bhai ambani who if would have been alive today , he would have been richest man of the world . Mukesh ambani is fourth richest and combined wealth of both brothers would be richest in the world.

Abhishek bachchan stars as guru kant desai in the movie. An ordinary man with dreams and king size ambition. The movie is about guru who dreams big and uses every method possible to achieve his goals. He uses flaws in system , used media to his advantage , uses bribes as modus of operation but ultimately becomes biggest firm in India.

Undoubtedly this is best work of abhishek bachchan till date. He pours life in the character and plays his part to perfection.

P.S. Maniratnam's upcoming movie ravana is one of most awaited movies of 2010. Movie stars abhishek bachchan , aishwary rai and Vikram. This movie is being made simultaneously in hindi and tamil. Vikram plays positive character in hindi version while negative character in tamil version , though lines between positive and negative seems to blur in the movie.