Is Mani Ratnam a slave to his own mind?

For an overzealous Maniratam fan such as yours truly, news of Kaatru Veliyidai, releasing was nothing less of an I -would- do- cartwheels- in- the- air- if- I- could moment. Grinning like a kid that has spotted surprise candy I happily eyed the movie’s poster with the doves and the aircraft and the happy couple and all that, but put no more thought into it.

Coincidentally, the very same day, I came across this video that my friend had shared.

“Is Maniratnam as a slave to his own mind?” the caption read and it was enough to get me all riled up. Just as the keyboard warrior in me was rolling up her sleeves to demolish the man behind the video, it struck me that this wasn’t the first time that I was coming across an anti- Mani Ratnam rant. So I reluctantly decided to waste five minutes of my not so eventful life watching it.

But.

I have to grudgingly admit that the video did have certain amounts of truths in it.

As it turned out, the video talked about how Kaatru Veliyidai’s poster looks like a silent promise of an another Roja. Even as I was processing those words, the fan in me put up the fight- So what if it’s another Roja if it’s as good as Roja?

But the video very logically went on to explain how most of his films are based on just a handful of subjects.

Political drama intertwined with relationships- Bombay, Roja, Dil Se, Kannathil Mutthamittal

Modern Day Relationships- Alaipayuthe, OK Kanmani, Dumm Dumm

Terminal illnesses and relationships- Anjali, Geethanjali

Power and relationships- Iruvar, Nayagan

This is something I couldn’t deny, even as a fan girl.

As far as that goes, cool video.

We all know that Mani Ratnam has still got untouched potential and what this video is trying to say is that it would be a colossal loss if he chooses to stick to his forte, when he can give us so much more than that!

But in a way, Mani Ratnam’s choice of subjects is pretty much like all of us choosing our majors at college. He his subjects may be just a handful but they are one’s that will never fade, that are worth revisiting over and over again. There isn’t even the question of repetition because he may depict the same subjects over and over but each time it’s in a different way.

And he did leave his castle once a while with movies like Raavanan and Kadal, which didn’t go that well but the idea of recreating epics in his own way itself deserves applaud.

The blatant truth is, Maniratnam’s films are visually and morally gratifying, to a point that you can’t ever be bored of them. That’s because they comment on things in a way that no one else does.

Take OK Kanmani for example, it was more of an elegant commentary on what love means to this generation, a lesson on love, more than attempt to please the gen next audience!

So yes, the Mani Ratnam is a slave to his own mind.

But there’s Hitchcock with his thrillers and Spielberg with his period films! And is it so wrong to do what you are best at when people like it?

It isn’t.

Better to be master of one trade than Jack of all don’t you think?