Cinema Should Touch Hearts, Not Just Earn Profits: Mani Ratnam

Prominent filmmaker Mani Ratnam made significant remarks on high-budget films during a recent promotional interview for the upcoming movie Thug Life, which stars Kamal Haasan in the lead role.

During the interview, a journalist questioned why, despite having many renowned figures in the Tamil film industry such as Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Mani Ratnam himself, South Indian cinema has not yet produced films with ₹1,000 crore box office collections. Responding to this, Mani Ratnam said, “Should we focus on making films that generate massive box office collections, or should we create films that genuinely touch the audience’s hearts? That is something worth thinking about.”

He observed that, in the past, films used to entertain audiences from beginning to end, but that is no longer the case. According to Mani Ratnam, only certain elements of films now appeal to viewers. He added that earlier, when a film was released, audiences would pay attention to its core content and how it was executed, but that focus has since diminished.

Expressing concern over the current scenario, Mani Ratnam remarked that films today are increasingly being viewed from a purely commercial perspective. “I sincerely hope that this shift does not eventually compromise the quality of cinema,” he said. He also made it clear that he has no interest in making films solely to chase box office figures. “I don’t like making films just for box office numbers,” Mani Ratnam stated.