Internationally renowned directors Mani Ratnam and Luca Guadagnino will be honoured with the Excellence in Cinema Award in Mumbai on Friday, October 27. The award honours individuals who have made outstanding, long-lasting contributions to the world of film and cinema. Previous recipients include Darren Aronofsky, Sharmila Tagore, Fernando Meirelles, and Chen Kaige.
With a career spanning four decades, Mani Ratnam is one of the most celebrated, well-known, and respected directors from South Asia. Over the decades, his cinema has explored different themes, from the classic love story to political drama to human drama. Mani Ratnam’s films have layered characters and complex themes that are deeply rooted in a cultural and social context. His most notable movies include Mouna Ragam (1986), Nayakan (1987), Roja (1992), Bombay (1995), Iruvar (1997), Alaipayuthey (2000), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), Guru (2007), and Ponniyin Selvan (1 & 2). Mani Ratnam is one of the greats, and his cinema continues to be relevant and a conversation starter.