Indian Cinema Can Benefit from Great Literary Works, Says Veteran Director Mani Ratnam
Veteran director Mani Ratnam, the filmmaker behind hit two-part film saga 'Ponniyin Selvan', emphasized that Indian film industries can greatly benefit if filmmakers translate great literary works for screen. Speaking at a session on the fourth day of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Ratnam highlighted the richness of Tamil literature and its potential to make filmmaking easier.
"Ideally, you'd like to write something that is far above what you do," Ratnam said, expressing his desire to create content that surpasses his current output as a director. "The closer the gap between literature and cinema, the better Indian cinema will be."
Ratnam, who was in conversation with filmmaker Gautham Vasudev Menon, mentioned that he is currently reading Salman Rushdie's novel 'Victory City', based on the early days of the Vijayanagar kingdom. The author's unique writing style, blending fiction, fact, and history, has left Ratnam "stunned" and feels like watching a film.
When asked if any literary character was close to his real self, Ratnam dismissed the idea, saying that no one could come close to capturing his complexity. However, he did mention drawing inspiration from mythology, both in his films 'Thalapathi' starring Rajinikanth and 'Ravanan' with Vikram.
"Mythology is relevant even today," Ratnam explained. "We can interpret it today, we can relate to it in today's day and time in our issues and problems that continues to fascinate me." This fascination led him to create films that not only captivate audiences but also explore the human condition.
Recalling his hostel days at Kala Kshetra, Ratnam shared an anecdote about failing to understand Kathakali performances, which often portrayed villains. However, as he saw these characters from a different perspective, it sparked valuable insights for his filmmaking journey.
The veteran director's emphasis on the potential benefits of translating great literary works highlights the importance of artistic exploration in Indian cinema. With Ratnam's expertise and love for mythology, there is promise that this trend will continue to shape the film industry in innovative ways.