Angelina Jolie's A Mighty Heart - a Remake of Mani's ROJA?

A Mighty Heart , a Hollywood movie recently had its red carpet premiere in Cannes. The movie’s main protagonist is Angelina Jolie, and is ably supported by the Hindi actor Irfan Khan(who appeared in this years blockbuster Namesake). The movie is based on the kidnap and eventual murder of Wall Street journalist Daniel Pearl by terrorists in Pakistan.

The brutal murder and the posting of the gruesome clip on the internet as proof of Pearl’s death had shaken the civilized population around the world. That is why the subject is as disturbing today as it was in 2002.

But the movie is not focused on Daniel Pearl, it is following Daniel’s wife played by Angelina Jolie. Jolie’s character tries desperately to rescue her husband from the terrorists. A woman trying desperately to save her hostage husband from a terrorist group doesn’t it sound familiar? Yes it has a striking resemblance to Mani Ratnam’s Roja. And Irfan Khan who plays a strict police officer helping Angelina Jolie seems to have more than just a resemblance to Nasser’s character. Mani Ratnam will be the only right person to give a final word on this.

However the authenticity of the tragedy that the movie is based on has not been lost at any point. The movie opened in the US this weekend, and has received some very positive reviews from various quarters and even though the Academy awards are a good eight months away there is already a buzz around A Mighty Heart being destined for mighty things. The movie has been co-produced by Brad Pitt.

Mani's Cinematographer - ManiKandan

Manikandan :

Manikandan shot the mammoth song sequence Yakkai Thiri ... for Ayudha Ezhuthu and also some of the Ajay Devgan scenes for Yuva. Describing the experience of working with Mani Ratnam as "ultimate" the cameraman says, "Mani would be on the sets at 5 in the morning,
and would work through the day.

We would have a 30-minute break for breakfast and lunch and that's it. None would leave the sets and neither would he. The shooting was down South in Pollachi and Theni. Ajay Devgan would tell us that he had never seen sunrise till he began shooting for Yuva.

But that's how Mani Ratnam worked."

Mani's Cinematographer - Ravi K . Chandran

The latest tie-up of Mani Ratnam was with the ace cinematographer Ravi. K. Chandran. They both in cooperation worked for two movies, one was Kannathil Muthamittal and the other was Ayudha Ezhuthu (Yuva in Hindi).

For the movie Kannathil Muthamital, Ravi bagged the national award. Ravi tried something different in Ayudha Eluthu. The whole movie was picturised in three different colors narrating the character of the heroes. A perfect match for the movie! “Mani Sir is the fastest among the directors, I have worked with”, Ravi said in an interview. He also added that “The good thing about Mani Ratnam is that he gives you the full concentration and energy required to shoot.” "This was very important as we wanted to shoot both versions of the film simultaneously".

Source: Behindwoods

Mani's Cinematographer - Madhu Ambat

Those who have seen Maniratnam's 'Anjali' will never forget the visual effect of the scene in which the 'mentally retarded' young girl is introduced. The dim light in the scene puts the viewer in the child's world, and it sets the mood for the film.

Take Bharathan's 'Vaisali' or 'Amaram' or Lenin Rajendran's 'Swathi Thiranal' or 'Kulam' or 'Daivathinte Vikruthikal': All these films give us the impression that more is conveyed through visuals than through dialogues and that is the success of a cinematographer like Madhu Ambat.

Madhu, noted for presenting various moods, has worked with most of the major directors, including M Night Shyamalan. His handling of the camera for Shyamalan's 'Praying with Anger' and 'Wide Awake' has won him international acclaim. It was Hollywood politics which kept Madhu from 'Sixth Sense', against the director's wish.

Provoked (April 6, 2007)

June R (2005)

Shart - The Challenge (August 13, 2004)

Chupke Se (September 12, 2003)

Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa (June 28, 2002)

Lajja (August 31, 2001) (Released)

Badri (April 20, 2000)

Khoobsurat (November 26, 1999)

Nammavar (1995)

Anjali (December 3, 1990)

Disha (1991)

Source: http://www.madhuambat.com/profes.htm / Chennai Online

Mani's Cinematographer - Rajiv Menon

Rajiv Menon

Rajiv Menon a multi-faceted personality, a director as well as a cinematographer by profession. They both joined together for the movie Bombay and the latest hits GURU.

Frames in movie Bombay were perfectly composed and beautifully backlit even if this style involves total violation of tonal, focal and color continuity. The usual darkness that permeates the Mani screen is mostly not evidenced in this movie, partly because of the need for realism in much of the film.

Rajiv’s feeling about Mani Ratnam is “I enjoyed working with him in Bombay. Mani Ratnam is a perfectionist. He will not stop until he is satisfied with his work. He is one of the very few directors in India who never compromises on details".

"Mani, unlike what people think, never interferes with other people's work, he never asks you to shift things or gives suggestions. But he demands perfection and excellence. You have to give to him the best and he keeps pushing you to give the best. And I was pushed very, very hard to deliver the best, which I think was appreciated by everyone in the end. "

Rajiv have directed two movies, Minsara Kanavu (Sapnay - in hindi) & Kandukondain - kandukondain

Source: BehindWoods & Agencyfags

Mani's Cinematographer - Santhosh Sivan

Santhosh Sivan

Santhosh Sivan, one of the renowned cinematographers in India, has 9 national awards under his name. He has joined hands with Mani Ratnam in movie like Dalapathi, Roja, Iruvar and Dil Se (Uyire in Tamil) also Indira for Mani's wife Suhasini.

The movie Dil Se was a great example for wonderful work of camera. Especially, in Dil Se Re song the camera work was extremely superb. Also, in movie Roja the terror in Jammu & Kashmir was picturised fantastically. The real situation prevailing there was brought before your eyes. No one could forget those wonderful

Santhosh is the one who intorduce Madhavan to Mani Ratnam when Mani looking for actor for his Iruvar but it doesn't works because he is too young and later went to our Prakash Raj. Mani keeps his promise to Maddy where later he introduce him as a hero in Alaipayuteh.

Mani's Cinematographer - P.C. Sreeram

P.C.Sreeram

P.C.Sreeram is a long time friend of Mani Ratnam. The movies for this flourishing duo include Mouna Ragam, Nayagan, Agni Nakshatiram, Geetanjali (Telugu), Thiruda Thiruda and Alai payudhey.

Madhavan after receiving the filmfare award for debut actor thanked Mani as wel
as Sreeram, for showing him beautifully in the screen. So, whatever may be the situation P.C.Sreeram comes up in his own style and endorses the beauty to the film. Both of them have a great mutual understanding. P C Sreeram's work was much-admired in Mani Ratnam's films, as he always had the freedom to experiment

In fact, PC was supposed to do Guru too, but his dates had been blocked for Cheeni Kum.

"It is always a pleasure to work with Mani Ratnam even though we had lots of arguments. All those arguments are, eventually, for the good of the film."

"The vibes between us are good and a kind of electricity happens when we work together.

But I can tell you one thing about his next Hindi film - its script is terrific."