The individual journeys

Mani Ratnam and Ilaiyaraaja, worked together on 10 films and established a legendary creative partnership that transcended region and language. Interestingly, both artistic stalwarts share a birthday — June 2.

Young Mani Ratnam, an MBA graduate with a regular job, had always been eager to join the film industry. He had first got a taste of filmmaking while working on the Kannada film, Bangarada Gani, which was later shelved. Eventually, he wrote a script entirely in English, which he decided to adapt into a Tamil film.

Ratnam’s script, initially rejected by 20 studios, was finally picked up by his uncle, Krishnamurthy, and T. Govindarajan of Venus Films. However, there was a caveat: the film would have to be made as a low-budget Kannada production.

Ilaiyaraaja, on the other hand, grew up in rural Tamil Nadu. His first contact with music came through Tamil folk traditions. At 14, he joined a travelling music troupe headed by his older brother. In 1968, he began formal musical training in Chennai under Professor Dhanraj, and slowly but surely, began to earn his name as a composer.

By the 1980s, Ilaiyaraaja was already an established composer, having begun his career in 1976. Before working with Ratnam, he had composed for several prominent Tamil films like 16 Vayathinile (1977), Nizhalgal (1980), and Moondram Pirai (1982).

Of shared birthdays and legacies

In his biography Conversations with Mani Ratnam, it’s revealed that Ratnam was introduced to Ilaiyaraaja by Balu Mahendra, who had collaborated with him on multiple films. Ratnam told Ilaiyaraaja that he was working on a very small film with a limited budget but hoped he would compose the music.

Mani Ratnam openly confessed that he wouldn’t be able to afford Ilaiyaraaja’s usual fee. Ilaiyaraaja graciously agreed to work at one-fifth of his market rate at the time.

Even though Pallavi Anu Pallavi, the duo’s debut project, was reportedly a moderate success, it marked the beginning of a decade-long collaboration that gave the world classics like Mandram Vandha, Vaa Vaa Anbe Anbe, and many more. The two consequently established a filmmaking language that would remain distinct and timeless.

Image Credits:

https://www.imdb.com

https://www.news18.com/movies/happy-birthday-mani-ratnam-ilaiyaraaja-10-films-they-worked-together-7973257.html

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