Gopala Ratnam Subramaniam (born 2 June 1955), commonly known by his screen name
Mani Ratnam, is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who predominantly works in
Tamil cinema. Cited by the media as one of India's most acclaimed and influential filmmakers, Mani Ratnam is widely credited with revolutionising the Tamil film industry and altering the profile of
Indian cinema. Although working in the mainstream medium, his films are noted for their
realism, technical finesse, and craft. The
Government of India honoured him with the
Padma Shri, acknowledging his contributions to film in 2002.