Rendezvouz with Mani Ratnam @ PIFF

Yes, It is .....Day one(16th March) of the 5th Pune International Film Festival(PIFF), Seen three movies already for the Day- "Falling Sky"-A Norwegian Movie, "The Axe"-French Movie and "Double Life of Veronica" from Poland....about to catch the Fourth Movie- Tamil Movie-"Kannathil Muthamittal"-(meaning a Peck on the Cheek), and Lo behold you have Director of the Movie Mr. Mani Ratnam himself at Inox.

He addressed the audience before the movie on the theme- a movie set with the LTTE Civil War in Sri-Lanka as Background. He also promised to stay back to take queries from the audience once they finish watching the movie. The audience was a good mix of Indian as well as International movie buffs!

"Kannathil Muthamittal"- revolves around the story of a young child who is abandoned by her mother (played by Nandita Das)from Sri-Lanka in a Refugee camp in Rameshwaram. The child is brought up in Chennai by a Tamil writer and his wife(played by Madhavan and Simran), when at the age of nine they decide to tell the child that she is adopted. Hell breaks loose after this, since the daughter is adamant to meet birth mother and so begins the search which takes the plot to Sri-Lanka amidst the Civil war.

A Tale well told, woven well with emotions and songs which has also made the movie commercially attractive. The emotions of a 9 year old have been captured well and so is Simran's love for her adopted daughter. Nandita Das plays the role of the birth mother and comes across strongly during the climax. The movie ended to thunderous applause from the audience who were captivated by Director Mani Ratam's movie mastery.

The movie was followed by an interaction with Mr. Ratnam as per his word. Our gang too luckily got hold of seats amindst the people present there and I did ask him a question on his favourite movie which he has enjoyed making till date. His answer:- Movie making is a struggle and hence is a pain, ya but he has struggled(read enjoyed) most with Anjali and Thiruda-Thiruda.

The inspiration for the particular movie which we saw, was from multiple sources ranging from a Time Magazine story of a child searching her mother after a war to instances like the Sri-Lankan problem. He explained how he could show the emotions between the adopted daughter and her mother through the title song,thereby dispelling any apprehensions if he had included songs in the movie under any commerical pressure. He remarked that songs in his movies was by chocie.

On a lighter note to a question on whether he holding an MBA degree has helped in movie making ,he remarked that having an MBA degree had empowered him to take questions from the audience efficiently and that if ever he is thrown off films, he can go ask for a job based on his degree.

He was mobbed by the small crowd at Inox for autographs and we just could manage a snap with him just before he left. A memorable first day @ The PIFF

Meanwhile-I could see many juniors in campus struggling with their hectic schedule and wondering when wil they have the time we seniors are having right now!....Well I too went through that and my only word is patience.