Acclaimed Film-maker Mani Ratnam Enthralls Students at IIM Calcutta

Acclaimed Film-maker Mani Ratnam Enthralls Students at IIM Calcutta
Post-event Press-release

It was raining Mani in the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta campus Sunday afternoon. The renowned film-maker Mr. Mani Ratnam was on campus on an invitation from the Entrepreneurship Cell of IIM Calcutta. The MBA grad and ex-management consultant was here to speak about his experience across his interesting career path.

The function began with Mr. Ratnam being welcomed by thunderous desk thumping and cheering in the jam-packed lecture hall as he was received by members of the cell. In his characteristic soft-spoken style, Mr. Ratnam apologized for boring students on a weekend afternoon. He reminded the organizers of his condition that he would not lecture the audience and would prefer an interactive session.

He spoke briefly about his two years at a B-school, which he called the best two years of his life, starting off on a career as a management consultant and the gradual move towards film-direction. He narrated, as only a master film-maker can, his disillusionment with a formal job, the decision to give himself a six-month period to do something in films or move out, and his first break in Kannada movies, a language he knew nothing about. He stressed on how relatively easier it is for a fresh graduate to take risks like the one he did, drawing a parallel with other young entrepreneurs.

On being asked if a management degree had been any use in his illustrious career, he chuckled and replied that it had - it had rendered him thoroughly unprepared for the big bad world outside. On a serious note, he mentioned that an MBA had provided him with a safety net, as well as a tool to be organized in a sector as disorganized as the film industry.

Continuing on this topic, he talked about how the industry has changed unimaginably in the 20 years he has been around. Changes in technology, audience tastes, markets, financing - everything has completely altered the Indian film industry.

Opening the floor open to questions, he enthusiastically answered several queries asked by eager fans among the IIMC students, faculty members and visitors from other colleges present in large numbers. The initial apparent inhibitions in front of the huge audience gradually disappeared as Mr. Ratnam warmed up to the discussion on films - quite visibly the love of his life.

Answering a question on whether he consciously tried to achieve a blend between a social message and commercial elements, he said that he only made movies about issues that bothered him, in a manner that his audience could identify with. He termed it 'reacting in public places' not very different from how everyone else reacts in private. He also stressed that he takes care not to make a message so pure that it does not reach the public it is meant for.

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Contributed by -
Vijay Anand Menon,
External Relations Secretary,
IIM Calcutta.

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