Kamal Haasan’s Emotional Birthday Tribute to Mani Ratnam Wins the Internet

June 2, 2025: Veteran actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan paid a touching tribute to celebrated director Mani Ratnam on the occasion of his birthday, honoring their long-standing creative partnership that has shaped Indian cinema.

Taking to social media, Haasan penned a deeply personal note, recalling their artistic journey that began with the iconic 1987 film Nayakan and now continues with their much-anticipated 2025 collaboration Thug Life.

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“Happy Birthday, Mani Ratnam,” wrote Haasan. “From Nayakan to Thug Life, we’ve journeyed through time together — as colleagues, family, co-dreamers, and above all, as lifelong students of cinema.”

He continued by expressing admiration for Ratnam’s enduring brilliance, calling him a guiding force:
“Through every chapter, your presence has been a source of strength — a mind I turn to in moments of doubt, and a soul deeply attuned to the language of film like few others. May your stories keep unfolding, for with every frame, your vision brings depth, beauty, and meaning to cinema.”

The message concluded with a signature of heartfelt camaraderie:
“Forever your friend, Kamal Haasan.”

The duo’s cinematic legacy began with Nayakan, a Tamil crime drama that became a defining moment in Indian film history and was India’s official entry to the Oscars that year. Now, 37 years later, they reunite for Thug Life, a high-profile gangster drama starring Haasan alongside Silambarasan, slated for release on June 5, 2025.