Born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Mani Ratnam began his journey in cinema as an assistant director. He worked with several prominent directors before making his debut with the Tamil film "Pallu" in 1987. However, it was his second film "Nayagan" (1987) that brought him critical acclaim and recognition. The film, which tells the story of a young man's rise in the underworld, was a massive success and marked the beginning of Ratnam's association with themes of social inequality and rebellion.