Filmmaker Mani Ratnam visits IIM-C

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MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
September 12, 2007
Away from the lights, camera and action, renowned filmmaker Mr Mani Ratnam,

 an MBA grad and ex-management consultant, shared his experiences with the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta (IIM-C) students on September 9. At the talk, organized by the Entrepreneurship Cell and Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Mani Ratnam spoke about the opportunities and challenges for management students aspiring to make the cut in the entertainment industry.

He stressed that how relatively easy it is for a fresh graduate to take risks like the one he did, drawing a parallel with other young entrepreneurs. Commenting on the value of an MBA in his career path, he said, “The safety net of a management degree gave me the opportunity to take the risk. It was a tool to be organized in a sector as disorganized as the film industry.”

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 changed in the Indian film industry,” said Mr Ratnam.

About his two years at B-school, he said, “These two years were the best two years of my life. I started off my career as a management consultant and the gradually move towards film direction.”

Opening the floor to questions, he enthusiastically answered several queries asked by eager fans among IIM-C students, faculty members and visitors from other colleges present in large numbers.

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.

There were several queries on how difficult it was for him, with no background in the industry, to join films and the role that a management graduate could play. To this he said that one needs conviction and proper understanding to enter any untested waters and films were no different. In fact, the film industry is always in need of people with good education and the ability to lend some order to the chaos.