Mani Ratnam likely to make Geethanjali 2
It has been over three decades since legendary filmmaker Mani Ratnam last directed a straight Telugu film. His only direct venture in the language, Geethanjali (1989) starring Nagarjuna, became a classic and is still remembered as one of the most poignant romantic dramas in Telugu cinema. At that time, Ratnam had already made his mark in Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada films, but Geethanjali marked a special chapter for both the director and Telugu audiences.
Despite repeated requests from fans over the years, Ratnam never returned to make another direct Telugu film. Instead, he focused almost entirely on Tamil cinema, occasionally making forays into Hindi. His films were often dubbed into Telugu, ensuring that his storytelling still reached audiences here, but the magic of a film made specifically for the Telugu industry was missing.
Over his four-decade career, Mani Ratnam has delivered numerous cinematic gems, along with a few commercial misfires. His recent magnum opus, Ponniyin Selvan, was a major success, but his latest outing, Thug Life, failed to impress, prompting the veteran director to issue a rare public apology, something he had never done before in his career.
Now, the Tamil media is buzzing with an exciting development. Reports suggest that Mani Ratnam is considering a direct Telugu project after more than thirty years. The film is said to be a pure love story featuring Naga Chaitanya in the lead.
If confirmed, this collaboration would be highly symbolic, after all, Mani Ratnam gave Naga Chaitanya’s father, Nagarjuna, one of his most memorable hits with Geethanjali. The prospect of the acclaimed filmmaker crafting a romantic drama for the next generation of the Akkineni family has already sparked immense curiosity among cinephiles.
While there is no official confirmation yet, the news alone has ignited hopes among Telugu audiences that Mani Ratnam might once again weave his magic on a story tailored exclusively for them.
