Mani Ratnam Calls Karthik Subbaraj a 'Very Special Talent' After Watching 'Dorothy'

Veteran filmmaker Mani Ratnam has publicly praised Karthik Subbaraj's latest film, 'Dorothy', describing the director as a standout among the country's emerging filmmakers. In a video message shared by Dhammam Films, Ratnam said Subbaraj was a "very, very special talent" and that he leads a pack of promising young directors.

Ratnam said 'Dorothy' was a special film with a strong visual language, adding that he was impressed by its shot-taking and technique. He also singled out the music of Ilaiyaraaja, calling the veteran composer's work "really something very, very special", and wished Subbaraj well.

Starring Keerthy Suresh, Sananth and Rishikanth, 'Dorothy' is set against a backdrop of caste, violence and prejudice. Subbaraj, its writer-director, has said the story unfolds in rural India in the early 1990s, where friendship, compassion and hope are tested by those realities. He added that while the film is rooted in a particular place and time, its emotional core is universal.

The film features an original score by Ilaiyaraaja, marking the composer's 1,540th film. It recently had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in the Centrepiece category, ahead of its worldwide theatrical release.

'Dorothy' is produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain in association with Dhammam Films, and is backed by Jio Studios and Sikhya Entertainment.