As we all know, Mani Ratnam is a living legend in Indian cinema—a magical director who has created classics ranging from Nayakan and Kannathil Muthamittal to Ponniyin Selvan. His next venture, Thug Life, featuring Kamal Haasan in the lead role, is set to hit theatres next month.

In the spotlight is the ace director's recent conversation with Cinema Vikatan, where, when asked about the future of Tamil cinema, he said it's safe—especially considering a few recent developments.

When the interviewer asked, "Who are your favorite young directors?" Mani Ratnam replied, “There are quite a lot of them. To name a few, I feel Vetrimaaran is an absolute force, so is Mari Selvaraj. The guy who directed the recent movie Koozhangal—Vinoth—I like his work as well. There are a lot of fantastic movies being made in the industry, and that itself is good news.”

Speaking further, he said, “There is a wave of change, social awareness—a lot of voices can be heard, and Tamil cinema seems to be heading in the right direction,” quipped Mani Ratnam.

In a decorated career as a filmmaker spanning decades, Mani Ratnam has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Indian cinema, including Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Mohanlal, Mammootty, Shobana, Rajinikanth, and Kamal Haasan. His passion remains intact as he continues his terrific run behind the camera.