Stating that director Mani Ratnam`s presence had been a source of strength to him, actor, producer and politician Kamal Haasan on Monday wished his `Thug Life` director a very happy birthday. The duo have collaborated for a film after over three decades and it will be releasing on June 5. 
Kamal Haasan`s birthday wish for Mani Ratnam
Taking to his X timeline to pen a heartfelt birthday greeting, Kamal Haasan wrote, “Happy Birthday, Mani Ratnam. From Nayakan to Thug Life, we’ve journeyed through time together — as colleagues, family, co-dreamers, and above all, as lifelong students of cinema. Through every chapter, your presence has been a source of strength — a mind I turn to in moments of doubt, and a soul deeply attuned to the language of film like few others.”
The actor further wrote, “May your stories keep unfolding, for with every frame, your vision brings depth, beauty, and meaning to cinema. Forever your friend, Kamal Haasan.”

Happy Birthday, Mani Ratnam.From Nayakan to Thug Life, we’ve journeyed through time together — as colleagues, family, co-dreamers, and above all, as lifelong students of cinema. Through every chapter, your presence has been a source of strength — a mind I turn to in moments of… pic.twitter.com/PVb9ejWdwL
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) June 2, 2025

Interestingly, Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan have come together for their upcoming film `Thug Life` after almost 38 years. The film, which has triggered huge expectations among fans and film buffs, is scheduled to hit screens on June 5. Apart from Kamal Haasan, the film features Silambarasan, Trisha, Joju George, Ashok Selvan and Abhirami in pivotal roles.
Kamal Haasan plays a character called Rangaraya Sakthivel Naickan in this film, which director Mani Ratnam`s production house Madras Talkies had described as “an epic tale of power, rebellion, and triumph.”
The film has music by A R Rahman and cinematography by Ravi K Chandran. It has editing by Mani Ratnam`s trusted editor Sreekar Prasad and stunts by the stuntmasters, Anbariv.
Kamal Haasan on reuniting with Mani Ratnam 
In 1987, the two gave Indian cinema the much-loved Nayakan. Thirty-eight years later, as the actor reunites with one of his favourite filmmakers for the gangster action drama, he reveals that an encore was always on their mind. “Sometimes, we were thinking too big, and at other times, we would think something small and then [shoot it down] believing that these are the days of big films. Sometimes, I’d come up with an idea, and Mani would already be working on something else, and vice versa. But we were gently, subconsciously, and from a distance, inspiring each other,” the actor said in an interview with Mid-day.
That decades-long inspiration has resulted in Thug Life. How was it working together considering they both have come a long way from Nayakan? Haasan is an even bigger star today, and Ratnam, one of the greatest filmmakers in the country. Did the actor try to impress his director this time? “I can’t impress the director; the character can. He booked Kamal Haasan not because of the stardom. Left to us, I think we are both overpaid. But then if we let that go, they [the industry] won’t respect us. So, we will take our cut.”