'Filmmakers grab too much from real life'

Mani Ratnam feels filmmakers at times take too much from the real life and says his upcoming release Kaatru Veliyidai is also inspired from people he has came across. "Most of it is based on people you know or meet. So, there are some tacit real-life inspirations if not apparent.

Sometimes, I think filmmakers grab too much from real life. You pick from various sources invariably," he said.

While Ratnam's previous outing OK Kanmani was a contemporary romance-drama centered on live-in relationships, Kaatru Veliyidai is a period film in the backdrop of the Indian Air Force.

"I always look for genuineness. If I feel I can connect with the audience, I will try to develop it. For example, the genesis of 'Kannathil Muthamittal' was an article published in the a magazine." Asked about the recurring shots of sun and rain in his films, Ratnam says they are great tools for filmmakers to tell the story and provide certain visual power to the script. Ratnam has been long-known for writing strong women characters in his films, but he doesn't believe in the concept of 'women-centric' movies.