Filmfare's Editor-in-Chief, Jitesh Pillai, reflects on the quiet brilliance of Mani Ratnam, an elusive auteur whose cinema speaks louder than his words. From Roja to Alaipayuthey, his films capture fleeting moments of love, conflict and longing, crafted with soul, music and unmatched finesse. A storyteller who turns imperfection into poetry, Mani Ratnam remains a master we keep returning to. In Jitesh Pillai's words... Flashback to one of those rare encounters with Mani Ratnam. The reticent filmmaker keeps slipping from my radar.