The pattern is a subconscious activity that rules the action of human beings. When you know your pattern, you can control it. If not, it controls you. The Pattern can be both a boon and a bane for filmmakers. It helps to stand out from other human beings and at the same time, it can be dangerous if repeated again and again. I researched the filmmaking pattern of Director Mani Ratnam and his Story World. I could see a pattern in every genre and movie of him. As per my research, these are Director Mani Ratnam's Story Patterns;
Pattern No 1
1. Running away from home / Elope / Escape - Most of his films has scenes where Protagonist or Love Interest elopes or escapes from home. Revathi in Mouna Raghaam, Kamal's daughter in Nayagan, Nagarjuna in Idhayathai thirudathe, Manisha koirala in Bombay, Aishwarya Rai in Guru, etc. Characters hide their marriage/love from their parents. In Mouna Ragham, Revathi gets ready for a registered marriage without her father's consent. It happens in Nayagan, Alaipayuthe, Guru, Bombay, and Thiruda Thiruda.
2. Bulldozing of love / Forcing love or marriage -Most of his films have a Male lead stalking the love interest or pushing for love or marriage. In Nayagan, kamal ties the knot without asking love interest. Karthik in Mouna Ragham, Aravind Swamy in Bombay, Shah Rukh in Uyire, and Madhavan in Alaipayuthe stalk, are forced to get married. In Roja, Aravindswamy forcefully marries Madhubala.
3. Rift / Disagreements between Father and Son or Parents and Kids. In Bombay, Alaipayuthe, Guru, Agni Natchatram, Nayagan it continues.
Pattern No.2
The first half of Mani Ratnam's movies have exploring of the place / Character touring with another character. The second half of his movies has someone searching for somebody.
Mohan takes Revathi around Delhi. In Roja, Aravind Swamy to Kashmir, In Bombay, Aravindswamy takes Manisha to Bombay. In Uyire, Shah Rukh Khan in Kashmir. In Ok Kanmani its Gujrat.
Nayagan - Search of Velu Nayakar.
Mouna Ragham -Search for his wife on a train
Roja -Search of Husband by wife
Alaipayuthe - In search of the wife by the husband.
OK, Kanmani -In search of an Alzheimer patient.
Thiruda Thiruda -In search of Money container
Uyire - In search of Manisha Koirala
Bombay - In search of lost twin kids.
Raavanan - Husband searching for a wife.
and the list goes on.
Pattern No.3 - The train Connection
He uses a lot of Train Sequences that can rule his subconscious mind. Thalapathy, Thiruda Thiruda, Bombay, Uyire, and Ok Kanmani have an opening image to be a train. Mouna Ragham's climax is on a train. Guru, Iruvar, and Alaipayuthe have major train sequences. His writing involves trains as a major character. In Agni Natchatram you have the song at the railway station.
Pattern No.4 - Director Mani Ratnam movies VS First night failures.
Mouna Ragham - Devathi says that she gets to sleep on the first night. Mohan leaves her without disturbing her.
Nayagan - Saranya requested Kamal to leave soon such that she can study for the next day's exam. So he doesn't disturb her.
Thalapathy - Rajini gets married to Banu Priya and confesses on the first night about a killing. Hence nothing happens.
Roja - Madhubala sleeps even before Aravinswamy arrives in the room.
Bombay - House owner's guest kids sleep in between the newly married couple. Hence nothing happens on that day.
Alaipayuthe - Newly wedded couple lives separately in their house. Hence nothing happens on their first night.
Pattern No.5 - Did you notice that many of Mani Ratnam's films have three major types of songs?
1. Marriage / Engagement Song - Kannalane, Dum Dum Dum, Kedakari, Nenjinile, Sarattu Vandiyil
2. Seductive or First Night or Lust making Songs -Rukkumani Rukkumani, Arabic Kadaloram, Kadhal Sadugudu, Parandhu sella vaa
3. Love feeling songs - Nilave vaa, Kadhal Rojave, o priya priya, sundari kannal, yevano oruvan vasikiran.
Pattern No.6
Did you notice that most of Mani Ratnam's protagonists are from well economic/financial backgrounds? They have good-paying jobs that won't help them in solving their problem.
A Personal Manager in Mouna Ragham solves the company's problem but is unable to solve his problem.
A Crypto expert in Roja who will not share his whereabouts using a Crypto medium with his department.
A Journalist character in Bombay doesn't use journalism as a medium to educate people on communal violence.
An All India Radio Program Manager in Uyire will not use his medium to alert people on possible bomb blasts by the terrorist.
An Asst Commissioner in Agni Natchatram will not use his department to safeguard his father in the hospital.
A software engineer in Alaipayuthe, A game designer in Ok Kanmani are of no use to the story and plot.