--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Language, I think, has nothing to do with…" description: "\"Language, I think, has nothing to do with film-making. It is how you make your point and whether you exploit the visual medium maintaining a certain st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/mani-ratnam-6434_cinema_language-i-think-has-nothing-to-do-with_376104.jpg" --- # Language, I think, has nothing to do with film-making. It… ![“Language, I think, has nothing to do with film-making. It is how you make your point and whether you exploit the visual medium maintaining a certain standard that does the trick.” quote by Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/mani-ratnam-6434_cinema_language-i-think-has-nothing-to-do-with_376104.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/mani-ratnam-6434_cinema_language-i-think-has-nothing-to-do-with_376104.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/mani-ratnam-6434_cinema_language-i-think-has-nothing-to-do-with_376104.jpg) > “Language, I think, has nothing to do with film-making. It is how you make your point and whether you exploit the visual medium maintaining a certain standard that does the trick.” [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective communication in film relies on clear intent and visual standards rather than language alone; meaning is conveyed through images and technique. **In simple terms:** Film meaning comes from visual clarity, not just words. Key Takeaway Focus on visual storytelling and maintain high standards. Themes filmmaking communication visual storytelling standards intent Mood inspirational practical analytical Type instructional creative When to use this quote - directing - screenwriting - editing - production design - film criticism Key Concepts cinema studies semiotics artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - Can visuals alone convey complex ideas? - How do you ensure visual standards don’t stifle creativity? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on visuals may neglect narrative depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-making/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Language Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-think-749530/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Think Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-film/) [Visual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visual/) [Visual Medium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visual-medium-836005/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [I am primarily a writer of books, and I enjoy that. 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You need to hold the attention span of the audience without goofing up and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poonam-dhillon/theatre-is-a-more-difficult-visual-medium-than-films-you-need-to-hold/) [Poonam Dhillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poonam-dhillon/) > [At any filmmaking class, you learn the power of the visual medium and are always trying to minimise the words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/at-any-filmmaking-class-you-learn-the-power-of-the-visual-medium-and/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) > [Film is a temporal medium as much as it is a visual medium: you're playing with time, and you don't have that ability where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-watts/film-is-a-temporal-medium-as-much-as-it-is-a-visual-medium-you-re/) [Jon Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-watts/) > [What's great is that each medium has a unique set of things that it does and does well. Film is a visual medium, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/what-s-great-is-that-each-medium-has-a-unique-set-of-things-that-it/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) ## More by Mani Ratnam > [I don't believe in giving advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/i-don-t-believe-in-giving-advice/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [I like songs. It's a weakness that I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/i-like-songs-it-s-a-weakness-that-i-have/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [As a filmmaker, every tool you get to tell the scene better is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/as-a-filmmaker-every-tool-you-get-to-tell-the-scene-better-is/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [When Kamal Haasan did 'Nayakan,' he had done a few roles that had him aged and demanded a lot of commitment from. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/when-kamal-haasan-did-nayakan-he-had-done-a-few-roles-that-had-him/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [I want to make a film that can reach as many as possible so I want to talk in a language which I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/i-want-to-make-a-film-that-can-reach-as-many-as-possible-so-i-want-to/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [Format is just the language. Content is the only thing that is important. Form is like handwriting. Whether you write in a scribble or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/format-is-just-the-language-content-is-the-only-thing-that-is/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [What I feel is great acting might be rubbish for another filmmaker. There is no right or wrong way to do it. It all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/what-i-feel-is-great-acting-might-be-rubbish-for-another-filmmaker/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [Writing is nagging, fascinating, troublesome and exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/writing-is-nagging-fascinating-troublesome-and-exciting/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [Film fests are an opportunity to see different kinds of films that you usually don't get to watch. When I'm part of a jury,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/film-fests-are-an-opportunity-to-see-different-kinds-of-films-that/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [I grew up on the commercial film format. I have grown up all my life watching films and they have all been mainstream commercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/i-grew-up-on-the-commercial-film-format-i-have-grown-up-all-my-life/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [For a filmmaker, whether the film is liked, understood or appreciated counts as much as the moolah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/for-a-filmmaker-whether-the-film-is-liked-understood-or-appreciated/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [The thing is that when you make a film, it is such an intense experience. It's like being married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/the-thing-is-that-when-you-make-a-film-it-is-such-an-intense/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [Indian cinema will continue to grow, I am very sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/indian-cinema-will-continue-to-grow-i-am-very-sure/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [My job as a director is to communicate, and I want to communicate to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/my-job-as-a-director-is-to-communicate-and-i-want-to-communicate-to/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [I did my first film in Kannada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/i-did-my-first-film-in-kannada/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) [Explore all 99 Mani Ratnam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. 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Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. 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