Chennai, June 2 -- Veteran actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan marked director Mani Ratnam's birthday with an emotional message that celebrated their decades-long cinematic partnership.

The note, shared publicly, struck a deeply personal tone, reflecting on their journey from the iconic Nayakan to their much-anticipated upcoming film Thug Life.

"Happy Birthday, Mani Ratnam," Haasan wrote, adding, "From Nayakan to Thug Life, we've journeyed through time together -- as colleagues, family, co-dreamers, and above all, as lifelong students of cinema," he wrote on X.

He went on to praise Ratnam not only for his creative brilliance but for being a guiding presence throughout the years.

"Through every chapter, your presence has been a source of ...