Manju Ramanan, born 2 January 1974 is an Indian Editor and cross content specialist based in Dubai. An eminent journalist from the Middle East, Manju Ramanan was born in Thiruvananthapuram and raised in Vadodara, Gujarat where she spent most of her youth. She completed her MPhil in English Literature from the Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda and worked with the Bhasha Research and Publication Centre spearheaded by her guru Shri Ganesh Devy.
After a stint as a teaching assistant, she started her career in journalism with Baroda Times, the city supplement of The Times of India newspaper. She explored several stories about the history and culture of Baroda city and was instrumental in saving a Jewish graveyard from destruction and bringing to light several un-heard of stories of the city. She then moved to Ahmedabad with Femina magazine, where she was the Gujarat correspondent for the same. That stretch gave her several opportunities to bring to light, stories of women across India – some of whom included PT Usha, Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, Homai Vyarawala, Sushma Andhare and the like.
She then moved to the UAE to start work with Sterling Publications as Deputy Editor and created 5 coffee table books on the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah while being the Editor of magazines such as RAK Today, Ajman Today and (Deputy Editor) UAE Digest. One of her coffee table books Golden Tribute, on HH Sheikh Saqr al Qassimi, the late ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, (who was then the second longest reigning ruler in the world after the king of Thailand) won accolades from the Swiss Consulate and the royal family alike.
In 2011, she joined Filmfare Middle East as its Editor under its franchise, Saffron Media Works. While creating the monthly magazine and covering several Bollywood events and press conferences, she concurrently conducted events for the company. Some of the star-studded events she was a part of included the premiere of The Dirty Picture (starring Vidya Balan and Emraan Hashmi) at the Grand Cineplex, Dubai, and the press conference of the film Mausam starring Shahid Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor that was held ‘On the Top’ of Burj Khalifa – making Shahid Kapoor the only actor in the world, to have conducted a press conference at that location. A few years later, she became the Group Editor of the company when Femina Middle East was launched in the UAE. Sonam Kapoor came to launch the magazine’s Middle East edition. This was followed by the Filmfare5 in 2015 that had 5 iconic stars felicitated under a Filmfare ME event at the Dubai Film Festival’s Fort Island area. Superstar Shahrukh Khan, actors Kajol, Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Fawad Khan, Nivin Pauly and Emirati film maker Ali Mostafa attended the glamorous do. A sepia toned cover with Shahrukh Khan and Kajol was unveiled at the event as well.
In 2017, Filmfare Middle East was returned to its owners, Worldwide Media since the Dubai franchisees ran short of funds and decided to leave Dubai.
In March 2018, she along with Founder and Chairman of the Danube Group, Mr. Rizwan Sajan, relaunched the magazine at a glitzy ceremony at Bollywood Parks. Deepika Padukone launched the first cover of Filmfare Middle East and soon the magazine had its Arabic edition too. That same year, she got Kartik Aryan to Dubai and launched his first ever Filmfare ME cover here followed by Mahira Khan who opened the massive Danube showroom in Al Barsha. This was followed by the entire star cast of Paltan who held a press conference at the Danube Properties showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road. October saw Manju organize the FilmfareME4Cancer at the Danube Home showroom on SZR.
In March 2019, Filmfare’s first anniversary in the Middle East was celebrated in Oman at the Bar al Jissah resort, where Sonam Kapoor along with 40 stars graced the red carpet and were felicitated under various categories.
October 2019 saw her organize the FilmfareME4Cancer event felicitating cancer warriors in Dubai, and flew in author and cancer warrior Tahira Kashyap to inspire the women gathered there. That same year, at the BCC club, she organized a cover launch with actor Sunny Leone.
Despite the pandemic, the star attendance at the Filmfare ME events was always excellent. The first edition of Arab Asia Starz, a talent hunt for the young – with regards to films, fashion and lifestyle, was conducted online and Manju roped in star judges, Esha Deol, Maniesh Paul and Nushratt Bharucha. The Filmfare ME Diwali party in 2020 saw Manish Malhotra in attendance and actors such as Shama Sikandar, Karishma Tanna and others. In December 2020, she tied up with Krishna and Tiger Shroff’s mixed martial arts competition and the siblings shot for the cover of Filmfare Middle East.
In January 2021, Manju arranged for Nora Fatehi to launch the Filmfare ME cover at The Social Night. In March 2021, she arranged for Amaal Mallike to be the guest of honor at the Women Empowerment Event at Ibn Batuta. The Arab Asia Starz Season 2 that was held at the W, Dubai had Ellie Avram as the judge of honour.
In October 2021, she organised the Filmfare ME Achiever’s Night at the Meydan Hotel which saw about 40 Bollywood stars perform and receive felicitations. Making history for the very first time was Arab celebrity, the Egyptian actor and music sensation Mohamed Ramadan, performing at a Filmfare event and gracing the cover of the November edition of the magazine with Bollywood actor Urvashi Rautela.
An ardent saree wearer and lover, Manju also organized the Dubai Women’s Run in 2017 where she motivated 33 Indian women to run 5 kms, in cotton handloom sarees. For the first time ever in the UAE, such a feat was conducted since the DWR. Manju is also a playwright, having successfully written and staged the satirical – Just Like That, with co-writer Asad Raza Khan. The play, since 2017 has seen 14 successful reruns. Manju also launched Dubai’s organic jewellery brand with Ambika Vohra – the brand Bior,i owned by Priyanka Sarkar. She has translated Irshad Kamil’s book “Kaali Aurat Ka Khaab,” from Hindi to English and is currently penning the biopic of Dubai based business tycoon and Bollywood producer, Rajan Lall. In addition to this, she has also anchored television shows and live events.
Manju Ramanan is the founder and owner of Manju Ramanan Talks which is a platform of her interviews with celebrities from Bollywood, Hollywood and the Middle East, across the fields of films, entertainment, business and lifestyle.
She supports women led businesses, healers, spiritual guides and therapists. She was felicitated as a proud alumni from her alma mater The Department of English, MS University and is often called to lecture,speak and inspire students in India and the UAE.
