Ponniyin Selvan: I, the biggest release this year for the Tamil Film Industry was released in theatres on September 30, 2022, under the crafted direction of Mani Ratnam. Does Ponniyin Selvan live up to his name given how devoted to filmmaking Mani Ratnam movies are? Let's give you a review:
The Plot:
Outstanding actors in the movie include Aishwarya Rai, Trisha Krishnan, Jayam Ravi, Chiyaan Vikram, and Karthi light up the screen with their talent and presence. The tenth century serves as a phenomenal historic backdrop. The Chola Empire is the focus of the plot - Challenges and sub-plots involving the Crown Prince Aditha Karikalan (Vikram), his younger brother Arulmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi, the main character), and their ailing father Sundar Chola (Prakash Raj) dot the storyline.
Periya (Sarath Kumar) and Chinna Pazhuvettarayar (R Parthiban) are actively plotting to unseat the incumbent (R Parthiban). Periya's gorgeous wife Nandini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) has joined them in the conspiracy. An impersonator is Madhurantaka (Rehman). What Aditha and Arulmozhli do next to maintain their control is the focus of the second half.
What worked for the movie:
The story is fascinatingly narrated as the cameras take us over captivating landscapes. Chiranjeevi narrates the opening sequences of the Telugu version. Throughout, the anticipation for the main face-off is kept intact and maintained. The subjects' motives, which have roots in both fiction and history, have been carefully thought out. Intimacy is handled nicely in the narrative. One rarely feels bored and lost in the screenplay. The first half of the plot is led by Vallavaraiyan Vanthiyathevan, who gives the narrative direction in risque ways. AR Rahman's background music has always lent flavour and fervour to Mani Ratnam's movies and it does so, this time around as well.
In the role of Vandiyadevan, Karthi brings life to the film; Ravi charms as Arunmozhi; and Vikram and Parthiban bring the dangerous edge to scenes that is required. Aishwarya looks like a beautiful scheme-stress and Trisha Krishnan looks convincing as the beautiful yet jealous princess ready to pounce at will.
What did not work?
The film's finale is overly fragmented as well as dispersed. Since director Ratnam intended to adapt a book that spreads over a very long time period and involves multiple families that are at war and is distributed around Asia, several plot points in the movie don't come through until after the interval. The constant jumping of the story from one character to the other, only confuses us with names and titles like a tough history lesson.
On a final note, Ponniyin Selvan is a timeless story that has enthralled readers for decades and Mani Ratnam does an excellent job of livening it up on the screen for us. If it weren't for the climax and the anticipation for Part 2 - we would have had an average experience. But the cliffhanger does leave us asking for some more.
© Vygr Media Private Limited. All Rights Reserved.
