ps 1 movie review in malayalam

'Ponniyin Selvan 1' movie review: A tasteful adaptation defined by powerful performances

I have not read Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan , but it has always been apparent that the character of Vandhiyathevan wields great charisma. Many top actors have dreamt for years about playing this character, and now, after having watched Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan 1 , it’s finally apparent to me why. This character, in a sense, can be likened to Rahman’s opening song, ‘Ponni Nadhi’—which heralds the beginning of his epic journey. Like the river, he flows where he wishes, and he’s a source of much life wherever he lands. Like the river shifts everything in its wake, so does he. At one point, when asked about his whereabouts, he says, “I’m from everywhere…” and talks of being able to find peace anywhere under the sky and over the land. I wondered if that’s why he doesn’t hurt when he lands from great height like a waterfall. I wondered if that’s why he’s so frightened of the ocean—you know, that place where the river dies. He’s funny, he’s flirtatious, and when he is on screen, good luck taking your eyes off him.

His interplays with actor Jayaram—who plays Azhwarkadiyan Nambi—are delightful. The latter has always been a skilled exponent at slapstick humour, and his adventures in this film offer further proof. It seems to me that sometimes, we get so consumed by Mani Ratnam’s explorations of emotion that we don’t quite acknowledge how organically he weaves in humour into his films. There are so many lively, laugh-out-loud moments in this film arising from organic exchanges—once, from Vandhiyathevan simply observing his reflection in water.

There are other performances in Ponniyin Selvan that leave you gasping for breath. Vikram, as Aditha Karikalan, is gloriously unbridled as the crown-prince. A scene where he speaks of suppressed pain sees him bare his heart out. Ahead of the film’s release, there were what seemed to me to be unfair reservations on the casting of Jayam Ravi—who has always struck me as an invested performer. He’s on point as ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, the dutiful prince who comes into the limelight later in the film.

As for the women in the Ponniyin Selvan world, it’s wonderful that despite this being a story that’s occurring a thousand years earlier, they aren’t reduced to being ornamental spouses—or as happens in many an epic historical story, a property that men fight over. Sure, a foiled romance might be at the heart of this story too, but both Nandini (Aishwarya Rai) and Kundavai (Trisha) get established as devious women who know how to create desirable outcomes in the patriarchal world around them. Among the most powerful moments in this film is when both come face-to-face. It also doubles up as an example of why Mani Ratnam is a master at creating memorable, visual drama. Another example is that introduction shot of Nandini, as she slides open the curtains of her palanquin. As an almost ethereal woman who knows how to beguile men, Aishwarya Rai is compelling. In more than one scene, we see only part of her face—perhaps because there’s more to her than she lets out?

While there’s the opulence in ornamentation and the expansiveness of palaces and forts, what’s unmistakeable is also the simplicity of an older time when the rivers ran full, and the earth had not been plundered yet. Through the shenanigans of Vandhiyathevan, we get some glimpses into the history of our land. It’s a world in which a man has to undertake an adventure of a thousand miles just to pass on the message of a dozen words. It’s a world in which a lover has to wait for weeks to learn whether her words of affection have been delivered. It’s a world in which the word ‘scroll’ has not come to signify disinterest. There’s great pleasure in seeing what once was.

There’s greater pleasure in experiencing AR Rahman climb into this film and deliver the type of songs and score he seems to always summon for this filmmaker for whom he made his debut. Be it with a ‘Ponni Nadhi’ that gently nudges us into this world or the aggressive, hyper-masculine ‘Chola Chola’ that captures the thrill of conquest, his score is a life-force. He utilises an operatic voice to present a crucial flashback moment, a grand orchestral score for the moments that lead up to it. In fact, Aditha Karikalan’s two powerful moments in this film are big beneficiaries of the Academy Award winner’s score.

For a film about succession issues, about conquests and rebellion, perhaps the action sequences aren’t as memorable as you might expect them to be. Yes, there’s urgency in capturing the violence of thundering hooves and swinging swords, but the fight choreography feels mostly generic with individual set-pieces not bursting with personality—except, I suppose, that final stretch that captures the chaos of a mad sea. And yet, PS-1 doesn’t quite end in a way that signifies the satisfying completion of a first film. It’s perhaps a consequence of Mani Ratnam interpreting this as one-half of a complete film—but given that PS-1 is packaged as a feature film lasting almost three hours, I think it’s only fair that we expect it to possess its own fulfilling end.

Perhaps the foremost pleasure of a Mani Ratnam film is in experiencing his wizardry over the medium. To use an endearing description often ascribed to Vandhiyathevan in PS-1 , a ‘maayakaaran’. You see plenty of examples in this film. The choreography and lighting in ‘Devaralan Aattam’—which, perhaps due to the location or all the backlighting, reminded me of ‘Veerapandi Kottaiyile’ from another Mani Ratnam film (it seemed like an enjoyable coincidence that an enemy king in this film is named Veera Pandiyan). How about that mythical entrance of Aditha Karikalan? Or how about that incredible pre-interval scene—a directorial masterclass really—that condenses grief and sleeplessness of years into a few minutes of dialogue? How about the monologous lament that gloriously segues into ‘Chola Chola’. Listening to this song ahead of the film’s release, you would be forgiven for expecting a track about heroism and machismo. Instead, we get one about pain and regret—and in a sense, some commentary about the cause of indiscriminate violence.

These are joys that sustain you through the less-effective portions—like the not-so-deep insight you get into many characters… yet, or the straightforward action. Even here, take one tempestuous battle as an example, which must have been quite a task to execute. While you are taking it in, it’s hard to forget you are watching a Mani Ratnam film. You notice that this isn’t a thousand men taking on another thousand men to bring an epic film to its conclusion. This is a battle much simpler in scale, and yet, much scarier to witness. For one character, in fact, it’s as much a psychological battle as it is physical. It is said that the most rousing battles are fought not on the outside but on the inside. By that account, PS-1 does present snapshots of many epic battles, with the promise of more in the second film. Consider me intrigued.

Film: Ponniyin Selvan 1

Director: Mani Ratnam

Cast: Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, Trisha, Jayaram

Rating: 4/5

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp  

Download the TNIE app to stay with us and follow the latest

Related Stories

Ponniyin Selvan - 1 Review: Exhilarating And Enriching, With Impressive Performances By Vikram And Cast

Ponniyin selvan - 1 review: the sprawling, spectacularly mounted film is an ambitious, near-flawless adaptation of a much-loved literary work.

A still from Ponniyin Selvan 1 trailer. (courtesy: Tips Tamil )

Cast: Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha, Jayam Ravi, Karthi

Director:  Mani Ratnam

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

Shrinking a complex five-volume novel into a two-part movie is mean feat. It takes gumption. A whole lot of it. If any director has that attribute in the requisite measure, it is Mani Ratnam. Ponniyin Selvan - Part 1 , a period epic that is vast in scale and varied in visual scope, is proof.

The sprawling, spectacularly mounted film is an ambitious, near-flawless adaptation of a much-loved literary work that demonstrates exactly why it has been a movie project so daunting that the likes of M.G. Ramachandran and Kamalahasan could only make abortive attempts at putting it together.

Needless to say, the tale makes huge technical and artistic demands on Ratnam and his cast and crew. They prove equal to the onerous task of attaining the magnitude, the pacing and the stylistic flourishes that the story demands and available image-making technology allows.

That certainly does not mean that the veteran director surrenders himself lock, stock and barrel to the lure and power of computer-generated imagery. Ratnam is too good a craftsman and storyteller to over-rely on the razzle-dazzle of the kind of unbridled visual effects that have driven recent Indian blockbusters such as Baahubali, RRR and KGF.

Ratnam does not resort to sensory or visceral overdrive, drawing strength instead from the smart script written by him, B. Jeyamohan and Elango Kumaravel and from a cast of actors at the top of their game. PS-1 is a treat for the eyes as much as it is for the mind.

He abjures VFX excesses and grounds the historical fiction in a realistic zone to achieve the goal of capturing the massive sweep of Kalki Krishnamurthy's cult 1955 novel that traces the era of the Cholas.

It has taken six and a half decades for the story to make it to the big screen. The wait has been worth it. The Tamil-language PS-1 has versions dubbed in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam running in theatres nationwide.

In the 167-minute Ponniyin Selvan - Part 1 , some passages seem a tad rushed because the introduction of a panoply of characters and the exposition of historically dense details have to be crunched into a couple of three-hour films.

Editor A. Sreekar Prasad, whose oft-proven skills are tested to the severest, ensures that the story has just enough breathing spaces for it not to keel over into occasional incomprehensibility.

Once the prelude is out of the way and all the major characters have been lined up, PS-1 gets into the swing of things. It presents a phenomenally smooth ride through an exciting series of events - fierce battles, palace intrigue, lost love, vanquished soldiers seeking revenge, brave resistance - that records the high points of Chola history in a manner that is both tangible and texturally immersive.

The most noteworthy aspect of PS-1, besides the consistently impressive performances by a cast led by Vikram and brilliantly propped up by Karthi, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi and Trisha, among others, is the production design by Thotta Tharini and the well-considered choice of locations lensed brilliantly by cinematographer Ravi Varman. The story unfolds in spaces that are eye-popping without being fantastical in the way that settings of historical epics of this nature usually tend to be.

PS-1 invokes the spatial attributes of the tenth century to perfection - be they structures made of stone, interiors of forts and palaces or ships and boats out at sea. But at no point do the images look like they have been crafted on the computer. PS-1 is a marvellously tactile film that stays rooted in a specific period without having to create improbable, cardboard cut-out sets suspended somewhere between a puerile understanding of design and a puerile imagination.

Similarly, the film's dramatis personae - the ailing Emperor Sundar Chola (Prakash Raj) and his three offspring, Crown Prince Aditha Karikalan (Vikram), his younger brother Arulmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi, who appears late in the film in the guise of the titular character) and sister Kundhavai (Trisha), and their aides and adversaries within and without the kingdom - are never less than human.

They deal with palpable emotions even as they grapple with challenges of grand proportions. The characters, be they Chola royalty or men of common stock, sound believable even when they are in declamatory mode, moving seamlessly from uncommon wisdom to chatty banter.

With the air of outright make-believe masterfully reined in, PS-1 is a historical saga that draws the audience in without resorting to the conjurer's art. Its magic lies purely in its layered cinematic qualities.

Mischief is afoot in the expanding Chola empire with Nandini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), wife of the scheming finance minister Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar (R. Sharathkumar), having vowed to destroy the kingdom. She holds a personal grudge against her one-time lover Aditha Karikalan.

The conspiracy, of which the finance minister's brother and the Tanjore Fort's in-charge Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar (Radhakrishnan Parthiban) and a host of royal chieftains are a part, is aimed at overthrowing Sundar Chola and putting his nephew Madurantaka (Rahman) on the throne.

Sensing the grave danger that lies ahead, Aditha Karikalan sends his best friend and trusted aide Vandhiyathevan (Karthi, who steals almost the entire first half of the film thanks to the character's gift of the gab and amorous antics) with a message for Emperor Sundar Chola.

The courageous and cheerful Vandhiyathevan dodges elements in the court of the king as well as of survivors from a defeated Pandiyan army who are out to avenge their slain king Veerapandyan.

While power-hungry or jilted-in-love men to a great deal of the talking, PS-1 is true to the source material in that it accords equal significance to the women in the story. Besides the beauteous and strong-willed Nandini, the tough and clear-headed Chola Princess Kundavai plays an important role as the story progresses.

Kundavai is not only sent by her father to pacify her elder brother Aditha Karikalan, she also instructs Vandhiyethevan to travel to Sinhala kingdom with a message for her brother Arulmozhi. Two other women in the plot - Vaanathi (Sobhita Dhulipala), who dreams of marrying Arulmozhi, and boatwoman Samuthirakumari (Aishwarya Lekshmi) - do not have as much to do in this part of the magnum opus. More is probably in store for them in the sequel.

Promoted Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

Action-packed and eventful, the first part of the drama winds up at a point of the story that leaves many questions unresolved and points to what could form the core of Ponniyin Selvan - Part 2, scheduled for release in 2023. The film inevitably packs too much into too little time but it never fails to look and sound - A.R. Rahman's songs and background score constitute the backbone of the sound design - like a meticulously conceived and executed work of cinema.

PS-1 i s both exhilarating and enriching. Another dose would be just perfect.

Track Budget 2023 and get Latest News Live on NDTV.com.

Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world .

India Elections | Read Latest News on Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Live on NDTV.com . Get Election Schedule , information on candidates, in-depth ground reports and more - #ElectionsWithNDTV

Watch Live News:

Gulte Telugu news

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Movie Review

Article by Suman M Published by GulteDesk --> Published on: 8:14 am, 30 September 2022 | Updated on 10:56 am, 1 October 2022

167 Mins   |   Action   |   30-09-2022

Cast - Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prabhu, R. Sarathkumar, Vikram Prabhu, Jayaram, Prakash Raj, Rahman, R. Parthiban

Director - Mani Ratnam

Producer - Mani Ratnam, Subaskaran Allirajah

Banner - Madras Talkies. Lyca Productions

Music - A. R. Rahman

Star filmmaker Mani Ratnam had been trying to make the movie Ponniyin Selvan for more than two decades. Finally, he could make it and release it this year. With a huge and popular star cast, Mani Ratnam made the movie in two parts. The movie is based on the book Ponniyin Selvan’ by Kalki Krishnamurthy. The first part of Ponniyin Selvan was released today. Here is the review.

What Is It About?

Adithya Karikaalan (Vikram), Arunkanimozhi aka Ponniyin Selvan (Jayam Ravi), and Kundhuvai (Trisha) are the heir of Emperor Sundara Chola (Prakash Raj) of the Chola kingdom. While the plans are in work to make Adithya Karikalan the king of the kingdom due to Sundara Chola being ill, internal conspiracies, and the ploy from Pandian rebels take the front seat to stop it. Nandhini (Aishwarya Rai), the wife of treasurer Pedda Palivettarayudu (Sarath Kumar) plays a crucial role in internal politics while Kundhuvai is intelligent enough to barricade her. How does Adhithya Karikalan’s right-hand Vallavaraya Vandiyadevudu (Karthi) help the royal siblings and how the politics lead to the unexpected, is all about PS 1.

Performances

Ponniyin Selvan has got many popular stars in it. Vikram appears in one of the very important roles, Adithya Karikaalan. He lives in the role of the Chola prince. He appears in key scenes and he does his part very well.

Karthi occupies most part of PS 1 and he did exceptionally well in the role he was given. Karthi’s character has a bit of playfulness and wit, which he carried throughout the movie. Aishwarya Rai and Trisha look stunning in the royal attires. Their performances and confrontation episodes are good to watch. Aishwarya Rai’s character has layers in itself and she handled it with ease.

Jayam Ravi, Sarath Kumar, Parthiban, Prakash Raj, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Vikram Prabhu, Prabhu, and others appear in brief roles and they did fine.

Technicalities

PS 1 has got a great story enough to make one gripping movie. It has interesting twists and political tactics, but most of them appear ordinary due to the flat narrative. The screenplay could have been better.

There are some good visuals but the movie on whole is not a visual wonder. The war sequences are typical and there is no wow factor in that too.

The graphics work could have been better and it could have made It more appealing and grand. The Background music is good. The song Ponge Nadhi is also good, but there is some unsteadiness during the songs.

Karthi, Vikram, Aishwarya Rai & Trisha Story BGM

Thumbs Down

Flat narration No Highs Visual effects

Ponniyin Selvan is the story of the Chola kingdom that shows the conspiracies and ill-minded politics that happened for the throne, some 1000 years back. The story is very sound and it has the proper conflicts to make it more interesting.

First things first, one should have a basic idea of who’s who in the film. The voice-over, in the beginning, gives a little insight but the names and places having all the Tamil native names make it tough for the unversed to connect the dots. But being a political drama, Ponniyin Selvan should be having an interesting narrative with that much-needed fervor. The director here tells the story, but the mediocre screenplay makes it more than hard to establish the emotional connection between the characters.

With many characters and each one in different places, the story had to revolve around also showing the cunning ploys in respective episodes. The subplots in some of the episodes relating to Arulmozhi in Lanka could have been cut to simple and shorter scenes. Already with the bland narration, the prolonged scenes distance us more from the actual plot.

The twists in the tale could be more intense. Most of them were just shown while the characters speak about it, without the ‘highs’ or elevations that could have made some impact. PS 1 movie many a time reminds us of the Game Of Thrones, which also revolves around many places, kingdoms, and submerged politics. PS 1 has that potential, but the ecstasy one would feel in that series is missing here.

The audience would expect the least that Vallavaraya Vandiyadevudu (Karthi) takes the front seat and most of the story is driven from his vantage point in the first half. Nandhini’s (Aishwarya Rai) multi-faceted character raises curiosity and also hints that there is more mystery to it. Kundhuvai’s (Trisha) character also is powerful with interesting instincts, which again turn ordinary. With so many wonderful actors, PS 1 had a chance to get a proper connection of two or three main characters to the audience, which did not happen due to giving prominence to the base story alone.

Overall, PS 1 has got very strong content and a talented star cast, but the dull narrative and missing emotional connection with the characters do not make it a phenomenal watch. From names to places, history to nativity, PS 1 has fair chance to connect to the Tamil audience than to the Telugu audience. Having seen the films with large scale and grandeur, like RRR and Baahubali, Ponniyin Selvan might look normal to the Telugu audience. The openings of PS 1 are huge across the globe and it has to be seen how the movie advances at the box office.

Bottomline: Powerful Content – Sluggish Narrative

Rating: 2.5/5

Tags Ponniyin Selvan Recommended

Click Here for Recommended Movies on OTT (List Updates Daily)

• Daily BO Update
• Daily Breakdown
• Hits & Flops
• All Time Grossers
• Highest Grossers
• Highest Openers
• Highest Weekend
• Best of Overseas
• Hollywood Highest
• Fact-o-meter
• Entertainment News
• Bollywood News
• Television & Web
• Fashion & Lifestyle
• Bigg Boss 17
• Hollywood News
• What To Watch
• Bollywood Movie Reviews
• Hollywood Movie Reviews
• All South Movie Reviews
• Tamil Movie Reviews
• Telugu Movie Reviews
• Kannada Movie Reviews
• Malayalam Movie Reviews
• Marathi Movie Reviews
• Web Series Reviews
• Music Reviews
• Box Office Reviews
• Trailer Reviews
• BO Filmometer
• Stars’ Power Index
• Directors’ Power Index
• 100 Crore Club
• Worldwide 200 Crores+
• Profitable Films
• Recommended Movies
• Upcoming Movies
• Released Movies
• Web Stories
• About Koimoi

Home » Reviews » South Indian Movie Reviews

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Movie Review: Mani Ratnam Brings Out The Divinity In Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Yet Again But Rest Everything Is Just Too Scattered

Ponniyin selvan adaptation does manage to explain why the novel is a cult, but the big show lacks the thunder it must have..

Star Cast: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Trisha Krishnan, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prakash Raj, and ensemble.

Director: Mani Ratnam

What’s Good: Mani Ratnam worshiping Aishwarya Rai and her beauty is worth in every frame he creates. It is the women actually running the show.

What’s Bad: But the way of telling this tale scatters everything and fails to collect it all in the final act, leaving a whole lot for part 2.

Loo Break: Multiple sequences seem like you have seen, use one of those.

Watch or Not?: For the grandeur and scale and the hope that there is something much better in Part 2, you must watch this one. But don’t have very high hopes.

Language: Tamil (with subtitles).

Available On: In Theatres Near You.

Runtime: 167 Minutes

Based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s arguably cult novel by the same name, Ponniyin Selvan Part 1 is about the Chola Dynasty and the times when the course of the throne was about to change. The politics for the chair and the bad games played in the dark make for an intriguing plot.

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Movie Review: Script Analysis

Mani Ratnam movies are an experience of sheer dedication towards filmmaking and in any piece of art, the man creates you see his soul and that of a painter. So there is of course a surety that the filmmaker will never go wrong entirely in shaping a movie. While we have seen his eye for detail and what it manages to make, does Ponniyin Selvan stand true to his name?

Mani Ratnam, Jayamohan, and Kumaravel come together to adapt Kalki’s novel for the screen. The maverick filmmaker sets out with all the amazing elements to create a perfect film. There is AR Rahman composing music (their collaboration turns 30 this year), Ravi Varman capturing the world, Aishwarya Rai back to his vision (together they have worked for 25 years), and some of the biggest names from the Tamil industry. So you instantly know how big a movie it is.

But what the end product ends up being is a product that is not just scattered but also too disjointed. Imagine a season of Game Of Thrones cramped into one 3 hours long movie. The blame cannot be on the writing team entirely because Ratnam chooses to make a film out of a novel that spans a very long time and multiple houses that are at war and spread in different parts of Asia. While we are introduced to one, time doesn’t permit us to stay with them and understand, we are rushed to another and some more only to end up with confusion in names and titles.

At the core of it, Mani Ratnam wants to say that while the internal politics and the external tension around the House Chola were slowly making the base weaker, it is the women who are actually running the charade. They call Nandini the poison, but Ratnam tries to delve into her soul but is guarded by the poison. There is a certain kind of divinity around her and every presence means a massive turn. But even she falls prey to time constraints and a lot of her is pushed to the next part.

That brings me to the problems with the things pushed to Part 2. If the first part is an introduction of sorts for you, why not stretch it a bit more to hook the audience to a cliffhanger that is worth rooting for? Of course, the final still is intriguing but only for Nandini and who is the mysterious lady, but there is no curiosity for the Cholas as a whole. Because I don’t know them much other than the lazy flashbacks and their greed or worry for their house.

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Movie Review: Star Performance

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is envisioned as a mirage that looks beautiful but is not real. Even her real life is perceived like that by many. So when Mani Ratnam places her in front of his lens you know magic is about to happen. She even manages to enthrall us with her charm but everything around her is just not it.

Karthi gets to have the longest time in front of the camera. The actor is an effortless talent and knows what is expected out of him. Bravery, where it’s needed, and humor when there is a blank space, is his job and he does pretty well. There is a flirtatious trait about him and that gives him a very fine layer.

Vikram in his wild approach to his character is in full form but it is the script that takes some bizarre decisions around him. First, it gives him minimal screen time, and second, it makes him indulge in flashbacks by making him explain them to oblivion.

Trisha Krishnan and Sobhita Dhulipala bring the charm and chirp to this story and they should have had more to give the story a good turn. Everything at this point looks too incomplete but not in a way that will make you wait for next, but be angry with the first for raising too many expectations.

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Movie Review: Direction, Music

This is not the Mani Ratnam one would expect in a movie this big. Of course, he gets back his most loved muse of 25 years, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. He even worships her as he frames every scene around her like he is shooting some angel. But the rest just lacks the Ratnam visuals we all crave for. It felt like the scenes involving Nandini were directed by the Ratnam of yore and the rest were mostly taken care by the ADs.

Barring two or three scenes none look like Mani and Ravi Varman have collaborated on them. He takes the known route, even some frames look like they are borrowed from the Sanjay Leela Bhansali universe. I understand resembles is uncanny but that doesn’t mean we don’t the wild soul of filmmaker we have admired all these years.

AR Rahman gives an album that is limited to the movie and not otherwise. I am a religious follower of this man and especially the duo who have given the Indian cinema some of its most iconic numbers. But this isn’t it. There are good pieces no doubt, the background score during the final boat battle is superb but when two legends meet your expectations only go higher.

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Movie Review: The Last Word

Ponniyin Selvan is an iconic book and one that has enthralled readers in the South for years, the adaptation does manage to explain why showing the basics, but the big show lacks the thunder it must have. Part 2 has a lot to answer and if the approach stays like the first, hopes are dim.

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Trailer

Ponniyin Selvan 1 releases on 30th September, 2022.

Share with us your experience of watching Ponniyin Selvan 1.

Want some more recommendations? Read our Chup Movie Review here.

Must Read: Dhokha Round D Corner Movie Review: A Costly Crime Patrol Episode Where Only Aparshakti Khurana Took The Assignment Seriously & Rest Were Just Clueless

Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube | Telegram

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Related articles.

LSD2 Movie Review: Amazingly Pretentious Narrative Makes You Wonder, ‘Is This A Film?’

Civil War Movie Review: Alex Garland Returns With A24’s Biggest Film, But The Film’s Refusal To Examine Its Characters And World Makes It Empty

Do Aur Do Pyaar Movie Review: Vidya Balan & Pratik Gandhi Starrer Echoes The Pain & Passion Of Strained Relationships While Displaying Vulnerabilities At...

Check this out.

When Pirates Of The Caribbean’s 80 Feet Dangerous Stunt Failed &...

Bollywood Box Office Verdicts & Collection 2024

“Sanjay Leela Bhansali Throws Things On Sets, Keeps Yelling,” Salman Khan...

Deadpool & Wolverine To Star This Iron Man Actor? Insider Claims,...

Amar Singh Chamkila Brought The Same Gifts For Both Wives? 1st...

Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2 Box Office Collection Day 1: Marks...

Don't miss.

Aadujeevitham, Manjummel Boys: Survival Adventures Are Mollywood’s Latest Recipe For Commercial...

Metro.. In Dino: Sara Ali Khan & Aditya Roy Kapur Starrer...

Kalki 2898 AD Release Date Dilemma: Challenges For Prabhas’ Movie Continue...

Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver Movie Review: Zack Snyder’s Space Opera Is Complete With The Scargiver, But Sadly The Potential Feels Unfulfilled

• Privacy Policy

Thanks For Rating

Reminder successfully set, select a city.

• Nashik Times
• Aurangabad Times
• Badlapur Times

You can change your city from here. We serve personalized stories based on the selected city

• Edit Profile
• Briefs Movies TV Web Series Lifestyle Trending Medithon Visual Stories Music Events Videos Theatre Photos Gaming

Esha Deol and Hema Malini offer prayers at Vrindavan temple, Ranbir spotted sporting a clean-shaven look for Ramayana, Salman Khan returns from Dubai with heavy security: TOP 5 entertainment news of the day

Twinkle Khanna addresses old reports claiming she performed at Dawood Ibrahim's parties; comments on fake news around Sushant Singh Rajput's case

‘Kalki 2898 AD’ teaser video: Makers reveal Amitabh Bachchan's unique avatar as 'Ashwatthama' in the Prabhas starrer - WATCH

Aditi Rao Hydari's mesmerising desi looks

Pankaj Tripathi's sister stable after freak road accident; to be moved to Kolkata hospital

Mira Rajput gives fans a sneak peek into Varun Dhawan's wife Natasha Dalal's baby shower - See photo

• Movie Reviews

Movie Listings

The Legacy Of Jineshwa...

LSD 2: Love Sex Aur Dh...

Luv You Shankar

Mamu Makandaar

Do Aur Do Pyaar

Detective Nysa

30 Hours Survival: Gau...

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan...

Daisy Shah captivates with latest photoshoot

Amyra Dastur's elegant and ethereal ethnic looks

Best pics of Bhojpuri celebs this week

Sreeleela's charming fashion to make your summer more comfy

Viral Pics Of Marathi Stars Of The Week

Saniya Iyappan's most stylish clicks

Pooja Hegde takes in the beach bliss

Rashmika Mandanna reigns as style queen​

​Nyrraa Banerji, embodiment of unblemished beauty​

​The charming looks of Sneha​

Kaam Chalu Hai

LSD 2: Love Sex Aur Dho...

Silence 2: The Night Ow...

Amar Singh Chamkila

30 Hours Survival: Gaur...

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan

City Hunter The Movie: ...

The First Omen

Love Lies Bleeding

Knox Goes Away

Godzilla x Kong: The Ne...

Chabak: Night Of Murder...

Paarijatha Parvam

Inti Number 13

Family Star

Tillu Square

Babu: No.1 Bullshit Guy

Om Bheem Bush

Happy Ending

Varshangalkku Shesham

The Goat Life

Jananam 1947 Pranayam T...

Manjummel Boys

Anweshippin Kandethum

Avatara Purusha 2

Chow Chow Bath

Hide And Seek

Somu Sound Engineer

Bonbibi: Widows Of The ...

Pariah Volume 1: Every ...

Shri Swapankumarer Bada...

Manush: Child of Destin...

Bogla Mama Jug Jug Jiyo

Sarabha: Cry For Freedo...

Zindagi Zindabaad

Maujaan Hi Maujaan

Chidiyan Da Chamba

White Punjab

Any How Mitti Pao

Gaddi Jaandi Ae Chalaan...

Buhe Bariyan

Alibaba Aani Chalishita...

Aata Vel Zaali

Shivrayancha Chhava

Delivery Boy

Sridevi Prasanna

Sur Lagu De

Devra Pe Manva Dole

Dil Ta Pagal Hola

Ittaa Kittaa

Jaishree Krishh

Bushirt T-shirt

Shubh Yatra

• Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1

Your Rating

Write a review (optional).

• Movie Reviews /

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 UA

Would you like to review this movie?

Cast & Crew

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 Movie Review : Mani Ratnam's adaptation of Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan is spectacular

• Times Of India

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 - Official Tamil Trai...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 - Official Hindi Trai...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 - Official Telugu Tra...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 - Official Kannada Tr...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 - Official Malayalam ...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 - Official Tamil Teas...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 - Official Hindi Teas...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 - Official Telugu Tea...

Ponniyin Selvan Part-1 | Tamil Song - Ponni N...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Telugu Song - Ponge...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Malayalam Song - Po...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Telugu Song - Chola...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Hindi Song - Chola ...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Malayalam Song - Ch...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Malayalam Song - Ra...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Telugu Song - Raach...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Kannada Song - Deva...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Kannada Song Promo ...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Telugu Song - Devar...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Malayalam Song - De...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Tamil Song - Devara...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Tamil Song Promo - ...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Kannada Song - Bara...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Tamil Song - Alaika...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Kannada Song - Raks...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Telugu Song - Alana...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Kannada Song - Helh...

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | Tamil Song - Sol (L...

Users' Reviews

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

Bibin Solomon 475 days ago

Kannan Jagannathan 512 days ago

I am disappointed by the movie. I grew up on the novel, and like so many of my age, read it a number of times in the 60s and 70s from bound volumes that my mother had made from the serialized publication in the early 50s. I just reread it after watching the movie to make sure that it wasn’t some vague nostalgia from 50 years ago. No it is not. The writing still sparkles. The writing has poetry (I don't mean just quotations of poems, Kalki's prose was poetic), subtlety of characters with complex contradictions beautifully captured in prose. All that was missing in the movie. Instead, it was black and white (metaphorically). The powerful women of the novel - Nandini, Kundavai, Poonkuzhali, Sembiyan Madeviar - are all flattened. The men of great allure in the novel - Vandiaythevan, Arulmozhy, Sendan Amuthan - have no allure in the movie. Just dull looks and bodies, and in the case of the first two, mere modern-day Tamil movie swashbuckling cartoons. Yes, Azhvarkadiyan is portrayed perfectly, but that is about it. One of Kalki’s characters describes Vandiyathevan as "Brhaspati in wisdom, Saraswati in learning, Manmata in Beauty, and Arjuna in accomplishing ends". Sorry, Karti doesn't cut it. Yes, the CGI is great, and compensates a bit for the lack of poetry. But not enough.

Daniel Constantine 521 days ago

The movie totally lacks life since the actors such as Karthi do not speak classical tamil. He simply doesn't fit in this ancient role with his too casual and contemporary acting. I wish they provided a zero rating option to totally trash this movie.

Muhammad Nezar M N 3071 525 days ago

Just an Average one. Overrated

Kaung Myat 527 days ago

������

Visual Stories

10 best luxury wallets for men

Entertainment

7 reasons why one should adopt a pet

Simple habits that happy couples follow for lasting relationship

Athiya Shetty radiates elegance and charm in stunning lehengas

8 types of lettuce and their benefits

10 lessons to learn from ‘The Power of Your Subconscious Mind’ by Joseph Murphy

Ibrahim Ali Khan’s pictures that will remind you of Saif Ali Khan

8 weight loss-friendly spring salads to try

News - Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1

‘Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1’ singer Antara Nandy makes her...

'Ponniyin Selvan Part 1' box office collection Day 8: M...

‘Ponniyin Selvan’ Part 1 Trailer: The 3:23 mins trailer...

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan touches Rajinikanth's feet, runs...

Shobhita Dhulipala to play courteous queen 'Vanathi' in...

Shobhita Dhulipala to play courteous queen Vanathi in M...

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Get reviews of the latest theatrical releases every week, right in your inbox every Friday.

Thanks for subscribing.

Please Click Here to subscribe other newsletters that may interest you, and you'll always find stories you want to read in your inbox.

Popular Movie Reviews

Ranam Aram Thavarel

Yaavarum Vallavare

Pon Ondru Kanden

• Change Password
• Top 20 Songs
• Top 100 Movies

Ponniyin Selvan Review - Engaging big scale epic minus the drama!

Published date : 30/sep/2022.

Ponniyin Selvan Review -  Engaging big scale epic minus the drama!

Bharath Vijayakumar

While art itself is subjective, the extent of variation becomes more prominent when it comes to movie adaptations of novels. For those familiar with the source material, it certainly is close to impossible to refrain from drawing comparisons in their mind. It is a constant battle between the images you have in mind and what is presented on screen. Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan (2 parts) takes up the herculean task of adapting a novel that runs for five volumes with over 2000 pages. So, a lot of creative liberties are bound to be taken in what is a highly condensed version.

We have a voiceover (as in the trailer) explaining the history that leads to the chain of events in Ponniyin Selvan: I. There is a silent power struggle happening in the Chola Kingdom and we are pulled into this battlefield. It is not one that involves warring men with swords on either side but a battlefield that has power hungry and scheming men and women devising cunning plans sitting inside forts and palaces.

PS 1 focusses on introducing the primary characters and their equations with each other. The film is predominantly driven by plot points, and we are only given a briefing behind the emotions that is driving the actions of these characters. For those familiar with the book, it is bound to be a little disappointing but ironically, they have the advantage of filling in the gaps. But for those who haven’t read the novel, I am not sure how much of an impact PS 1 would have as a drama.  For a drama to work, you really need to be invested with the characters and their emotions.  With the lack of time to establish this, Mani Ratnam opts for a fast-paced narrative where the action quickly jumps across places. The film breezes through nicely whenever we have Karthi on screen as Vallavaraiyan Vandhiyadevan, the sweet-talking spy with a visual appetite for women. Karthi is really good here. He plays someone who actually does over the top things with a mischievous grin. This is a very difficult thing to do. If he keeps it too real and simple, it could be boring and take away the essence of the character. If he goes overboard, it could end up being annoying. But Karthi gets the balance spot on. Among the other actors, Aishwarya Rai gets it right as Nandhini with her presence. The book keeps describing a lot about her, (predominantly her physical attractiveness) every time it focusses on her. This is a spot-on casting decision, given the kind of image we already have about the actress. And the actress makes Nandhini work. The others have relatively lesser to do or have lesser screen time in PS 1. Everyone fits the bill, but I guess one has to watch the second part as well to see how much of an impact they make in their respective characters. I was pleasantly surprised by Sarathkumar though. Vikram showcases his inner turmoil effectively in that scene where he recollects a crucial event from his past. 

The film never touches a dramatic high except in that little reveal leading to the sequel. Creative liberties and constraints aside, the scene between Nandhini and Kundhavai should have really worked much better. Since the kind of animosity that these two characters have for each other is hardly established, this scene passes off without the fireworks it should have created. The whistles in the auditorium were for Aishwarya Rai and Trisha and certainly not for the face-off between Nandhini and Kundhavai. And the introduction of Arul Mozhi Varman is such a nice ‘mass’ moment in the book. What we have here is a very generic introduction (war scene) for the character. Similarly, one interesting aspect of Vandhiyadevan in the book is that he keeps getting into trouble inadvertently and this also helps him to gather crucial information from unexpected quarters. But here he is just carrying out the instructions given to him. Yeah, I get it that some of you might get annoyed with these comparisons with the book, but I really thought that these aspects could have been incorporated better.

A.R. Rahman’s songs really work well. The visuals too are pleasant. The war sequences don’t create much of an impact because of the absence of an emotional involvement in our part. They come across as perfunctory action episodes.

Bottomline:

Your experience could largely vary depending on your familiarity with Kalki's novel. PS 1 is largely condensed, and plot driven. So, the emotions of characters and the significance of crucial events don’t register as impactfully as one would have liked. But it also has some other things going for it. It delivers on the joys of watching a big scale movie with a studded star cast. Most importantly, it remains engaging despite the lack of high moments and has us anticipating the second part!

Rating:  3/5

• Critic Reviews
• User Reviews

+ Add Review

• தமிழ் சினிமா செய்திகள்
• தமிழ் விமர்சனம்
• சினிமா ஸ்பெஷல்ஸ்
• நட்சத்திரங்களின் நேர்காணல்
• Galatta Features
• Galatta Daily
• Baradwaj Rangan Movie Reviews
• Upcoming Movies
• Corridos Of Power
• Celebrity Fashions
• Short Films
• Galatta Awards
• Tamil Telugu Kannada Malayalam English Hindi

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Movie Review (2022)

• Ponniyin Selvan 1

Mani Ratnam and his fantastic team beautifully capture the essence of Kalki's characters in 'Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1', which infuses a period story with a sense of lived-in reality

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Movie Cast & Crew

Book adaptations are strange beasts, and in my opinion, the only way to truly enjoy a movie based on a book is to… forget the book. Now, of course, that’s impossible when the book is imprinted in your memory, but what I mean by “forget the book” is simply this: Forget the fact that you are going to get the exact book. One of my favourite book-to-movie adaptations is Guide , which became one of Dev Anand’s biggest hits, with great SD Burman songs, a brilliant and beautiful Waheeda Rahman, and superb direction by Vijay Anand. But RK Narayan, the author of the original book, hated the movie. He called the film “a bastard offspring of my novel,” but what he did not understand was that the film was not “his novel”. The film was not “RK Narayan’s Guide ” but “filmmaker Vijay Anand’s version of RK Narayan’s Guide ”.

I recalled this incident when Ponniyin Selvan finally got going after decades of various people trying to make it, and I think the author Kalki Krishnamurthy would have been quite happy with “Mani Ratnam’s version of Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan .” The film transforms a book into an utterly gorgeous piece of cinema, and I’m not just talking about Ravi Varman’s image after stunning image, beginning with a fiery Vikram emerging from a mist. It’s also the writing, by Mani Ratnam,  Elango Kumaravel and Jeyamohan. There's an early visual of the Pandya flag being sliced into two, and one half flutters into the next bit of narrative. That's the spirit of Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1. The book has been slashed, and pages and images flutter across from one bit of exposition to another.

Take the character of the boat woman Poonguzhali, played by Aishwarya Lekshmi. Kalki introduces her during sunset, as she sings a song that is so sweet that nature stands still. The song in the film, written by Siva Ananth, is not the same song that Poonguzhali sings in the book. But it begins with the same word, “ alaikadal ” and AR Rahman’s tune perfectly captures what Kalki calls the “ inba vedhanai ” (sweet sorrow) in her voice. We don't see other things from the book. We don't see Poonguzhali rescuing Vandhiyathevan from quicksand. We don't see her think his face looks like an owl, which annoys his vanity. We don't see him telling her father about his wanting to be ferried across the ocean to Sri Lanka. We don't witness Poonguzhali and Vandhiyathevan's subsequent fight on the boat, and her jumping into the sea to save him. But the image we get gives a sense of all this. We see her emerge from the sea like a mermaid, and he is already on the boat, having already confessed in earlier scenes that he is afraid of water. That's the essence.

In a way, we are talking about Mani Ratnam's approach in Chekka Chivantha Vaanam , where characters and situations were thrust upon us with intensity and severe economy. That film did not work for me at all, but here, this highlights-reel approach works beautifully. The playful scene where Karthi meets Jayaram. The intense conversation between Trisha and Vikram. The tragic tears that well up in Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's eye when she hears the name of a former lover. A following scene between her and Karthi, where we see her manipulative side. The scene where Jayachitra reminds Rahman of his duty. The flirtatious scene between Trisha and Karthi. The seductive scene between Aishwarya and Sarath Kumar. The non-verbal catfights between Aishwarya and Trisha. The boys-will-be-boys scene when Karthi and Jayam Ravi meet. The scene with Trisha's hilarious political move, which shows that the men may be straight-on schemers, but it's the women who are the devious schemers, driving the story with their agenda.

In other words, every character has a strong scene - or three - where their essence is established. One part of me wished for a ten-hour movie. But given two hours and forty-five minutes, there really is no other way to tell this story on screen, and the big plus is seeing Mani Ratnam, the director, in glorious form with his fantastic technical team: Thotta Tharani handles the production design, Sreekar Prasad is the editor, and cinematographer Ravi Varman fills the screen with colour, from the blue of the seas to the browns of the land, from the monochromed dark-pink interiors of a queen's chamber to the all-out rainbow colours of Raatchasa maamane . This is a film filled with constant movement: it's either the chases or the battles or the never-ending mind games that keep coiling around the narrative like a slimy snake. Even the camera, mostly, is free and keeps moving. Very few shots seem "composed"

Could the AR Rahman songs have been axed completely to make way for more narrative? I loved the segue from Vikram's emotional revelation to the drunken revelry of Chola Chola . I loved that a long comic chase involving Karthi segues to the playful Raatchasa maamane . But given the choice, I would have liked the songs to have been replaced by more interaction between the characters. Or maybe more time for the action scenes to play out. (Right now, they seem like truncated versions of longer action blocks.) But then, that's why we have the books. Besides, this story of political intrigue is remarkably reminiscent of the present day, where political groups band together and split as it suits them – so not much exposition is actually needed. Except for the costumes and the language, this is a very contemporary narrative about an ailing king – Sundara Chola, played by Prakash Raj – and his three children. (Again, do we have shades of Chekka Chivantha Vaanam ?)

Instead of trying to dazzle us with epic-ness, Mani Ratnam goes all-out real. There are no "mass" dialogues, the jokes are casually tossed off, the verbal confrontations are delivered in even tones, and even the fights aren't staged as spectacles for the sake of spectacle: some are like the delightfully simple sword fights we saw in the MGR movies. All the actors are fantastic, especially Vikram, Aishwarya, Trisha and Karthi – though Jayaram probably steals the show in an author-backed comic role that has sly shades, too. If Karthi and Jayaram give "big" performances, because their roles are such, they are balanced by the wonderfully minimalistic work by the others. Jayam Ravi uses so little to convey so much - and it's really tough to portray a good guy on screen without making him seem boring. And the end-reveal of a famous minor character in the book is awesome. This character-driven first part perfectly sets the stage for the second installment, which can now hit the ground running. Apart from showing how a huge novel can be convincingly condensed, that is this film's biggest achievement.

About Author

Baradwaj Rangan

National Award-winning film critic Baradwaj Rangan, former deputy editor of The Hindu and senior editor of Film Companion, has carved a niche for himself over the years as a powerful voice in cinema, especially the Tamil film industry, with his reviews of films. While he was pursuing his chemical engineering degree, he was fascinated with the writing and analysis of world cinema by American critics. Baradwaj completed his Master’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations through scholarship. His first review was for the Hindi film Dum, published on January 30, 2003, in the Madras Plus supplement of The Economic Times. He then started critiquing Tamil films in 2014 and did a review on the film Subramaniapuram, while also debuting as a writer in the unreleased rom-com Kadhal 2 Kalyanam. Furthermore, Baradwaj has authored two books - Conversations with Mani Ratnam, 2012, and A Journey Through Indian Cinema, 2014. In 2017, he joined Film Companion South and continued to show his prowess in critiquing for the next five years garnering a wide viewership and a fan following of his own before announcing to be a part of Galatta Media in March 2022.

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Movie News

Latest Movie Reviews

Thanks for visiting GALATTA.

Please turn off your ad blocker in order to continue.

Without ads, we can't offer free content to our users.

Thanks again!

What Is Ponniyin Selvan Story? All About The Kalki Novel, A Historical Fiction Maniratnam Film Is Based On

The story of ponniyin selvan, character from a historical fiction, has always had cult followers. a movie adaptation of the 2,000-page magnum opus novel had been a dream of many actors and directors..

Ponniyin Selvan has been a household name in Tamil Nadu since the 1950s, all due to the popularity of a series by the same name written by ‘Kalki’ Krishnamurthy in Tamil magazine ‘Kalki’. But while the name had so far remained in the imagination of the readers and the generations who heard the story later, it is now set to become a part of pop culture with the big screen release of Ponniyin Selvan: I.

The story of Ponniyin Selvan, the character from a historical fiction, has always had cult followers, and the novel had remained a dream magnum opus for many actors and directors to bring it on screen. 

Over half a century ago, actor MG Ramachandran, who also served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, had expressed his desire to create magic on the big screen with the magnificent story of a warrior, according to reports. However, it proved to be difficult to pull it off at that time. Later, several actors including Kamal Haasan made attempts but did not succeed. 

Finally, the magnum opus fell into the hands of acclaimed director Maniratnam, who has successfully completed the first part of the film, apparently in his second attempt, as reported in some sections of the media. He is also said to have completed the shoot for the second part. Ponniyin Selvan has well-known actors playing different roles in the two-part film. They include Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vikram, Jayaram, Trisha, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Prakash Raj and Nasser.

The original novel spans five parts and runs into over 2,000 pages. 

With just a couple of days left for its release, PS:1 has piqued a lot of curiosity about its plot and characters. 

The Story Of Ponniyin Selvan 

Ponniyin Selvan can be simply put as a Game of Thrones in the Chola kingdom during the period of Sundara Chola between 900 AD and 950 AD. However, the success of the novel lies in the fact that it just does not end there. The novel is history and imagination bound together to give the best reader experience. 

Ponniyin Selvan can also be described as a novel where a woman aims to bring an end to the Chola dynasty while another aims to bring stability to the era with the crowning of her own capable younger brother. Whether they succeed or how the events turn out becomes the story. 

The story also has a sub-plot where the Pandyas try to kill a bedridden Sundara Chola and his two sons to bring a king of their choice to the throne. 

Yet, to make it more clear and comprehensive, Ponniyin Selvan is a battle of succession in the Chola Kingdom. There are multiple opponents with different plans to dethrone the Cholas and rule the region. 

It all begins on one fine day when a comet appears in the sky and brings a message that someone in the royal family is likely to die soon. It is interpreted that it is going to be Sundara Chola, who has been ill for days. And thus begins the fight for the throne.

Emperor Sundara Chola (Prakash Raj) and Queen Vanavan Mahadevi (Vidya Subramanian) have three children — Aditha Karikalan (Vikram), who's next in line to the crown, princess Kundavai (Trisha) and prince Arulmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi). 

Though Aditha is to become the next king, he is not liked by all. His brother Arulmozhi Varman enjoys more love and acceptance from the people. Kundavai also wants Arulmozhi Varman to be the next emperor of Chola kingdom. 

It is Arulmozhi who is Ponniyin Selvan. Also known as Rajaraja Cholan, Arulmozhi is called Ponniyin Selvan because he once fell into the Cauvery river, also called Ponni Nadhi, and was apparently "saved" by the river goddess. So, he became Ponniyin Selvan, meaning "son of river Ponni". 

The story has four different entities working separately and in tandem to bring the king of their choice to the throne or to bring down the Chola dynasty due to previous enmity. 

They are Madurantakan (Rahman), nephew of Sundara Chola; a group led by Pazhuvettaraiyar (the clan that has earlier extended its loyalty to Cholas during the time of war); the Pandyas; and Nandhini, the prime antagonist played by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. 

Madurantakan is in the race because Sundara Chola’s father took the throne after his father and not passing it on to him since he was an adopted child. He is helped by his wife’s father Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar (Parthiban), whose clan hopes that Madurantakan’s coronation will give them political mileage. 

The Pandyas are after the Cholas since Aditha Karikalan, who is known for his valour, killed their hero Veerapandiyan during a battle. The Pandyas now want to kill Aditha Karikalan for revenge and bring down the Chola dynasty.

Meanwhile, Nandhini attempts to destroy the Cholas for two reasons. Like Pandyas, she wants to kill Aditha Karikalan, who was once in love with her, since he killed Veerapandiyan with whom she seemed to have developed a relationship. Nandhini also wants to end the Cholas since she is believed to be the daughter of a Chola who had an illicit affair with her deaf and mute mother. The novel unravels her truth only in the end.

Nandhini marries Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar (Prabhu) even though he is much older than her, only to make her task to dethrone the Cholas easier. She works in tandem with the Pandyas to achieve her goal.

Other Characters In The Novel 

Vandhiyathevan (Karthi): Apart from the prominent Cholas fighting for the clan, there is another character in the novel who is loved by many, especially women. The man is Vandhiyathevan (Karthi), a prince with no kingdom. In the later part, Vandhiyathevan falls in love with Kundhavai and they develop a relationship. Vandhiyathevan is also one of the heroes of the novel. It is this character who guides readers through the story from Chapter One. 

Azhwarkadiyan Nambi (Jeyaram): Another important character, Azhwarkadiyan works as a spy for the Chola kingdom's administrative chief Anirudhha Brahmarayar. He is a Vaishnavite and frequently engages in a war of words with the Shaivites. Nandhini is Azhwarkadiyan’s foster sister.

Poonkuzhali (Aishwarya Lekshmi): The boatwoman takes Vandhiyathevan to Sri Lanka and also helps him while he falls sick along with Arulmozhi Varman.

The Movie Adaptation

Maniratnam wrote the script of Ponniyin Selvan along with Elango Kumaravel and B. Jeyamohan.

While the novel follows a certain storyline, Maniratnam's vision of Ponniyin Selvan may not have all the aspects or even the same story as that of ‘Kalki’ Krishnamurthy, according to reports.  

Actors including Karthi and Trisha have said in interviews that this Ponniyin Selvan is an adaptation but not the exact story of the novel. During a promotional event, the actors said though they started shooting after reading parts of the novel, they completely went with the script given by Maniratnam to avoid confusion due to the changes. 

Ponniyin Selvan: I is set to hit the cinemas on September 30.

Also Read: Trisha Krishnan And Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Pose For A Selfie On 'Ponniyin Selvan 1' Set

Also Read: 'Ponniyin Selvan 1' Makers Release A Lyrical Song Video 'Alaikadal'

Top Headline

Trending News

Photogallery

Trending Opinion

Personal Corner

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Ponniyin Selvan: Part Two

Arulmozhi Varman continues on his journey to become Rajaraja I, the greatest ruler of the historic Chola empire of south India. Arulmozhi Varman continues on his journey to become Rajaraja I, the greatest ruler of the historic Chola empire of south India. Arulmozhi Varman continues on his journey to become Rajaraja I, the greatest ruler of the historic Chola empire of south India.

• Mani Ratnam
• Sruti Harihara Subramanian
• Divya Prakash Dubey
• Kalki Krishnamoorthy
• 101 User reviews
• 28 Critic reviews
• 6 nominations

• Aditha Karikalan

• Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan

• Arunmozhi Varman

• Oomai Rani …

• Poonguzhali

• Azhwarkadiyan Nambi

• Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar
• (as Sarath Kumar)

• Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar

• Periya Vellar Boothi Vikramakesari

• Sundara Chozhan

• Madurantakar

• Sambuvuraiyar

• Veerapandiyan

• Parthibendra Pallavan
• Sruti Harihara Subramanian (Promo Videos Director)
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia Parthibendra Pallavan's character has a unique armor in this film - made of scaled leather, shiny and much like a snake's scaly skin. Perhaps, this is an indication of the Pallavas' mythical link to the "Nagas" in history.
• Goofs Aditta Karikala went to warfare at the age of twelve, and the child artist who depicts him looked much older while depicting this.

Parthibendra Pallavan : Aditta, you are the future of the Chozha kingdom. To protect that future, Nandini Devi invited you to Kadambur

Aditha Karikalan : To Kadambur? To the place of conspiracy? Are you the messenger for this? Has that plotter captured you too? Have you fallen into her magic net?

Parthibendra Pallavan : Aditha! I am your lifelong friend. I have entered the battlefields for you. If needed, I'll enter again... For my friend's future, for the future of Chozha kingdom, you need to come with me

Aditha Karikalan : Parthiba... What did she say? Tell me exactly

Parthibendra Pallavan : That you would come if she was the one who invited

• Soundtracks Aga Naga Song Composed, Produced and Arranged by A.R. Rahman Singer: Shakthisree Gopalan Lyrics: Ilango Krishnan

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 44 minutes
• IMAX 6-Track
• Dolby Digital
• Dolby Surround 7.1
• Dolby Atmos

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed

Ponniyin Selvan 1 (PS1) Movie Review

Average Ratings: 3.28/5 Score: 100% Positive Reviews Counted:8 Positive:6 Neutral:1 Negative:1

Ratings: Negative Sentiment  Review By: Komal Nahta Site: Zee ETC Bollywood Business

Mani Ratnams direction is good as far as technique is concerned, but he has not been able to penetrate into peoples hearts with his narration. In that sense, his narration fails to engage the viewers. On the whole, Ponniyin Selvan €“ I is a boring fare which will not find too many takers among the Hindi film-going audiences. Its Hindi dubbed version will, therefore, flop at the ticket windows.

Visit Site For More

Ratings: 4/5  Review By: Kirubhakar Site: Indian Express

The difference between Mani Ratnams brand of commercial films and the rest becomes evident with Ponniyin Selvan. He doesnt make demi-gods out of his heroes, they are just kings. Also, the filmmaker respects the audience. and thats why PS 1 is rewarding. He also understands that Ponniyin Selvan is itself a mainstream page-turner that panders to the audience. Hence, he neither dumbs it down nor intellectualizes it. Instead, he retains the flavour of the widely-enjoyed book in this thoroughly enjoyable film.

Ratings: 2.5/5  Review By: Shubham Site: Koimoi

Ponniyin Selvan is an iconic book and one that has enthralled readers in the South for years, the adaptation does manage to explain why showing the basics, but the big show lacks the thunder it must have. Part 2 has a lot to answer and if the approach stays like the first, hopes are dim.

Ratings: 3.5/5  Review By: Suganth Site:Times Of India

Mani Ratnam finally brings the dream alive with this spectacular adaptation that superbly captures the intrigue, thrills and page-turning quality of the books. In this first of a two-part franchise, the director and his writers €” Jeyamohan and Ilango Kumaravel €” rise up to the challenge. The manner in which they have condensed the novel is admirable, with the changes €” like Kundhavai storming into a secret discussion, the introduction of Ponniyin Selvan’s mysterious saviour – adding to the momentum of the narrative. Jeyamohan’s dialogues are especially a highlight as he uses language that is both classical and colloquial without making it seem odd.

Visit  Site For more

Ratings: 3/5  Review By: Janani Site:India Today

The film, a historical fiction, is adapted from Kalki Krishnamurthys epic Tamil literary novel that encapsulates the power struggle that rattled the Chola Dynasty. Mani Ratnams adaptation of the epic is high on VFX and does not follow the usual template of a period film. He takes his own sweet time to build the world of Ponniyin Selvan and throws in crucial details through his characters matter-of-factly.Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 ends on a high as it reveals the identity of an important character. That sets the tone for the second part, which will release in 2023.

Ratings: 3.25/5  Review By: Behindwoods Review Board Site:Behindwoods

Probably the most exciting element about Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1 is the story itself. Upon watching the film, one might finally get the answer to the question why is Ponniyin Selvan one of the best selling novels in the country. Right from the word Go, there is a natural tension that is present in each scene, keeping us on the edge of our seats.

Ratings: 3.75/5  Review By: Siddarth Site:OnlyKollywood

On the whole, Ponniyin Selvan 1 is a film that delivers just what we expected €“ a drama that stays true to its source material. Mani Ratnam decides to do it in his way and that drives down the potential excitement that could have been explored, but nevertheless, this is stuff worth watching on the big screen at least once.

Ratings: 3/5  Review By: MovieCrow Site:Movie Crow

Your experience could largely vary depending on your familiarity with Kalki’s novel. PS 1 is largely condensed, and plot driven. So, the emotions of characters and the significance of crucial events dont register as impactfully as one would have liked. But it also has some other things going for it. It delivers on the joys of watching a big scale movie with a studded star cast. Most importantly, it remains engaging despite the lack of high moments and has us anticipating the second part!

PS1 Advance Booking

Thiruchitrambalam Review

Upcoming Tamil Movies

Tamil Box Office Collection

Kerala Box Office Collection

Andhra Box Office Collection

Nagarjuna Net Worth

Ram Charan Net Worth

Jr NTR Net Worth

Upcoming Telugu Movies

Tollywood Box Office 

Top 35 Telugu Movies Box Office

New Latest Web Series

Upcoming Web Series 2022

Most Popular Singer In India List

Most Followed Instagram Accounts List

Most Expensive Movies In India

Top Bollywood Actors of All Time

Saif Ali Khan Net Worth

Amitabh Bachchan Net Worth

Amitabh Bachchan Box Office Collection

Tiger Shroff Box Office Collection

Varun Dhawan Box Office Collection

Ranveer Singh Box Office Collection

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Story:

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 story revolves around Vandiyathevan, a charming young man who sets out to the Chola land to deliver a message to the King and the Princess from the Crown Prince Aditya Karikalan. The story shuttles between Vandiyathevan’s travels in Chola country and the young Prince Arulmozhivarman’s travels in Sri Lanka.

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Release Date:

Sep 30, 2022 ( India) straight to Theaters

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Cast:

Vikram Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Jayam Ravi Karthi Trisha Aishwarya Lekshmi Sobhita Dhulipala Prabhu R. Sarathkumar Vikram Prabhu Jayaram Prakash Raj Rahman R. Parthiban

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Director: 

Mani Ratnam

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Producer: 

Mani Ratnam Subaskaran Allirajah

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Production Companies:

Madras Talkies Lyca Productions

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Distribution Companies:

Red Giant Movies (Tamil Nadu) Sri Venkateswara Creations (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana) Sree Gokulam Movies (Kerala) Pen India Limited (North India) Lyca Productions in association with Tentkotta (Overseas)

Ponniyin Selvan 1 Run Time: 

2 Hours 47 Minutes (167 minutes)

You May Also Like

Remember Me

Lost Password

Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.

• WEB STORIES New
• ENTERTAINMENT
• CAREER & CAMPUS
• INFOGRAPHICS
• ISL 2023-24

• Manorama Online
• Manorama News TV
• ManoramaMAX
• Radio Mango
• Subscription

• Entertainment
• Entertainment News

PVR INOX to start screening Malayalam films at newly opened theatre complexes in Kerala

The disagreement regarding the screening of Malayalam films at PVR INOX complexes in two prominent malls in Kerala ended on Saturday after week-long deliberations between the Kerala Film Producers Association and PVR management, according to Manorama News. Read Also: Yusuff Ali intervenes to resolve crisis, PVR INOX resumes screening of Malayalam films The decision comes a week after PVR revoked its ban on Malayalam films across its theatres in the country, except its new complexes at Forum Mall in Kochi and R.P. Mall in Kozhikode. PVR had stopped screening Malayalam films in its theatres amid the Eid-Vishu festivities, last week. The tussle began after the PVR management refused to accept the conditions laid out by the Kerala Film Producers Association regarding the Virtual Print Fee (VPF) paid to exhibitors. The producers' council introduced the Producers' Digital Cinema (PDC) facility two years ago to reduce the burden on Malayalam filmmakers who are forced to pay hefty amounts as VPF to exhibitors for screening films at theatres. However, PVR INOX, which had already entered into a contract with QUBE, a major content service provider, refused to avail the PDC facility. As a mark of protest, they stopped screening Malayalam films across all its theatres. PVR, however, resumed screening of Malayalam films on April 14.

• Kerala Film Producers Association

Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas to move into renovated LA home worth Rs 1,600 crore: Report

Aishwarya Rai puts divorce rumours to rest, posts 17th-anniversary picture with Abhishek Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan is shrouded in mystery in new 'Kalki 2898 AD' poster

Ouija board, comedy, and Malayali realities: Exploring the success of 'Romancham' | The Haunted Column

Weekend Reads: Five reasons why 'Amar Singh Chamkila' is a rage now and what makes Imtiaz Ali's film tick for the masses

Jewellery worth Rs 1 crore stolen from filmmaker Joshiy's house in Kochi

Sandeep Reddy Vanga threatens to replace Adil Hussain's face in 'Kabir Singh' after actor bashes movie

'Premalu 2' confirmed! Naslen-Mamitha starrer to hit theatres in 2025