Ponniyin Selvan review and rating

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The Chola kingdom is under threat from forces both internal and external and with crown prince Aaditha Karikalan, his younger brother Ponniyin Selvan and the emperor, Sundara Cholar separated by the situation, it is up to a messenger to ensure the safety of the kingdom. What happens next, especially when Nandhini, Karikalan’s ex-girlfriend, is attempting to topple the Chola empire?

Mani Ratnam’s stunning adaptation of Kalki’s enormous epic Ponniyin Selvan, which perfectly captures the mystery, thrills, and page-turning nature of the books, finally brings the dream of many Tamil filmmakers to life. In this first of a two-part franchise, the director and his writers – Jeyamohan and Ilango Kumaravel – rise up to the challenge.

The movie does get off to a rocky start because the filmmaker takes his time setting up the story. The kingdom is under attack, so the crown prince Aaditha Karikalan (Vikram) asks his buddy Vandhiyathevan (Karthi) to inform his sister, princess Kunthavai (Trisha), and the emperor Sundara Cholar (Prakash Raj) of the situation. The schemers include Periya Pazhuvettarayar (Sarath Kumar) and Chinna Pazhuvettarayar (Radhakrishnan Parthiban), the empire’s finance minister and commander, the numerous kings who have sworn fealty to the emperor, the remaining forces of the vanquished Pandya king and most importantly, Nandhini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), Karikalan’s former lover and the wife of Periya Pazhuvettarayar, who is determined to bring the entire Chola empire down for reasons of her own.

As we are introduced to the many participants in the plot and the history connecting them, these sections, which inevitably contain some exposition given the nature of the tale, have very jerky transitions. There are points when we feel that there are too many events happening quickly, which could make it difficult for anyone who hasn’t read the books to understand the plot. The quick character introductions also mean that we move on to the next one before we completely understand the motivations of the one we just met.

But after a while, the movie settles down, and by the time we get to the interval, we’re immersed in this story about royal intrigue. The pace picks up as the action shifts to Sri Lanka, where Karikalan’s younger brother Arunmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi), the titular Ponniyin Selvan, is attempting to capture the king of the land. The director also sets up the sequel on a high note with these action-packed scenes involving the slain Pandya king’s personal guards, who arrive there to kill Arunmozhi.

Ponniyin Selvan Trailer

Cast: Vikram, Karthi, Jayaram Ravi, Trisha, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Director: Mani Ratnam