PS-1 has done the basic work and introduced the story. So, PS 2 won’t be tricky,” Karthi said…reports Asian Lite News
Tamil star Karthi admitted in the Capital on Tuesday that it was not easy for people unfamiliar with the history of the Chola Dynasty to understand the first part of ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, Mani Ratnam’s multi-award-winning periood drama that set a Tamil box-office record for 2022 by grossing Rs 502 crore.
But Part 2, which is releasing on April 28, will be easier for audiences in the North especially to comprehend, emphasised the actor who plays the victorious Chola general, Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan, in the film. Karthi added that if the first part was like an introduction, the second brings out the real story.
Speaking to the media, Karthi shared how he explained the story to his friends. “I sent them a WhatsApp message with info about the story and it helped them understand the film. PS-1 has done the basic work and introduced the story. So, PS 2 won’t be tricky,” Karthi said.
Vikram, who plays the Chola prince Aditya Karikalan, elaborated on what Karthi had said and added: “The confusion is about the names. I could not get some of the names and their pronounciation. It is tough even for me. I can well imagine how challenging it must have been when the film was being dubbed.”
‘Ponniyin Selvan-2’ is based on the Tamil classic, ‘Ponniyin Selvan, by Kalki Krisnamurthy. The story revolves around the early life of prince Arulmozhi Varman, who went on to become the famous Rajaraja Chola I.
Its principal cast includes Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha, Jayam Ravi and Sobhita Dhulipala. ‘Ponniyin Selvan-2’ will be released on April 28.
A short video featuring Jeyam Ravi, Aishwarya Rai, Karthik and Vikram was unleashed to announce the release date of PS-2…reports Asian Lite News
The makers of Ponniyin Selvan have announced that the second part of the movie, ‘Ponniyin Selvan-2’ (PS-2) will be released in theatres on April 28, 2023.
The movie starring Chiyaan Vikram, Jeyam Ravi, Karthik, Aishwarya Rai, Trisha, Aishwarya Lakshmi, and Jayaram is directed by one of the doyens of the Indian film industry, Mani Ratnam will hit the theatres seven months after the release of the first part of the movie, ‘Ponniyin Selvan-1’ which was released in September. Oscar-winning music director, A.R. Rahman is doing the music for the movie.
A short video featuring Jeyam Ravi, Aishwarya Rai, Karthik and Vikram was unleashed to announce the release date of PS-2.
‘Ponniyin Selvan’ is being produced by Mani Ratnam’s Madras Talkies and Alirajah Subaskaran’s Lyca productions and the first part of the movie collected Rs 500 crore across the globe.
The first part received positive and mixed reviews and the second part is expected to be more thrilling.
The movie is based on the epic book written by the Tamil writer ‘Kalki’. It is regarded as a prestige project for Mani Ratnam. The icon of Tamil movies and late Chief Minister, M.G. Ramachandran, had tried to make the novel into a movie, but was not successful.
Director Mani Ratnam scores in almost every department, right from the casting. There is not a single actor who looks out of place…reviewed by Manigandan K R
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zSeMrIBaIY
Ponniyin Selvan 1 (Playing in theatres). Duration: 167 minutes. Released in theatres Director: Mani Ratnam. Cast: Vikram, Karthi, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha, Jayam Ravi, Prabhu, Vikram Prabhu, Jayaram, Prakash Raj, Sarathkumar and Parthiban, Rating: **** (4 stars)
Make no mistake about it, Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan – Part I’ is a masterpiece that deserves all your adulation and love.
The auteur does a phenomenal job of bringing to life the exceptional characters of eminent writer Kalki’s finest creation, ‘Ponniyin Selvan’.
The beauty of Part one of the two-part film lies in the fact that Mani Ratnam has not only made the story concise but has managed to do so carefully, taking adequate care not to dilute the essence of the novel or its charm.
He narrates with flair the intense and gripping story that has all elements ranging from bravery to conspiracy to romance to revenge to loyalty and manages to showcase the multiple layers of most of his characters.
The story begins with a comet appearing over the Chola skies almost a 1000 years ago. The Oracles predict that the comet will claim the life of someone from the royal family of the Cholas. That means the lives of Emperor Sundara Chozhar (Prakash Raj) and his sons – Aditha Karikalan (Vikram) and young Arun Mozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi) are in danger.
While Aditha Karikalan, who has already beaten the Pandyas and the Rashtrakutas, is now heading to Kalinga for his next conquest, his younger brother, Arun Mozhi Varman is leading a naval campaign to Sri Lanka.
While the brothers are busy expanding the Chola empire, there is danger lurking close to the Chola kingdom.
Aditha Karikalan, who is aware of backstabbers and betrayers, learns from his spies that a conspiracy is being hatched against the Royal family at the Kadambur fort back home.
He chooses his trusted aide and close friend, Vallavarayan Vanthiyathevan, a gifted warrior with a glib tongue and a sharp presence of mind, to head back to the Kadambur fort and find out what is being plotted.
Vanthiyathevan soon arrives and learns that a conspiracy is being hatched to pronounce Madhurantakan (Rahman) as the next crown prince by the finance minister Periya Pazhuvettarayar (Sarath Kumar), who is controlled by his wily wife, Nandini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), who has her own loyalties.
The danger doesn’t stop there. While a conspiracy is being hatched inside the kingdom for the throne, the defeated Pandyas, who are craving revenge, have unleashed a group of assassins who make it their life’s mission to kill the Chola emperor and his princes.
Director Mani Ratnam scores in almost every department, right from the casting. There is not a single actor who looks out of place.
Jayam Ravi as Arun Mozhi Varman is just perfect. Strong, dignified, loyal and brave, he does a fantastic job and steals the show despite appearing only in the second half of the film.
Vikram as Aditha Karikalan is magnificent. Courageous like a lion, he roars his way into our hearts as he conquers kingdom after kingdom. Vikram plays his part with so much conviction, it is easy to see that the warrior prince is choosing to go to battle repeatedly to ease the excruciating pain and disappointment he is suffering from not being able to live with the love of his life.
Karthi as Vanthiyathevan and Jayaram as Azhawarkadiyan Nambi complement each other beautifully and their portions together are a treat to watch. Karthi does justice to the role of Vanthiyathevan, scoring on all three counts – a die-hard romantic, a smooth talker and a fearless warrior.
Aishwarya as Nandini and Trisha as Kundavai steal the show. Both ladies along with Aishwarya Lekshmi as Kuzhali, are just outstanding in their respective roles.
Sarathkumar as Periya Pazhuvettarayar and Parthiban as Chinna Pazhuvettarayar are equally impressive and majestic.
A. R. Rahman’s magical background score is what binds the entire movie as one and lifts its already high standard by another notch.
Ravi Varman’s visuals are nothing less than stunning and spectacular. In fact, they are so good that this film can just be watched just for its visuals.
On the whole, ‘Ponniyin Selvan 1’ is a job well begun. Now, let’s hope master film maker Mani Ratnam makes us conclude that its a job well done by making an equally spectacular ‘Ponniyin Selvan 2’.
The movie depicts the story of prince Arulamozhi Varman aka Ponniyin Sevan, who later became Chola emperor and was known as Raja Raja the Great…reports Asian Lite News
It is often said that ‘the fruit of patience is sweet’. Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan: I’, a period drama based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s Ponniyin Selvan, serves as a perfect example of this idea.
Tamil superstar Vikram, who plays 10th century Chola prince Aditha Karikalan in the film, shares his thoughts on the movie as well as giving a peek of the intricacies that happened behind the scenes.
On being asked about his preparation for the jaw-dropping action scenes of the movie, Vikram explains: “We took a basic sword training and horse-riding training. It is the team which made it possible for us to do all this without taking any damage. We learned from each other.”
The movie, ‘Ponniyin Selvan: I’, have Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as the queen Nandhini and Chiyaan Vikram as the Prince Aditya Karikalan, a fierce warrior, and Karthi plays a grey-shaded role of a spy as Vanthiyathevan.
Directed by Mani Ratnam, it is a period drama based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s 1955 novel Ponniyin Selvan.
The movie depicts the story of prince Arulamozhi Varman aka Ponniyin Sevan, who later became Chola emperor and was known as Raja Raja the Great.
Playing a historical character in a movie based on a novel written nearly seven decades ago is no mean feat. Mani Ratnam attempted to make this film in the mid-1990s and early 2010s but could not succeed.
Talking about his role and the impact of Mani Ratnam, Vikram says: “The primary reason we are all in this film is because of Mani Ratnam. Ponniyin Selvan is something that everybody has thought about being a part of. Mani Ratnam has had this beautiful career and even he could not do it. So, it has been everyone’s dream to make this.”
“The moment it happened, we just jumped into it. Mani sir is my dream director and I have always wanted to work with him. Every role is very important. Each one of us had our favourites, but we ultimately did what Mani sir told us. How well we could play our roles depends on his feedback.”
The actor, who has been part of several Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Hindi films gained a lot of popularity with his performance as a rogue turned lover in ‘Sethu’.
He also worked in Mani Ratnam’s bilingual films ‘Raavanan’ and ‘Raavan’. Vikram is among the most popular faces of the Tamil film industry.
Relating with a multifaceted character who lived in a time that was quite different from the modern era can be difficult. “You will not see us as normal heroes. My character is always dusty and sweaty,” says Vikram.
He adds: “So, all of us had that realism. About getting into the character, I think that apart from reading the book or the script, you have to speak to the director and then come to an understanding of what you want. Mani sir is very good at giving you the freedom to explore what you are capable of and knowing what lies within you.”
Vikram also reveals the traits of Aditha Karikalan that he loved and hated the most.
He says: “I love the fact that he is so aggressive and so powerful. He is also the crown prince. He has legions and conquers everything. He is also vulnerable because of love. What I hate is that he gave up everything and went off to war.”
Chiyaan Vikram
Finally, Vikram expresses his admiration for the characters, saying: “I loved all the characters. I have always been fascinated by characters such as Aladdin, Sindbad, and Jack Sparrow. They have the quality of being brave and foolish and then running to fight.”
Adding more about South star Trisha’s character Kundavai in the film, he asserts: “Every character will have their own unique trait, such as Trisha’s character. Even in modern times, there are stories in which women don’t have any say. You have a hero and a woman who is just there for the songs. Imagine them and see how Trisha is sharing the space with so many men. In spite of the fact that we are all heroes, she and all the other women have roles and are also strong. So, every character is specifically strong.”
With lyrics by Ilango Krishnan, the song describes the journey of the Chola Chief, Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan, played by Karthi, who is seen riding through the kingdom carrying an important message…reports Asian Lite News
“Ponni Nadhi”, the foot-tapping first single from the maestro Mani Ratnam’s much-awaited magnum opus “Ponniyin Selvan”, was launched amid much fanfare here. In the presence of some members of the historical action drama’s star cast, namely Karthi, Jayam Ravi and Jayaram, scores of people crammed on all floors of a Chennai mall, to watch the number which has been sung by A.R. Rahman and has spectacular visuals.
With lyrics by Ilango Krishnan, the song describes the journey of the Chola Chief, Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan, played by Karthi, who is seen riding through the kingdom carrying an important message.
The song, even as it describes the beauty of the river, the crops, the women of the kingdom and the bravery of the people of the land, is a reminder to the messenger of the task he has on his hands and the speed with which he must complete it. The lines suggest that he must see the Ponni river before the sun goes down.
The song and the spectacular visuals shot by Ravivarman received a thunderous applause from those who had gathered at the mall in large numbers for the launch. On popular demand, the number was screened twice and played thrice, much to the delight of those present.
Ramachandran also explains how Arunmozhi Varman, on getting to know his uncle Uttama Cholan’s desire to be the king, did not become king and let him rule for 12 to 15 years…reports Asian Lite News
The makers of Mani Ratnam’s upcoming magnum opus “Ponniyin Selvan” on Saturday evening released a second video in which experts shed more light on Raja Raja Chola on whom the story of the promised spectacle is based.
Experts in the second video clip clarified that Raja Raja Chola’s original name was Arunmozhi Varman, and not Arulmozhi Varman as is popularly believed.
Jayakumar, a researcher on cultural history, says: “Is his name Arunmozhi or Arulmozhi? We cross checked with the copper inscriptions from the Chola period, it was Arunmozhi Varman. This Arunmozhi Varman, when he later becomes the king of the Chola empire, assumes the title Raja Raja Chola.”
Another historian, S Ramachandran says: “He was called Arunmozhi Perumal or Arunmozhi Varman. An inscription in Sri Lanka says ‘Perumagan’ (King). Perumagan is what must have been, over a period of time, changed into Perumal.”
Ramachandran also explains how Arunmozhi Varman, on getting to know his uncle Uttama Cholan’s desire to be the king, did not become king and let him rule for 12 to 15 years.
Bharathy Bhaskar, a popular orator, explains how this act of Arunmozhi Varman has a message for all of us.
In the first video clip that the team released a few days ago, experts and researchers explained about the administration of the Cholas, their conquests and their contributions to art and culture.
Described by Mani Ratnam as his “dream project”, the film, the first part of which is scheduled to hit the screens on September 30 this year. The cast includes a host of top stars, including actors Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, Trisha, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Jayaram, Parthiban, Lal, Vikram Prabhu, Jayaram, Prabhu and Prakash Raj. It will be among the most expensive projects ever undertaken in the country.
A.R. Rahman is scoring the music for this epic historical and cinematography is by Ravi Varman. National Award- winning art director Thotta Tharani is in charge of production design while Mani Ratnam’s trusted editor Sreekar Prasad is handling its editing.
Karthi concluded by saying: “Presenting it in the format of a movie is a gift that Mani sir is presenting to the next generation. You cannot create history without learning history…reports Asian Lite News
Karthi, who plays ‘Vanthiyathevan’, one of the central characters in director Mani Ratnam’s eagerly-awaited magnum opus ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, says the film based on a novel by eminent writer Kalki is a gift to the younger generation.
Speaking at the teaser launch event of the film that was held at the Chennai Trade Centre on Saturday, Karthi said, “In our schools, we learn more about how we were colonised by foreigners. Yet, we keep calling ourselves Tamilians! If someone were to ask us what makes us great, many of us here wouldn’t know what to answer. We wouldn’t know how our kings were. How our kingdoms and their administrations were. But it is important that we learn all of these.
“There is a lot to say (about the kingdoms and the administrations then). Take for instance the Cholas. The Kallanai dam, which they built almost 2,000 years ago, is still intact even to this day.
“The Veeranam lake, which was providing water to Chennai to meet its drinking water needs, was built by them. Twenty kilometres in length and seven kilometres in breadth, the lake was built by the king who got his army to do that. Then, there is the famous Brihadeeshwarar temple or the Periya Kovil, which has no foundation but has a height of 216 feet.”
Continuing to give more details of the other achievements of the Chola kings, Karthi said, “Even foreigners would only navigate on the sides of a water body. It was the Tamilians who learnt about the existence of undercurrents and used it to travel across seas.
“To this day, many of Tamil Nadu government’s welfare schemes were all formulated by the Cholas. There are several facts like these. But people like us who flip videos in 10 seconds don’t have the time for them.”
Karthi concluded by saying: “Presenting it in the format of a movie is a gift that Mani sir is presenting to the next generation. You cannot create history without learning history.
“The younger generation is going to see this (film) and learn. When you watch the movie, you will be overcome by a sense of pride. And when you feel pride, you want to preserve it. When you strive to preserve it, you make progress. I thank Mani sir for this big gift.”
The film, called by Mani Ratnam as his dream project, will be among the most expensive projects ever undertaken in the country…reports Asian Lite News
On the heels of releasing the first looks of Vikram as Aditya Karikalan and Karthi as Vanthiyathevan from director Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus, ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, the makers of the much-awaited epic film on Wednesday released the first look of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Queen Nandini in the film.
Lyca Productions, which is producing the film along with Mani Ratnam’s Madras Talkies, tweeted the first look picture of Aishwaraya Rai in the film and said: “Vengeance has a beautiful face! Meet Nandini, the queen of Pazhuvoor!” The film, the first part of which will release on September 30 this year, will release in five languages — Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi.
The film is based on the classic Tamil novel Ponniyin Selvan by eminent writer Kalki. The film, called by Mani Ratnam as his dream project, will be among the most expensive projects ever undertaken in the country.
The film has the best business handling for each of its departments. A. R. Rahman is scoring the music for this epic historical and cinematography is by Ravi Varman. National Award winning art director Thotta Tharani is in charge of production design while Mani Ratnam’s trusted editor Sreekar Prasad is the editor.
