Film Review: Ponniyin Selvan: Part One

Filmmaker Mani Ratnam has taken on the epic process of adapting Tamil bestseller “Ponniyin Selvan” into two components, the primary of which launched to wonderful field workplace in India and abroad on Sept. 29.

The movie, with screenplay by Ratnam, Jayamohan and Kumaravel, is usually trustworthy to Kalki Krishnamurthy’s 5 novels, the trio has streamlined the historic fiction first serialized within the Nineteen Fifties within the Tamil journal Kalki earlier than being translated into a number of different languages, together with English. They had been primarily based on the good ruler Raja Raja Chola (Chola, king of kings), who expanded his empire from modern-day Tamilnadu all the best way north to the Ganges.

The top result’s epic with nice battles on land and sea, accompanied by the music of Oscar winner A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”). The spy vs. spy nature of the story incessantly resembles a twelfth century Bourne story, however interspersed with track and dance.

Within the eleventh and twelfth centuries, Southern India was dominated by the Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas, Pallavas, Hoysalas and different dynasties. The movie opens on the Chola crown prince Aditha Karikalan (Vikram) and his military being victorious on the sphere. Aditha sends his trustworthy aide Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan (Karthi) to see what is going on in his father’s palace the place Chola chieftains are gathering for a secret assembly. Vandiyadevan quickly falls in with a non secular man Azhwarkadiyan Nambi (Jayaram), who whereas offering some comedian aid is one other spy. They uncover a plot to take the crown from the ailing king Sundara Chola and provides it to his nephew, who had been handed over. Amongst these making an attempt to make use of Vandiyadevan is the attractive Nandini (Aishwariya Rai Bachchan), who makes use of her appears to be like to get her husband, commander Chinna Pazhuvettariyar (R. Parthiban).

Whereas the solid and plot get extra concerned, Ratnam retains the totally different strands shifting at a quick tempo so that you simply don’t discover the almost three-hour operating time. The titular Ponniyan Selvan doesn’t even actually make an look till virtually the intermission.

When he does present up, the youthful Chola prince, Arunmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi) often known as Ponniyin Selvan as a result of he was saved from drowning within the Ponni river (aka Cauvery), reveals his allure and diplomacy. There’s a mom determine who saves him every time he’s in peril of the water.

DP Ravi Varman does justice to the sweep of the story, particularly the battle scenes that reminds one of many images on the “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, particularly coupled with Rahman’s hovering music.

All through the below-the-line work is top-notch, not simply with the digital camera and music but additionally manufacturing design (Thotta Tharani). The Cholas had been well-known for the temples they constructed, with the Thanjavur temple standing even now as a testomony to their artistry. The units displaying town of Thanjavur, the brand new metropolis of Kanchi and Sri Lanka, whereas augmented with wonderful VFX carry to life Kalki’s prose that enchanted so many readers.

Add to that the costume design, hair and make-up and particularly the jewellery (items of which are actually supplied on sale) for not solely the princes and different nobles but additionally the women from Nandini to the princess Kundavai (Trisha Krishnan).

Ratnam has at all times had a knack for drawing out the most effective performances from Rai Bachchan (whom he had solid in his “Iruvar,” “Guru” and “Raavanan”),  as she does on her return to the display for the primary time after 2018, even when her dialogue is spoken by Deepa Venkat. As Vandiyadevan, Karthi brings an exuberant motion to the movie whereas Ravi as Arunmozhi is charming and Vikram and Parthiban exhibit harmful intent. Rai Bachchan is suitably scheming as is Krishnan because the princess who solely cares concerning the Chola kingdom and is jealous (with cause) of Nandini’s magnificence and beguile.

The movie ends on a cliffhanger. Half two is scheduled to be launched in 2023.