Ponniyin Selvan 2 (PS2) Trailer: The second and last part of Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan (PS) is all set to release on April 28th. Before that, the fans were anticipating the grand audio and trailer launch of PS2 on March 29th at Nehru Stadium, Chennai. Prior to the event, the makers released the serene first single (‘Aga Naga’) of PS2 on March 20th. Featuring star actors like Aishwarya Rai, Vikram, Trisha, Karthi, and ‘Jeyam’ Ravi, Ponniyin Selvan: Part I (PS1) was released on September 30, 2022. The films chronicle the multi-faceted power struggles for the throne in the 10th-century Chola Dynasty. Though planned as two parts like SS Rajamouli’s fantasy epic Baahubali, Ponniyin Selvan didn’t feature larger-than-life moments since it’s a period drama that’s loosely inspired by real events from history.
Ponniyin Selvan is based on the five-volume novel by renowned Tamil author Kalki Krishnamurthy. Between 1950 and 1954, the novel was first serialized in the weekly editions of the magazine Kalki. It was published in book form in 1955, and the story runs over 2000+ pages. Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan was one of the most popular novels in Tamil literature. There are five different English-translated editions of the novel. Right from the serialized edition in the 1950s, the story of Chola Kingdom generated a huge fan following, which still persists to this day among the Tamil people. The vast canvas of Kalki’s world-building, vivid narration, gripping characters, and witty dialogues looked tailor-made for a grand cinematic narrative.
Unfortunately, it took decades before the dream of a film adaptation was finally realized by Mani Ratnam. Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam were attached to the project in the 1980s, but it was shelved due to budgetary constraints. Before the duo, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and star actor M.G. Ramachandran bought the rights for the novel in 1958, but it never went to the shooting phase. In 1999, actor and playwright Elango Kumaravel adapted the books for a stage play. Mr. Kumaravel’s condensed narrative offered a basic structure to the movie script, which Mani Ratnam worked alongside writer Jeyamohan. And finally, despite the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was successfully shot in 2021 in locations ranging from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madhya Pradesh, and Hyderabad.
Ponniyin Selvan: Part I was a commercial and critical success in Tamil Nadu. However, it received a mixed reaction outside Tamil Nadu. The first part wrapped up with a cliffhanger ending, implanting doubt regarding the fate of Crown Prince Arulmozhi Varman (played by Jeyam Ravi). It also teased us with the mystery behind ‘Mute Queen’ Mandakini Devi.
PS2 Trailer exceeds the three-minute mark (3:27), like the trailer of the first part. As expected, the trailer shows how the Chola empire’s archenemies make use of the chaotic environment created by Arulmozhi Varman’s alleged death to usurp the throne. Arulmozhi’s elder brother and Crown Prince Aditya Karikalan (Vikram), seems to be caught in the ensuing conflict, and he is also on a personal quest for vengeance against Pazhuvoor princess Nandini (Aishwarya Rai). Of course, there’s not much surprise to Arulmozhi’s fate, and the trailer offers a glimpse into his journey with Vanthiyathevan (Karthi) from Sri Lanka to the Chola Empire.
While there were complaints regarding Mani Ratnam’s modest staging of war sequences in the first part, the trailer promises gritty combat scenes in PS2. However, Ponniyin Selvan is largely a tale of confrontations between powerful individuals on opposing sides. One such anticipated moment is the eventual showdown between Aishwarya’s Nandini and Vikram’s Aditya Karikalan. The trailer ends with an imagery that teases the all-important, nail-biting moment.
Now let’s wait and see whether PS2 turns out to be a more intense and intriguing entertainment than PS1.
PS2 opens in movie theatres on April 28th, 2023.
Related Read: The 30 Best Indian Movies of 2022
Watch the Trailer for Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2 (PS2) Trailer Here:
