Ponniyin Selvan 2 Review (PS 2): Mani Ratnam Has Made Impossible Film Possible
Cast Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha Krishnan, Sobhita Dhulipala, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Jayaram, R. Sarathkumar, Parthiban Radhakrishnan, Prabhu, Prakash Raj, Rahman, Kishore Kumar G., Lal, Nizhalgal Ravi, Nassar, Vikram Prabhu
Director: Mani Ratnam
Where to Watch: In Theaters
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 4/5 (four stars) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Ponniyin Selvan 1 (PS 1), released in September 2022, created a stir in the world. Now Ponniyin Selvan 2 (PS2) has also been released in the theaters today. Based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s historical novel Ponniyin Selvan, the film beautifully depicts the splendor, art, politics, economy, warfare, etc. of the Chola Empire and brings it to the screen with the same grandeur, by veteran director Mani Ratnam. While PS 1 introduced the characters and introduced the Chola Empire, PS 2 shows the development of the characters and their respective interests. Mani Ratnam has made the seemingly impossible work possible by taking great work from so many great artists. This is the mark of a great director. Due to its tight storyline and stellar performances by the cast, the film is released across 3200 screens worldwide today.
Another special thing about this film is that it is the first film that is released in theaters in 4DX format. The problem with Bollywood people is that they do not have a story and this time the problem with South people is that the story is there, but it is so complicated that you will have to pull your hair out to understand it. After watching PS1, I felt that if I had read the novel on which this film is based, I would have understood the film. It also felt that there is an introduction in the first part. There will be fun in the second. It was fun but understanding the story has also become a punishment. When I was watching this film, the audience sitting in front said in the interval what a boring film Yaar. Salman’s film was better than this. Means someone’s brother someone’s life. But it does not mean that PS 2 is bad, yes, it is not for everyone.
Ponniyin Selvan 2 Review (PS 2): The Story Plot
The story is set in the Chola Empire ruled by Emperor Sundara Chola (Prakash Raj), but his health is not keeping well. In such a situation, he wants his son Aditya Karikalan (Chiyan Vikram) to become the ruler of the Chola Empire while Sundara Chola’s daughter Kundavai (Trisha Krishnan) favors the younger son Arunmuri Varman aka Ponniyin Selvan (Jayam Ravi) as the king. Prince Aditya’s accomplice is Vallavarayan (Karthi) who unearths a conspiracy being hatched against the Chola Empire. On the other hand, the pair of brothers Periya Pazhuvetrayar (R. Sarathkumar) and China Pazhuvetrayar (R. Prathiban) are planning to take over the Chola kingdom. They want to make Madhuranthagana, the son of Sundara Chola’s brother, king.
On the other hand, Periya Pazhuvetrayar’s wife Nandini (Aishwarya Roy Bachchan) is burning with the fire of vengeance and wants to see the defeat of the Chola Empire. There was a time when Nandini and Aditya Karikalan were lovers, but their relationship broke at such a point, their wounds have not healed to date. The film was introduced in the first part, and now the further story is shown in Selvan 2 where the story is expanded, and many such questions are answered which were not found in part 1. The storyline and characterization are the strong side of the film. The period, language and environment have also been beautifully depicted, and dialogue and music have also been given special attention.
Ponniyin Selvan 2 Review (PS 2) and Analysis
is lavish and the elaborate sets and elaborate costumes and heavy jewelry worn by the characters, Mani Ratnam has worked on this with great detail, giving the audience a glimpse of the Chola Empire. The screenplay is so brilliant that the film takes the audience to the era when the Chola Empire ruled. Everyone in the film is brilliant. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is brilliant in the character of Nandini. She looks beautiful and has done a great acting job. It is fun to watch her on screen. Vikram’s work is also amazing. The scene between Vikram and Aishwarya is fantastic. Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Trisha, Aishwarya Lakshmi, and Shobhita Dhulipal all have done amazing acting. The film gets full marks in the acting department.
This film will be very much liked by those viewers who know about this story. Those who have read about it but who do not know about this novel will be confused. You will enjoy the scenes of the film but maybe the story will be linked together. Will not be able to the film looks grand the locations are superb the characters look good. The dialogue is tremendous but still, you struggle continuously to understand the story. Mani Ratnam’s direction is good. Mani Ratnam has left no stone unturned to make the film grand, but the way of telling the story should have been a bit simpler for the Hindi audience. This film will be understood by those who have already read about the Chola Empire, but who read the book before watching the film.
Although director Mani Ratnam has set some important scenes for all the actors in the second part, Nandini and Aditha Karikalan win us over with their excellent performances. Just like Aditha Karigalan says about Nandini as a ‘cobra’, Aishwarya Rai has shown her revenge scene after scene throughout the film. Through her tears she makes it clear that such a vengeful woman knows about her mother and that there is affection in her too. Vikram is aggressive throughout the film as Aditha Karikalan, the passionate prince. The Kadampur mansion scene where he meets his ex-girlfriend Nandini is enough to praise Vikram’s performance. As in the novel, director Mani Ratnam has not answered the question of who killed him in the film.
Vandiyath Devan Karthi has left his mark on the opportunities that Vikram and Aishwarya Rai have to occupy the entire film. It is special that Karthi’s performance reveals what a true friend and hero look like. In the scene where Vandiyadevan and Kundavai meet, the cinematography, background music, and dialogue make us fall into their love trap. Titled ‘Ponni’inin Selvan’, the second part of the film does not contain any important scenes for him. However, Jayam Ravi has played the character of Arunmozhi Varman, who has a generous character, without diminishing the value of the character. How generous that Arunmozhi Varman was crowned as the king of the Chola Empire after 14 years. Jayam Ravi’s performance of that character is commendable. Trisha is a princess who excels in beauty and politics. She makes us wonder scene after scene with her performance as if this is how the beauty of Kundavai would have been.
Even though the scenes of Sundara Chola, Periya Paluvettaraiyar, Pesila Paluvettaraiyar, Madhuranthak Devar, Parthipendra Pallavan, Periya Velar, Alwarkadiyan, Ravidasan, Poonguzhali, Vanathi, Sempiyan Mathevi appear in the film for a short time, the director has given them their due importance. Ravi Varman’s cinematography is better than in the first part and even better in the second part. AR Raghuman is intimidating in the background score. It is a great pity that only the songs got a little space. Only in the climax comes the battlefield scenes. In between there are some fights from time to time. If after watching the first part and this second part, the younger generation doesn’t buy and read the Ponniyin Selvan novel books, Mani Ratnam is the only one responsible for that. To that extent within five hours, ‘Bonniin Selvan’ has made us enjoy the history.
Although he has made some grand historical films in other more through VFX and graphics scenes and collected thousands of crores, Mani Ratnam has recorded the history of this thousand-year-old famous Rajaraja Chola on celluloid without any exaggeration or artificiality. Some of the characters who were not in the novel would have been a disappointment to the fans of the novel if they did not get a place in this second part. I don’t know why the climax scene was added to the film which was not included in the novel written by Kalki…??? Now, director Mani Ratnam has set a perfect start for many historical films to come. Not stopping with these two parts, the fans will also demand that the ‘historical journey of the Cholas’ be given successively.
Many people know how to love by drowning. But very few people can take an understanding of that love with them and bring it on screen with complete innocence. Mani Ratnam is among such a select few. Seeing his films, it seems that he is not in favor of showing only happy moments of love. Two stages of love are seen in PS-2. The first one is naughty. It has started to grow slowly. Between Vanditevan and Kundawai. However, these were just selected moments. We get to see the bitterness that love leaves when it fails, between Aditya Karikalan and Nandini. We see Aditya most of the time on the battlefield. Angry rider. The one looking for a chance to paint his sword red. He is not going to be happy with himself. Destructive tendency. Who says that one who hates himself does not find peace?
Mani Ratnam faithfully captures the intimate moments between two lovers. Seeing the anger between Aditya and Nandini, it is understood that once both of them had drowned in love. Emotions like anger and jealousy entered later. There is a scene between the two characters before the climax. For me, it was the most effective and honest scene of the entire film. Can’t live like Aditya in front of anyone else. One can be vulnerable without hesitation in front of only one person. Can have the courage to own up to his mistake. His armor falls only in front of Nandini. As well as symbolically.
This scene makes you realize that this is Aditya and Nandini’s universe. The world outside that room is just going on. Had PS-2 been only a love story of these two people, it would have probably turned out to be a much better film. Nandini and Aditya became Aishwarya and Vikram is the star of this film. The film goes awry as soon as these two people leave the world. First of all, the story of Ponniyin Selvan is so big that it should have been a series. Here a lot of information is sent to you. Many people had this complaint even from the first part. It does not change in the second part also. A lot is happening. You also make sense by combining them. But then suddenly the characters’ motives change.
As if a person is carrying a feeling from the last two parts. But as soon as the film comes to an end, it changes. The overall point is that the grand film has been given a very forgettable climax. It was like spreading the story so much, now just wrap it up somehow and get discharged. This thing disappoints. The film series mounted on a large scale did not get the same farewell. Things do not work in favor of the film in the second half as compared to the first half. One thing bothered me here. That was unnecessary camera panning. Continuously so many scenes came from the line where a character is speaking, and the camera is revolving around him. Repeating it only reduces the weight of your character’s talk.
PS-2 is not the only complaint I have. Apart from the moments involving Aishwarya and Vikram, the film does well on some other fronts. Like the transition of characters. But in this change, they do not lose their value. Arunmoly proves himself to be a strong king. But in doing so, they do not stop trusting people. Don’t stop being a good brother, friend, and son. PS-2 had a lot to say. But not that much time. Because of that, it is unable to do justice to some important characters and their backstories. After the film is over, only moments worth remembering are left. Not the full movie.
Ponniyin Selvan 2 Review (PS 2): The Last Words
Ponniyin Selvan 2 is a better movie compared to the first part. But it would have been a better movie if it had concentrated more on the second half. Those who like historical and periodical movies will definitely not be disappointed. Director Mani Ratnam has made the impossible possible. The story we read as a novel has been given to all of us as a movie. He has proved that no one could have done this except him. Everyone has lived the character, especially Jayam Ravi, Trisha, Vikram, Karthik, and Aishwarya Rai who are the pillars of Ponniyin Selvan. In the first part, there was a talk that Vikram did not have much importance, to correct that, it can be said that the second part is entirely Vikram who carries the film and Aditya has lived as Karikalan.
