| Ponniyin Selvan: II | |
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| Directed by | Mani Ratnam |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki Krishnamurthy |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Narrated by | Kamal Haasan |
| Cinematography | Ravi Varman |
| Edited by | A. Sreekar Prasad |
| Music by | A. R. Rahman |
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Running time | 165 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
| Budget | See production |
Ponniyin Selvan: II (transl. The Son of Ponni), also known and marketed as PS-2, is a 2023 Indian Tamil-language epic historical action adventure film directed by Mani Ratnam, who co-wrote it with Elango Kumaravel and B. Jeyamohan. Produced by Ratnam and Subaskaran Allirajah under Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions, it is the first of two cinematic parts based on Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1955 novel, Ponniyin Selvan. The film stars an ensemble cast including Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Rai, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prakash Raj, Jayaram, Prabhu, R. Sarathkumar, R. Parthiban, Rahman, Lal and Vikram Prabhu.[1] The music was composed by A. R. Rahman, with cinematography by Ravi Varman, editing by A. Sreekar Prasad, and production design by Thota Tharani. Ponniyin Selvan: I dramatizes the early life of Chola prince Arunmozhi Varman, who would become the renowned emperor Rajaraja I (947–1014).[2] In the film, Vandiyathevan sets out to cross the Chola land to deliver a message from the crown prince Aditha Karikalan. Meanwhile, Kundavai attempts to establish political peace as vassals and petty chieftains plot against the throne.
Ever since its publication, a film adaptation of the novel Ponniyin Selvan had been explored by several Tamil filmmakers, including an attempt by M. G. Ramachandran in the late 1950s; however, it never materialized due to financial constraints. Decades later, Ratnam attempted to adapt the novel in the late-1980s and early-2010s but was unsuccessful. Calling it his "dream project", Ratnam revived the effort in January 2019, after Lyca agreed to fund the film. Following several changes in cast and crew, production of Ponniyin Selvan began in December 2019 and concluded in September 2021, halting twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was shot in various locations across India, with a few sequences in Thailand. It was originally intended to be a single film but was split into two parts.
Ponniyin Selvan: I was released in theatres worldwide on 30 September 2022 in standard and IMAX formats, where it received acclaim from film critics, who praised the direction, music, visuals, performances of the cast, and faithfulness to the novel. Breaking several box-office records, it grossed more than ₹500 crore (US$63 million) and became the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2022, the second-highest-grossing Tamil film of all time and the 15th highest-grossing Indian film of all time. It received six nominations at the 16th Asian Film Awards, including Best Film.
- ^ "The women of Ponniyin Selvan: Aishwarya Rai's vengeful Nandini, Trisha's calculating Kundavai are true heroes of Mani Ratnam's saga". 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Haven't read Ponniyin Selvan? We have a cheat sheet for you". The News Minute. 7 September 2022.