Sanchita
Mani Ratnam’s adaptation of Kalki Krishnamurthy’s 1955 novel Ponniyin Selvan, is a magnificent theatre spectacle!
Full Ponniyin Selvan; 1 Movie Review –
Rating: 3.5/5
Director: Mani Ratnam
Cast: Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Karthi, Trisha, Jayam Ravi
Runtime: 2h 50 m
Storyline:
The Chola empire is shown to be battling internal and external conspiracies as a power struggle ensues after Emperor Sundara Chola’s (Prakash Raj) health starts failing.
Crown Prince Aditha Karikalan (Vikram) is the obvious contender for the throne, but a coup is being planned to overthrow him. Karikalan sends his warrior friend Vallavaraiyan Vanthiyathevan (Karthi) to get into the thick of things.
Vanthiyathevan then embarks on one mission after the other, caught in a strange crossfire between the clever Chola Princess Kundavai (Trisha) and the Pazhuvoor queen Nandini (Aishwarya). The enigmatic yet vicious Nandini shares a bitter history with the crown Prince Aditha and is determined to see the downfall of the Cholas.
Meanwhile, the titular Ponniyin Selvan aka Prince Arulmozhi (brother of Aditha played by Jayam Ravi) is in Sri Lanka, and has become the target of Pandyan rebels. Watch Ponniyin Selvan to see how this political intrigue unfolds….
What Do We Think?
Ponniyin Selvan:1 is a stunning watch. The first half is fast-paced and quite dense. People who are not familiar with the source material might have slight difficulty in catching up.
Things become clearer after the interval block and the 2nd half is jam-packed and engrossing. The climax, while satisfying in the action, feels like it ends on an abrupt note.
Karthi is charming AF as Vanthiyathevan and carries the role with an energetic, mischievous flair. Vikram and Jayam Ravi too are commanding in their screen presence and have powerful scenes.
The hostile yet bewitching dynamic between Trisha and Aishwarya is a delight to watch. Both actresses are simply stunning and mesmerizing on screen, carrying the scenes with their expressive eyes. Aishwarya is in a double role; a brief glimpse at her other look is shown as the credits roll.
The music by AR Rahman is the cherry on top! Overall, while the political conspiracies are on point, the action sequences could have had more intensity. Nevertheless, the first part makes for an engaging watch.
Hit Or Miss:
Definitely worth watching in theatres!
