Film Ponniyin Selvan 1( Playing in theatres). Duration 167 minutes. Releasing in theatres
Director Mani Ratnam. Cast Vikram, Karthi, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha, Jayam Ravi, Prabhu, Vikram Prabhu, Jayaram, Prakash Raj, Sarathkumar and Parthiban. Make no mistake about it, Mani Ratnam’s’ Ponniyin Selvan- Part I’ is a masterpiece that deserves all your adulation and love.
The regisseur does a phenomenal job of bringing to life the exceptional characters of prestigious pen Kalki’s finest creation,’ Ponniyin Selvan’. The beauty of Part one of the two- part film lies in the fact that Mani Ratnam has not only made the story terse but has managed to do so precisely, taking acceptable care not to adulterate the substance of the novel or its charm.
He narrates with faculty the violent and absorbing story that has all rudiments ranging from frippery to conspiracy to love to vengeance to fidelity and manages to showcase the multiple layers of utmost of his characters.
The story begins with a comet appearing over the Chola skies nearly a 1000 times agone
The Oracles prognosticate that the comet will claim the life of someone from the royal family of the Cholas. That means the lives of Emperor Sundara Chozhar( Prakash Raj) and his sons Aditha Karikalan( Vikram) and youthful Arun Mozhi Varman( Jayam Ravi) are in peril.
While Aditha Karikalan, who has formerly beaten the Pandyas and the Rashtrakutas, is now heading to Kalinga for his coming subjection, his youngish family, Arun Mozhi Varman is leading a nonmilitary crusade to Sri Lanka. While the sisters are busy expanding the Chola conglomerate, there’s peril lurking close to the Chola area.
Aditha Karikalan, who’s apprehensive of backstabbers and betrayers, learns from his intelligencers that a conspiracy is being incubated against the Royal family at the Kadambur stronghold back home. He chooses his trusted assistant and close friend, Vallavarayan Vanthiyathevan, a blessed legionnaire with a glib lingo and a sharp presence of mind, to head back to the Kadambur stronghold and find out what’s being colluded.
Vanthiyathevan soon arrives and learns that a conspiracy is being incubated to gasp Madhurantakan( Rahman) as the coming crown Napoleon by the finance minister Periya Pazhuvettarayar( Sarath Kumar), who’s controlled by his sly woman, Nandini( Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), who has her own commitment.The peril does not stop there. While a conspiracy is being incubated inside the area for the throne, the defeated Pandyas, who are pining vengeance, have unleashed a group of cutthroats who make it their life’s charge to kill the Chola emperor and his tycoons.
Director Mani Ratnam scores in nearly every department, right from the casting. There isn’t a single actor who looks out of place. Jayam Ravi as Arun Mozhi Varman is just perfect. Strong, staid, pious and stalwart, he does a fantastic job and steals the show despite appearing only in the alternate half of the film.
Vikram as Aditha Karikalan is magnific. valorous like a captain, he roars his way into our hearts as he conquers area after area. Vikram plays his part with so important conviction, it’s easy to see that the legionnaire Napoleon is choosing to go to battle constantly to ease the excruciating pain and disappointment he’s suffering from not being suitable to live with the love of his life.
Karthi as Vanthiyathevan and Jayaram as Azhawarkadiyan Nambi complement each other beautifully and their portions together are a treat to watch. Karthi does justice to the part of Vanthiyathevan, scoring on all three counts- a bones-hard romantic, a smooth jabberer and a intrepid legionnaire.
Aishwarya as Nandini and Trisha as Kundavai steal the show. Both ladies along with Aishwarya Lekshmi as Kuzhali, are just outstanding in their separate places.
Sarathkumar as Periya Pazhuvettarayar and Parthiban as Chinna Pazhuvettarayar are inversely emotional and majestic.
R. Rahman’s magical background score is what binds the entire movie as one and lifts its formerly high standard by another notch. Ravi Varman’s illustrations are nothing lower than stunning and spectacular. In fact, they’re so good that this film can just be watched just for its illustrations.
On the whole,’ Ponniyin Selvan 1′ is a job well begun. Now, let’s hope master film maker Mani Ratnam makes us conclude that its a job well done by making an inversely spectacular’ Ponniyin Selvan 2′.
