The most tough side of adapting Ponniyin Selvan into a movie is the best way to condense a large 2000 pages right into a 2.5-hour movie. It’s a tricky alternative – what to make use of and what to discard. This is the place Mani Ratnam wins. He cuts via the fluff (truthfully, there’s loads within the textual content) and solely takes issues that transfer the story ahead. Covering almost two and a half books in a five-part sequence, Ponniyin Selvan 1 tells a narrative that takes place throughout a number of places. With Sundara Cholan (performed by Prakash Raj) deteriorating, a coup takes place to stop Prince Aditha Karikalan (Vikram) from changing into the following king. The younger prince, who’s away from the capital, sends his pal Vallavarayan Vanthiyathevan (Karthi), a spy and a messenger from Kanchi, to seek out the traitors. This is only one piece of the puzzle, involving Arulmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi) in Sri Lanka and Kundhavai (Trisha) in Pazhayaraya. While even a succinct abstract of a 5-part novel is tough to jot down, Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan finds time and area to include the very best of the unique and add two immersive battle sequences.
However, the battle scenes make the PS 1 probably the most industrial movie of Mani Ratna’s profession. The two scenes clearly intention to pique the viewers’s rising thirst for larger-than-life battle moments on display screen publish Baahubali. Ratnam, nevertheless, refuses to take the simple approach out – the battle scenes look real and genuine relatively than simply being the intro scenes of the heroes. The filmmaker intentionally takes this path regardless of having a narrative that might simply be used for “fire and water” moments.
Mani Ratnam makes the drama extra pleasant than the sword struggle. The union of Nandini (Aishwarya Rai) and Kundhavai (Trisha) is glowing, Aditha Karikalan’s monologue about Nandini is memorable, and the dismal pickup strains of Vallavarayan Vanthiyathevan are extra pleasant than sinking ships and burning forts. Take the scene the place the Pajuvetharayar brothers (Sarathkumar and Parthiban) meet Sundara Cholan. The king is aware of that the 2, who’ve been loyal associates of the dominion, are plotting towards him. How do you present this ache with out dialogue? Here’s how: King is present process acupuncture remedy and docs pierce his ‘again’ with needles as he talks to traitors. This is an apparent symbolism, however refined and efficient. Similarly, now we have lovely on a regular basis dialogues with out the standard contact of Mani Ratnam. The director has earlier stated that he was involved concerning the dialogues as he needed them to be pure Tamil however not dramatic and archaic. Tamil author Jayamohan turned out to be the appropriate particular person for the job. Viewers who now not communicate that previous Tamil not often discover these strains unusual.
Aishwarya Rai as Nandini in Ponniyin Selvan
Another factor that primarily favors the movie is its spectacular efficiency. Like the novel, Vallavarayan Vanthiyathevan effortlessly stole the present. Karthi lives as much as all expectations – he’s effortlessly charming as an excellent flirt and on the similar time, you see him as a courageous warrior. I do not know if anybody apart from Mani Ratnam might do justice to what Kalki had preached about Nandini Devi. Yes, it is performed by Aishwarya Rai, however her scenes are a examine in rendering a personality as an entire – the seductive music and delicate focus are as sensual because the actor himself. Mani Ratnam has actually created Kalki’s ‘Maya Mohini’ on display screen.
On the opposite hand, Jayam Ravi and Trisha stunned you as Ponniyin Selvan and Kundhavai respectively. Those that have been alleged to be odd decisions are proved appropriate. Ravi radiates the pleasant vitality of a level-headed prince, who’s accountable for issues. Personally, I felt that probably the most heroic moments went to Trisha as Kundhavai, and for a second she did not stay them up.
Another hero of the movie has stood behind the digicam. It can be cliche to say ‘each body of cinematographer Ravi Varam seems like a portray’, however what are you able to do when it’s true? From Nandini enjoyable in her palace earlier than assembly Vanthiyathevan to Aditha Karikalan’s entry on her horse to the intense lengthy shot of Poongkuzhali’s boat within the huge sea, there are lots of such frames in PS1 worthy of hanging as work. It is one factor to make pictures ‘grand’ and shoot the spontaneous grandeur of different issues. Ravi Varman’s work apparently belongs to the second class.
The distinction between Mani Ratnam’s model of business movies and the remainder turns into clear with Ponniyin Selvan. He would not make gods out of his heroes, they’re simply kings. Also filmmakers respect the viewers. When Kundhavai sends Vanthiyathevan to Sri Lanka, the movie takes an enormous leap. Next time we see Karthi, he’s in a ship within the sea. He depends on viewers intelligence to fill within the gaps and that is why the PS 1 is rewarding. He additionally understands that Ponniyin Selvan himself is a mainstream page-turner who woos the viewers. Hence, he neither dumbs it down nor does it intellectualize it. Instead, he has retained the flavour of the extensively loved ebook on this completely gripping movie.
Cast of the film Ponniyin Selvan: Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, Trisha, Jayaram
Ponniyin Selvan Film Director: Mani Ratnam
Ponniyin Selvan Movie Rating: 4 stars
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
