ps 1 movie review in tamil

'Ponniyin Selvan' makes a biggest opening

The box office collection of 'Ponniyin Selvan' has reportedly crossed Rs 40 crore in India on day 1 of film release.

'Poniyin Selvan' Kerala box office collection on day 1!

According to reports the Malayalam version of Mani Ratnam's 'Ponniyn Selvan' made a gross of Rs 2.5 crore in Kerala. It is expected that the film would have a made a total box office collection of Rs 50 crore globally.

'Ponniyin Selvan' Hindi box office collection

The magnum opus of Mani Ratnam was released in theatres on September 30 in five different languages. Reportedly, the Hindi version of the movie made a gross of Rs 1.5 crore at the box office.

"Loved #ps1 #PonniyinSelvan1 I literally was upset when the credits started rolling! Wat ?!

Throwback to when 'Ponniyin Selvan' trailer was screened at Las Vegas

#PonniyinSelvan - First Tamil Trailer to be Screened in Las Vegas, America 🇺🇲🔥 TAMIL CINEMA'S PRIDE shining Oversea… https://t.co/FsScyNVNT1 — VCD (@VCDtweets) 1664130313000

Actress Aishwarya Lekshmi thanks Mani Ratnam for 'Ponniyin Selvan'

Thank you #Manirathnam sir for believing in me 🤍🙏 #PS1 #PonniyinSelvan1 #PonniyinSelvan https://t.co/GMXhAm8Crh — Aishwarya Lekshmi (@aishwaryaleksh7) 1664522835000

"Thank you #ManiRatnam sir… for #PonniyinSelvan1 ….thank you for inspiring .. relentlessly pushing boundaries …and making us proud"

Prakash Raj

Fans say comparing 'Baahubali' and 'Ponniyin Selvan' is absurd

As 'Ponniyin Selvan' released in theatres on September 30, Twitter had a trending topic 'Baahubali' vs 'Ponniyin Selvan'. Fans and movie audience who watched both the films compared the visuals, graphics and storyline. However, a few internet users found it absurd and not necessary and requested other movie audience to not make the comparison as both the films are much different in genre. A Twitter user wrote, "#PonniyanSelvan is a magnificent piece of Period CINEMA (Proper Cinema, not Movie) with an outstanding cast. For period cinema lovers, it doesn't get any better than this. Comparing it with Bahubali is just amateurishly silly."

Mani Ratnam says he owes it to Rajamouli's 'Baahubali' for the idea!

Mani Ratnam also in an interview with a news daily reportedly said that Rajamouli’s ‘Baahubali’ created a road for the film to be made into two parts so it will be easy for the audience to consume it. He added that he owes it to the ‘RRR’ director as otherwise, the crew would have tried to fit the entire film in one part making it impossible to shoot and edit.

"Over to you now

Sobhita Dhulipalal

'Ponniyin Selvan' is already a record breaker in Malaysia

A HISTORICAL MOMENT! 150K 💥 #PonniyinSelvan1 The Resurgence of the Cholan Era BEGINS 🔥🔥🔥 A @LotusFivestarAV RELEA… https://t.co/AsQngXhBDt — Lotus Five Star AV (@LotusFivestarAV) 1664512994000

'Ponniyin Selvan' Telugu versions too go houseful for today's night

#PonniyanSelvan1 Telugu booking for night all screens shows sold out in Tirupati Telugu version and Chitoor also so… https://t.co/e0h8ahp5C2 — Varun (@varusath2003) 1664545386000

#PonniyinSelvan is an Epic made so well by #ManiRatnam sir. A story read for decades has been presented brilliantly.Fantastic performances from @chiyaan @Karthi_Offl @actor_jayamravi #AishwaryaRai @trishtrashers @realsarathkumar @prakashraaj @rparthiepan. A must watch Film

Dhananjayan

'Ponniyin Selvan' crosses $1 million mark in the USA

#PonniyinSelvan creates history in USA 🔥 USA Premieres alone crosses $1M+ and counting 🔥 Watch this epic only on… https://t.co/xXmG5v1Hmy — Sarigama Cinemas (@sarigamacinemas) 1664502785000

Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan 1 is out in theatres. Starring Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prabhu, R Sarathkumar and Vikram Prabhu in significant roles, PS 1 has been in the making since 2019 and in a recent interview, Jayam Ravi revealed that both the parts of the film were shot in 150 days.

Ponniyin Selvan is based on the novel of the same name by Kalki Krishnamurthy, which was first published in 1955. Talking about adapting the book into a film, Mani Ratnam told Film Companion, “I think when you converted it (novel) into a script, you have to follow some spine and go with it. My writer told me the best line I heard before the film. He said, ‘Read the book once, throw it away and then you write.’”

Vikram, who plays the role of Aditha Karikalan, the crown prince and the commander of Northern troops in Sundara Chola’s reign, recently spoke to PTI about the ensemble cast and said, “It’s a very rare thing to feel comfortable and not feel threatened by your co-actors. It’s very rare that you want them to excel in what they’re doing and want to keep up with that.” Praising Karthi and Jayam Ravi, he said, “Karthi carries the whole film on his shoulder. The whole story goes through his character… It’s not straight at all, there are so many ups and downs. It’s a crazy trip for him. It’s a trippy character. And Ravi’s character is again something else, very different where he’s so composed and he’s so calm but there’s so much confusion and so many things going on in his head. At the same time, he has to be princely. And so these are roles that as actors you really want to get into.”

Follow all the latest updates about Ponniyin Selvan 1 here:

A Twitter user @ kyapatabro wrote, " #PonniyanSelvan is a magnificent piece of Period CINEMA (Proper Cinema, not Movie) with an outstanding cast. For period cinema lovers, it doesn't get any better than this. Comparing it with Bahubali is just amateurishly silly."

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Sobhita Dhulipala (@sobhitad)

Thank you #ManiRatnam sir… for #PonniyinSelvan1 ….thank you for inspiring .. relentlessly pushing boundaries …and making us proud pic.twitter.com/ok1zZbCSe6 — Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) September 30, 2022

A Twitter user @ BrandAK4Eva wrote, " Done watching #PonniyanSelvan #ponniyinselvan1 #PS1. To be honest, I went for the movie with low expectations but ended up being fully satisfied and now eagerly waiting for Part 2. I like the realistic approach of the film. Engaging and all the actors has performed well."

The ace director had told The New Indian Express, "Fitting Ponniyin Selvan into a single film was the biggest challenge I had when thinking of adapting. Today, the audience has embraced the idea of duologies and trilogies, and this seemed like the perfect time for me to explore the format. If I had made the material as a single film, I would have been critical of myself for leaving out so many details."

Twitter user @Gowdamakash wrote, "I never read the novel.I watch the film.I went to witness the story of the Chola dynasty.I was so invested in the film and the film took me into its world.I was wondering how a film could be too good without any flaws & keep us engaged with our mouths open. A Stellar cast had been assembled, Every character was brilliant with their performances. I loved the comedy of Nambi and the show-stealer Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan."

Chiyaan Vikram's speech about Aishwarya Rai literally made me emotional. He understands her so well. He talked about her stardom, her personality,her manners ,her talent chemistry..Love you @chiyaan ?? #AishwaryaRaiBachchan #PonniyanSelvan #PonniyanSelvan1 pic.twitter.com/bi8iQAUgCw — Mohabbatein PS 1,VV on Sept 30 (@sidharth0800) September 26, 2022

#PonniyinSelvan - First Tamil Trailer to be Screened in Las Vegas, America ??? TAMIL CINEMA'S PRIDE shining Overseas ? #ChiyaanVikram #Karthi #JayamRavi #Trisha #AishwaryaRaiBachchan #PS1 #PonniyanSelvan1 pic.twitter.com/jpcqPU3wYw — VCD (@VCDtweets) September 25, 2022

After all the glitz and glamour around #PonniyanSelvan1 , I just decided to give this movie a go. I was a little wary of Mani Ratnam coming up with a war drama / epic because that's not a genre that Mani has ever handled. Please read my thread on the movie: (1/10) — SatyaSarvopari (@dharmo_rakshita) September 30, 2022

A Twitter user @devrajmukesh wrote, " A Mani Ratnam Masterpiece. This is exactly how I wanted to see it in a big screen. Surely going to watch again this weekend.. What a pride moment."

Hearing the most amazing things about #PonniyinSelvan1 #PS1 ! With so many friends like family in the film it feels like a personal victory ! Take a bow team ! @MadrasTalkies_ #ManiSir @arrahman pic.twitter.com/b9rWBW7NwS — Dulquer Salmaan (@dulQuer) September 30, 2022

A fan @okimmthinking tweeted, "Just watched Ponniyan Selvan #PS1 Karthi steals the show. Detailing could have been better for outside Tamil audience. Can't imagine another human being in Nandini role the Queen Aishwarya Rai Bachchan ?."

A Twitter user @Devanayagam shared, "The true success of a film with such an ensemble cast lies in how every character is registered long after the film! #PS1 does it comfortably! Everyone delivered their best & that's the reason the film stands true to its novel! Thanks to MR for making no compromises whatsoever!?."

Mani Ratnam's film is a 'largely faithful and brilliant adaptation and has no dull moments'. Indian Express critic gave the film four stars and wrote, "Mani Ratnam understands Kalki's novel is a mainstream page-turner, so he retains its flavour and neither intellectualises it, nor dumb it down."

READ THE FULL PS1 REVIEW HERE

@_VijayFan_ tweeted "Its my personal review....(4.5/5)??? #PS1 is just an Amazing Period Film ? Mani sir take me to the Chola Dynasty with the Great VFX..! Don't miss the Theatre Experience guys??."

Karthik Subbaraj tweeted, "#PS1 Spellbound.... Mindblowing..... Masterpiece!!!!  Crown to Indian Cinema ??? Big bow to King #Manirathnam sir & team.. ??????."

Dulquer Salmaan tweeted, "Hearing the most amazing things about #PonniyinSelvan1 #PS1 ! With so many friends like family in the film it feels like a personal victory ! Take a bow team ! @MadrasTalkies_ #ManiSir @arrahman."

Abhishek Bachchan took to Twitter to post, "The day is finally here! #PS1 in theatres today, congratulations to the team who've put in years of hard work & excellence in making this masterpiece. Best wishes on the release! #PonniyinSelvan1 #AishwariyaRaiBachchan #ManiRatnam."

Director Ponram tweeted, "Finally I watched #PonniyinSelvan1 in cinemas, epic cinema Wow super screenplay! Finally, Thanks to the Legend & Ace Director #maniratnam sir and the entire  #PonniyinSelvan1 team for making this happen.??? A.K, A.M.V and V.D these are all the main grips of the story."

Fans seem me be happy with this Mani Ratnam's magnum opus, PS 1.

Happy to have played Dear sir Mani Rathnam’s Parthibendran Pallavan in his dream project #PonniyinSelvan Do watch & enjoy the 1st of 2 parts from 30th September 2022 #PS1 ?? pic.twitter.com/GBt5pirkkS — Vikram Prabhu (@iamVikramPrabhu) September 29, 2022

Actor Jayam Ravi shared a photo from the PS 1 sets and wrote, "Once a student, always a student ?? Thank you guru for believing in me ? #Ponniyinselvan in theatres from tomorrow God bless! #PS1 #Ponniyinselvan #Manirathnam sir."

Actor Arun Vijay tweeted, "Wishing our pride #Mani sir @arrahman sir, @chiyaan sir, @actor_jayamravi brother & @Karthi_Offl brother and all the other cast & crew a spellbinding success on creating and being part of our magnum-opus #PS1 ??? Let's watch it in theatres and celebrate!!?? @LycaProductions."

#ps1 is epic!!! First day first show! And I’m going again.The kind of historical/ period film we crave… cinema and story telling at its bestest, Amazing performances, music, cinematography! my heart is racing!!!! Go watch it in every language #manisir is a true true genius pic.twitter.com/j7NX6jsUye — Aditi Rao Hydari (@aditiraohydari) September 30, 2022

"#ps1 is epic!!! First day first show! And I’m going again.The  kind of historical/ period film we crave… cinema and story telling at its bestest, Amazing  performances, music, cinematography! my heart is racing!!!! Go watch it in every language #manisir is a true true genius," she tweeted.

This grandeur has to be watched on the big screen only! Say no to piracy - Report links! Catch #PS1 in theatres now! #PonniyinSelvan1 #PS1FromToday #ManiRatnam @arrahman @MadrasTalkies_ @LycaProductions @tipsofficial @tipsmusicsouth pic.twitter.com/ic8TdSmIWt — Lyca Productions (@LycaProductions) September 30, 2022

'This grandeur has to be watched on the big screen only!," tweeted the makers.

@chakara_17 tweeted, "#PonniyinSelvan by #ManiRatnam is a cinematic masterpiece, a grand visual spectacle. It’s the perfect blend of mainstream cinema with purist elements, and stunning staging! Here is a ? on why #PS1 is the best magnum opus from Tamil cinema."

Dr. Dhananjayan tweeted, "#PonniyinSelvan is a brilliant teamwork led by #ManiRatnam sir @arrahman @sreekar_prasad DoP #Ravivarman #ThottaTharani & others. Every Tamil will be proud of this Epic film from @MadrasTalkies_@LycaProductions. Narrated so well. Don't miss to experience in Theatres ???."

A fan @Nn84Naganatha shared, "#PonniyinSelvan blockbuster ??Being a person who have not read d book or tried to kno wat d story was before watching and i Enjoyed it. Super work by #ManiRatnam. Tis is going to b d Next big thing frm Kollywood in terms of collections..?."

A user @Darktoevsky shared on Twitter, "Period film with zero western influence soo rooted,original,mostly live locations. First of its kind in South Indian Cinema. #PonniyinSelvan."

A Twitter user @dp_karthik shared, "Just enjoy #PonniyinSelvan as a standalone film. If you start to compare with other films, Then you will miss this saga. Having a good first half is doesn’t enough. Even a slow paced second half will work but having an average climax will makes the entire look of the film down."

Once a student, always a student ?? Thank you guru for believing in me ? #Ponniyinselvan in theatres from tomorrow God bless! #PS1 #Ponniyinselvan #Manirathnam sir pic.twitter.com/mlXsiXzxRv — Arunmozhi Varman (@actor_jayamravi) September 29, 2022

Thanks to the entire #PonniyinSelvan1 team for making this happen!!? May this be the historic success of Indian cinema ? @MadrasTalkies_ @arrahman @chiyaan @actor_jayamravi @Karthi_Offl #AishwaryaRai @trishtrashers @realsarathkumar @prakashraaj @rparthiepan @LycaProductions pic.twitter.com/CkpDLKDIJ0 — Kavithalayaa (@KavithalayaaOff) September 30, 2022

Production company Kavithalayaa tweeted, "Thanks to the entire #PonniyinSelvan1 team for making this happen!!? May this be the historic success of Indian cinema ?."

A Twitter user @DeaDu_ shared, "#PonniyinSelvan - Well made period drama.. No wonder why many actors wanted to do Vanthiyethevan.. Loved every bit of it.. Was super thrilled to get to know about each nd every character as d story moves.. Even d final face reveal got me excited.. A Visual Grandeur.. EPIC!!! ??."

Ramesh Bala tweeted, "#PS1 [4.5/5] : An Epic Screen Translation of #Kalki 's Great Novel..Story and screen play have enough twists and turns that are interesting and transport to Chola Great Dynasty..Only Dir #ManiRatnam could have done this.."

#PonniyinSelvan1 FDFS Begun with a Housefull show in your Fans Fort RKP Cinemas ? Audience Response Vera level ? @chiyaan @Karthi_Offl @actor_jayamravi @trishtrashers @LycaProductions @MadrasTalkies @RKPCINEMAS pic.twitter.com/rgLbANMeN1 — Pudukkottai Movie Updates (@PDKTmovies) September 29, 2022

"#PonniyinSelvan1 FDFS Begun with a Housefull show in your Fans Fort RKP Cinemas ?Audience Response Vera level ?," read a post.

A Never before cinematic experience. Absolutely stunning presentation by #ManiRatnam sir, @arrahman sir, @dop_ravivarman sir, @sreekar_prasad sir, Tharani sir and the sound department. Honoured to be a part of this magnum opus @LycaProductions . Our pride #PonniyinSelvan . #PS1 pic.twitter.com/EEi6R5nmY1 — His Highness Vanthiyathevan (@Karthi_Offl) September 30, 2022

Actor Karthi took to Twitter to share, "A Never before cinematic experience. Absolutely stunning presentation by #ManiRatnam sir,  @arrahman sir, @dop_ravivarman sir, @sreekar_prasad sir, Tharani sir and the sound department. Honoured to be a part of this magnum opus @LycaProductions. Our pride #PonniyinSelvan. #PS1."

"Big strength and advantage of Ponniyin Selvan part 1 is second half is more engaging than first half ..That's why we are seeing full positive feedback from people. If 2nd half wins movie wins ? ? #Ps1 bo records???," wrote a fan @Sureshmoorthy17.

A Twitter user @manikbasha2197 shared some advice, "One kind advice for people who are going to watch #PonniyinSelvan1 - don't expect it to be a Bahubali or KGF. The original novel's story isn't such too. It's at heart, a political drama set in the time of Cholas, with many players involved, along with action and grandeur."

A Twitter user @arunmozhi1996 wrote, "Ponniyin Selvan 1 is a masterpiece and I felt like reading the book…..Please do watch in theatres ….@_NewCinema you gave the impeccable cinematic experience as usual…"

Actor Prakash Raj tweeted, "Thank you #ManiRatnam sir… for #PonniyinSelvan1 ….thank you for inspiring .. relentlessly pushing boundaries …and making us proud."

Are you planning to watch the movie Ponniyin Selvan 1? This guide to the five-part Ponniyin Selvan novel series will be a great help. READ HERE

Actor Sivakarthikeyan shared via Twitter, "Waiting to watch The Great Kalki's #PonniyinSelvan1 in our legend #ManiRatnam Sir's magic ? Best wishes to the entire team ? May this be the humongous hit of Indian cinema ??."

History created by legends with a big bunch of great talents! It’s inevitably a Mega blockbuster? Tamil audience around the globe should feel proud & experience this epic in theatres? Standing ovation & take a bow to each & everyone involved in making this historical event? pic.twitter.com/2uYJyk34BO — Vignesh Shivan (@VigneshShivN) September 29, 2022

Filmmaker and actor Nayanthara's husband Vignesh Shivan tweeted, "History created by legends with a big bunch of great talents! It’s inevitably a Mega blockbuster?. Tamil audience around the globe should feel proud & experience this epic in theatres? Standing ovation & take a bow to each & everyone involved in making this historical event?."

Alaikadal (Doobi Doobi) – a soulful composition by AR Rahman after a long time – is that song for singer Antara Nandy. Singing for Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan 1, a period drama based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s eponymous and emblematic Tamil novel, Nandy, in her debut, does justice to the abundant crests and troughs in this compelling composition. Read more

The five-part Ponniyin Selvan novel series spans about 2200 pages, and it’s a given you can’t read that before the film’s release date on September 30. But, we have you covered. Set in the 10th century, the novel is about the ascent of its titular character, Ponniyin Selvan, who is widely known as Rajaraja Chola I. He is one of the few kings, who is regarded as The Great. Read more

If you are still in doubt about booking your ticket for Mani Ratnam's epic drama Ponniyin Selvan 1, check out its trailer here. 

After the humongous success of Nadodi Mannan (1958), MGR declared his next film will be the big screen adaptation of Ponniyin Selvan. In the year 1959, he also published an advertisement announcing the same in a December edition of the monthly film magazine Nadigan Kural. Despite MGR’s repeated attempts, he was unsuccessful in turning Ponniyin Selvan into a big-screen spectacle. Then, Kamal Haasan bought the rights to the novel from MGR. During the audio launch of director Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: 1, he recalled MGR’s advice to him: “He told me to make this film immediately. I didn’t understand why back then.” Read more

Some people compared Ponniyin Selvan 1 to the popular fantasy drama series Game of Thrones and called it ‘Tamil Game of Thrones.’ But Mani Ratnam holds a different view. While interacting with Film Companion, Ratnam refused to accept that Ponniyin Selvan – I is the Tamil version of GOT. Instead, he had a hilarious response to the comparisons. He said, “I think Game of Thrones is the English version of Ponniyin Selvan – I.”  Read more

Mani Ratnam's magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan 1 has already amassed over $500k in the US market. Sarigama Cinemas, which has released the film in USA, shared on Twitter, "A Massive start for the Magnum Opus #PS1 in USA ud83dudd25 Premieres gross $548K from 282 locationsud83dudd25." 

Trisha, known for Tamil and Telugu hits such as Varsham, Ghilli, Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa and 96, said she had full faith in Mani Ratnam’s vision. “I know what I’ve done and I’ve seen the rushes during the dubbing. And I know the way Mani sir visualised Kundavai. With screen space and screen time, you never know the final output. Only Mani sir knows but I’m very confident that whatever I’ve done is very impactful,” she told PTI. Read more

Vamsi Kaka shared on Twitter, "#PS1 #PonniyinSelvan Telugu AMB Cinemas all shows advance Housefull Day 1." 

What puts Vikram Vedha over Ponniyin Selvan 1 in the northern circuit is its lead actors, Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan, who have a larger mass appeal among the Hindi-speaking audience. Also the buzz around the film in the north is much lower. As per Girish Johar, Ponniyin Selvan 1 might open at around Rs 2 crore in the Hindi-speaking states. Read more

Filmmaker Vasan Bala shared on Twitter how his mother hasn't visited a cinema hall for decades but now she wants to watch Ponniyin Selvan 1. He tweeted, "My Mother in the last couple of decades has not really asked me to take her to watch any film...now she has, it's her childhood, the novel she has been talking about since I remember... forever #PS1." 

The makers of Ponniyin Selvan paid their tribute to author Kalki Krishnamurthy, on whose novel the magnum opus is based on. A tweet by Lyca Productions read, "In honour of the man and brain behind the #PonniyinSelvan novel! Remembering #Kalki!"

In honour of the man and brain behind the #PonniyinSelvan novel! Remembering #Kalki ! #PS1 in theatres from tomorrow Book your tickets here?? https://t.co/Zzumq3RceF https://t.co/yc8FeTiH0N #PonniyinSelvan1 #PS1FromTomorrow #ManiRatnam @arrahman @MadrasTalkies_ @LycaProductions pic.twitter.com/dtGIOErrpY — Lyca Productions (@LycaProductions) September 29, 2022

SS Rajamouli couldn't believe it when actor Jayam Ravio told him that both the parts of the Mani Ratnam film were shot just 150 days. Ravi shared, “I told Rajamouli sir that we have finished two parts of Ponniyin Selvan in 150 days. So, Rajamouli sir got up from his chair and said Ravi don’t say this and scare me, please. It took five years for me to shoot both films (Baahubali). That’s the respect he has for Mani sir. He later sat down and asked, ‘How do you work?’ He is learning from the master.” Read more

In a press conference in New Delhi, Jayam Ravi recalled the time when he met Ratnam for the first time to talk about the role. “He (the king) is Ponniyin Selvan aka Raja Raja Chola and it’s an important role. I was feeling that pressure but Mani sir made sure he took it off me by sharing certain details about the character. He told me that ‘Ravi, this is very important for me. We both have to do it and I cannot do it alone. So, whatever concentration you have, put it on the table. Let’s do it together.’” Read more

Actor Trisha, who essays the role of Princess Kundavai in the upcoming magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1, posted a picture of herself with her co-actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on Twitter a few days ahead of the film's release. Aishwarya plays the role of Queen Nandini in the Mani Ratnam directorial.

Ash? pic.twitter.com/pgcyNgEuGB — Kundavai (@trishtrashers) September 22, 2022

The trade experts expects that PS:1’s opening day collection will be around Rs 25 crore in Tamil Nadu alone. The film’s global box office is expected to be around Rs 70 crore. If the predictions come true, the first-three day worldwide collection of this film will be upwards of Rs 150 crore. Rakesh Gowthaman, who manages Chennai’s popular twin-screen Vettri Theatres said, "People who have read the book, who have not gone to a theatre in a long time, would want to watch this film on the big screen. I know a 75-year-old person and the last film he watched in the theatre was Baahubali 2; now, he wants to come to cinemas to watch this film. The crowd we are going to see is going to have a lot of family audience and senior citizens. This is not the crowd we saw for Vikram or KGF 2. If the movie is a good watch, it might break the record of Vikram in Tamil Nadu." 

Ponniyin Selvan 1 has generated a lot of interest in cinemagoers. Rakesh Gowthaman, who manages Chennai’s popular twin-screen Vettri Theatres, told indianexpress.com, "People who have read the book, who have not gone to a theatre in a long time, would want to watch this film on the big screen. I know a 75-year-old person and the last film he watched in the theatre was Baahubali 2; now, he wants to come to cinemas to watch this film. The crowd we are going to see is going to have a lot of family audience and senior citizens. This is not the crowd we saw for Vikram or KGF 2. If the movie is a good watch, it might break the record of Vikram in Tamil Nadu."

PS 1 will face competition in the Hindi belt from Vikram Vedha, which stars Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles. It’s said that the movie may open to Rs 2 crore in box office receipts in the north Indian circuit. Even in that case, it’s still a good start for an original Tamil film. If it generates good word of mouth, the movie may perform better.

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Ponniyin Selvan Part 1 Movie Review: Mani Ratnam's epic adaptation is family friendly GOT

Director mani ratnam’s ponniyin selvan: part 1 starring karthi, chiyaan vikram, aishwarya rai bachchan, trisha and jayam ravi is an epic period drama that is technically sound. however, the film might end up underwhelming for book lovers, says our review..

Listen to Story

• Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 hit the theatres on September 30.
• Chiyaan Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha, Karthi and Jayam Ravi play lead roles.
• The second part will hit the theatres in 2023.

Cast & Crew

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Release Date: 30 Sep, 2022

The long wait is finally over! Director Mani Ratnam’s ambitious film, Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1, hit the screens today, September 30, amid much fanfare. The film, a historical fiction, is adapted from Kalki Krishnamurthy’s epic Tamil literary novel that encapsulates the power struggle that rattled the Chola Dynasty. Has the film lived up to the expectations? Will it satisfy the book lovers?

A comet appears in the sky and it is the bringer of bad news. Sundara Chozhar (Prakash Raj) is ailing and has announced his eldest son, Aditha Karikalan (Chiyaan Vikram) as the crown prince. However, the people of the Chola kingdom and Sundara Chozhar’s second child, Kundavai (Trisha) thinks that her younger brother, Arunmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi) will make a great king.

Aditha Karikalan sends his friend and trusted aide Vallavarayan Vanthiyathevan (Karthi) to Kadambur based on the tip-off he received. He wants Vanthiyathevan to find out the plan that’s brewing and report it to Sundara Chozhar and Kundavai. A power struggle ensues as Sundara Chozhar’s brother’s son, Madhuranthagar (Rahman), also eyes the throne. Meanwhile, there’s Nandini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), wife of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar (Sarathkumar), who is married into the Chola kingdom to avenge the death of her husband, Veera Pandiyan (opposite faction). Who will succeed in their mission forms the first part of Ponniyin Selvan.

The five-part book of Ponniyin Selvan, written by Kalki Krishnamurthy is verbose and with utmost detailing. The first part of Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan documents the important moments that take place in the first three parts of the book. Technically, Ponniyin Selvan is top-notch. Be it Ravi Varman’s brilliant cinematography or AR Rahman’s excellent score, the film sucks us into the world that Mani Ratnam has created with so much detailing.

But when it comes to the story, Ponniyin Selvan might be an underwhelming affair for those who have read the books. Since, Mani Ratnam has crammed three parts together in one film (with a run time of 2 hours and 45 minutes), most of the characters except Karthi’s Vanthiyathevan do not get much screen time. The story jumps from Thanjavur to Pazhayarai to Sri Lanka and so do the characters. But, for those who haven’t read the books, the film warrants utmost attention as there are multiple characters at play and multiple timelines crossing over.

Mani Ratnam’s adaptation of the epic is high on VFX and does not follow the usual template of a period film. He takes his own sweet time to build the world of Ponniyin Selvan and throws in crucial details through his characters matter-of-factly. There are several high moments sprinkled throughout the film. Be it Vanthiyathevan’s meet-up with Nandini or the epic Nandini-Kundavai face-off, Aditya Karikalan’s monologue or Arunmozhi Varman-Vanthiyathevan’s climax fight - you get grandeur-laden visuals, backed by strong storytelling. The dialogues, especially Vanthiyathevan and spy Azhwarkadiyan Nambi (Jayaram) work well as they manage to bring relief with their clever wit.

Apart from Karthi and Jayaram, it is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s show all the way. Through Nandini, she proves why she is best suited for the role as she charms us right from the first frame. Similarly, Trisha’s Kundavai has a strong presence throughout the film. However, in a few moments, her performance doesn’t add up to the hype. Chiyaan Vikram as Aditya Karikalan is a volatile prince, who lets his emotions take over and the actor has done a perfect job in capturing the vulnerabilities. Jayam Ravi, who plays Arunmozhi Varman, in the film, gets introduced in the second half and manages to hold our attention.

Aishwarya Lekshmi’s Poonguzhali character is a bit of a let-down as not much importance is given to her. So is Sobhita Dhulipala’s Vanathi. Prabhu, Prakash Raj, Vikram Prabhu, Kishore, Lal, Arjun Chidambaram and Ashwin Kakumanu deliver their best in the little screen time they received.

After the performances, AR Rahman’s brilliant background score stands out and elevates every single moment. The way Ravi Varman lit up the screen inside the palaces and in the forests of Sri Lanka proves why he is the best. Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 ends on a high as it reveals the identity of an important character. That sets the tone for the second part, which will release in 2023.

3 out of 5 stars for Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1. Published By: shweta keshri Published On: Sep 30, 2022 --- ENDS --- ALSO READ | Before Ponniyin Selvan's release, here are the 10 important characters you should know about

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Ponniyin Selvan: Part I

Where to watch.

Watch Ponniyin Selvan: Part I with a subscription on Prime Video, rent on Apple TV, or buy on Apple TV.

Audience Reviews

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Mani Ratnam

Aditya Karikalan

Arulmozhivarman

Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan

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Movie news & guides, this movie is featured in the following articles., critics reviews.

• Oct 30, 2022

PS-1 Tamil Movie Review

Updated: Nov 7, 2022

This is a review of the Tamil movie PS-1. Review Written and edited by Anoop Prathapan and first published on the 30th of October 2022.

I watched the Tamil PS-1 twice over the last eight days in PVR Kripa Cinemas, Trivandrum, the only theatre in Trivandrum that presently screens the Tamil version in these last weeks of screening. A spectacle of a story and an equally honest recreation by the best director in India, Maniratnam is what makes PS-1 a treat. It is after so long that I hear alluring songs composed by A R Rahman. Though Maniratnam’s regulars Sabu Cyril and Santhosh Sivan could not make it to the project this time and had to be replaced by Thotta Tharani and Ravi Varman respectively, they did nothing less. The frames were so majestic. The background score was magnificent.

Vikram, Karthi, and Jayam Ravi could do no better as Adithya Karikalan, Vandiyathevan and Ponniyin Selvan respectively. Vijay and Suriya would have brought an extra dimension to the movie had they enacted the latter two characters, but I do not know how many of my readers would agree with that. As I mentioned in my facebook post, Kalki has described Ponniyin Selvan as one with " Arjuna's handsome grace and majesty and Bhimasena's physical strength ". I seriously am curious to know how Maniratnam found this description compatible with the flabby Jayam Ravi.

During the release week, Malayalis spread the word that the Tamil original, which has yester-era-Tamil, is hard to comprehend, but genuinely, it is not. I relished the original Tamil version a zillion times more than the dubbed Malayalam version which I had seen earlier in Carnival Cinemas, Mall of Travancore, Trivandrum. The Malayalam dialogues sounded synthetic and lacks the purity of the Tamil original, nor was it dubbed the organic way. The dubbing for Adithya Karikalan especially when he narrated his flashback, was hard to understand in Malayalam as the dubbing artist Arun C.M., tried more to imitate Vikram’s voice than sound legible. Malayalam lyrics by Rafeek Ahmed sound too weird if you are someone who understands the Tamil original.

Malayali actors Jayaram and Dr. Aiswarya Lekshmi got the best roles of their careers as Alwarkadiyan Nambi and Poonkuzhali respectively, whereas Babu Antony and Lal were wasted in PS-1.

The songs were all good, especially the Antara Nandy song " Alaikadalaake " which reminisces one of the A R Rahman songs of his golden times. The BGM recorded for Nandini was chilling. It has been proven true again and again that A R Rahman reserves his best music for the man who introduced him to the film industry. The last I liked something from Rahman was the songs he made for "Chekkai Sivantha Vanam" which was Maniratnam's earlier release before this.

Aishwarya Rai Bachan and Thrisha were magnificent as Nandini and Kundavai. Their voices in Tamil dubbed by Deepa Venkat and Krithika Nelson were textbook-quality material on voice modulation and dubbing.

Now it is a nine-month wait for everyone who has read the novel to see how Maniratnam films Nandini’s flashback and Karikalan’s assassination in the second part.

As I read the original story, I repeat what the Superstar said at the audio launch – had Mr. Kalki been alive, I would (also) have fallen at his feet for jotting down something as extraordinary as this. Though the screenplay is a highly condensed version of Kalki's original text, it still has retained the grandiosity of the story 100%.

Waiting athirst for PS-2.

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Great review sir!!!! I got that proper film going experience after almost 2.5 years with this movie.

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Ponniyin Selvan Review - Engaging big scale epic minus the drama!

Published date : 30/sep/2022.

Ponniyin Selvan Review -  Engaging big scale epic minus the drama!

Bharath Vijayakumar

While art itself is subjective, the extent of variation becomes more prominent when it comes to movie adaptations of novels. For those familiar with the source material, it certainly is close to impossible to refrain from drawing comparisons in their mind. It is a constant battle between the images you have in mind and what is presented on screen. Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan (2 parts) takes up the herculean task of adapting a novel that runs for five volumes with over 2000 pages. So, a lot of creative liberties are bound to be taken in what is a highly condensed version.

We have a voiceover (as in the trailer) explaining the history that leads to the chain of events in Ponniyin Selvan: I. There is a silent power struggle happening in the Chola Kingdom and we are pulled into this battlefield. It is not one that involves warring men with swords on either side but a battlefield that has power hungry and scheming men and women devising cunning plans sitting inside forts and palaces.

PS 1 focusses on introducing the primary characters and their equations with each other. The film is predominantly driven by plot points, and we are only given a briefing behind the emotions that is driving the actions of these characters. For those familiar with the book, it is bound to be a little disappointing but ironically, they have the advantage of filling in the gaps. But for those who haven’t read the novel, I am not sure how much of an impact PS 1 would have as a drama.  For a drama to work, you really need to be invested with the characters and their emotions.  With the lack of time to establish this, Mani Ratnam opts for a fast-paced narrative where the action quickly jumps across places. The film breezes through nicely whenever we have Karthi on screen as Vallavaraiyan Vandhiyadevan, the sweet-talking spy with a visual appetite for women. Karthi is really good here. He plays someone who actually does over the top things with a mischievous grin. This is a very difficult thing to do. If he keeps it too real and simple, it could be boring and take away the essence of the character. If he goes overboard, it could end up being annoying. But Karthi gets the balance spot on. Among the other actors, Aishwarya Rai gets it right as Nandhini with her presence. The book keeps describing a lot about her, (predominantly her physical attractiveness) every time it focusses on her. This is a spot-on casting decision, given the kind of image we already have about the actress. And the actress makes Nandhini work. The others have relatively lesser to do or have lesser screen time in PS 1. Everyone fits the bill, but I guess one has to watch the second part as well to see how much of an impact they make in their respective characters. I was pleasantly surprised by Sarathkumar though. Vikram showcases his inner turmoil effectively in that scene where he recollects a crucial event from his past. 

The film never touches a dramatic high except in that little reveal leading to the sequel. Creative liberties and constraints aside, the scene between Nandhini and Kundhavai should have really worked much better. Since the kind of animosity that these two characters have for each other is hardly established, this scene passes off without the fireworks it should have created. The whistles in the auditorium were for Aishwarya Rai and Trisha and certainly not for the face-off between Nandhini and Kundhavai. And the introduction of Arul Mozhi Varman is such a nice ‘mass’ moment in the book. What we have here is a very generic introduction (war scene) for the character. Similarly, one interesting aspect of Vandhiyadevan in the book is that he keeps getting into trouble inadvertently and this also helps him to gather crucial information from unexpected quarters. But here he is just carrying out the instructions given to him. Yeah, I get it that some of you might get annoyed with these comparisons with the book, but I really thought that these aspects could have been incorporated better.

A.R. Rahman’s songs really work well. The visuals too are pleasant. The war sequences don’t create much of an impact because of the absence of an emotional involvement in our part. They come across as perfunctory action episodes.

Bottomline:

Your experience could largely vary depending on your familiarity with Kalki's novel. PS 1 is largely condensed, and plot driven. So, the emotions of characters and the significance of crucial events don’t register as impactfully as one would have liked. But it also has some other things going for it. It delivers on the joys of watching a big scale movie with a studded star cast. Most importantly, it remains engaging despite the lack of high moments and has us anticipating the second part!

Rating:  3/5

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Ponniyin Selvan 1 Movie Review: Mani Ratnam’s Dream Project Comes True

‘PS 1 (Ponniyin Selvan 1)’, Mani Ratnam’s dream project, is a period action film which is currently the talk of the town. The film is based on the popular novel of the Tamil state with the same name. The film deals with the Chola Empire as known to us all. ‘Ponniyin Selvan 1’ has a very huge star cast, was made on a huge budget. Mani Ratnam made the epic story of the Chola Empire into two parts, and the first part, PS 1, is released theatres worldwide in multiple languages. The trailer showcases visual feast and creates interest on the film. Let’s check out how it fares at box-office.

Vandiyadevudu(Karthi) goes on a mission to the entire Chola Kingdom, as instructed by his friend and king, Aditya Karikaaludu(Vikram). On his trip, Vandiyadevudu finds out about the conspiracy running internally to put an end to Arunmozhi Varma(Jayam Ravi) and the rest of the Chola dynasty. How Vandiyadevudu, with the help of others, fights this and saves Arunmozhi Varma is the rest of the narrative of PS 1. The story continues in the sequel.

Mani Ratnam sets up the very beginning of the film with an intense and realistic war episode. The audience are introduced to the world of the Chola empire with the voice over of Chiranjeevi. This narration is really interesting. The entire first half of the film is really a well-scripted drama where Karthi takes the driving seat. Chiyaan Vikram, in a few but impactful sequences, holds the key in the first half. Mani Ratnam chose to take the same path, even for the second half of the film. The second half of PS 1 is mostly similar to the first half, beginning with a war episode, driving into drama, a bit of action here and there, but the only change is that Jayam Ravi runs the show this time. Overall, PS 1 is a beautifully written and filmed, fascinating drama that is unlike any other war action film.

The main drawback of the film is the narration will be a bit boring and audience needs to be very patient as there were no highs in the film. On a final note, ‘PS 1’ is a fascinating drama narrating an epic historical story. Mani Ratnam brought the best of everything on screen for his dream project. The casting and AR Rahman’s background score stand as the main highlights of the film. PS 1 is more about drama and less about action.

Performances

Vikram as Aditya Karikaaludu is a dream role for the actor, and he completely makes use of every bit of opportunity given by his idol, Mani Ratnam. Vikram always thought of playing this kind of role in a historical film, and the audience can feel the excitement and energy he brings on screen in playing Aditya Karikaaludu.

Karthi as Vandiyadevudu plays the role of Aditya Karikaala’s close and trusted friend. Karthi is the sole runner of the film and explores the major portion of the first half on a mission. The special highlight of Karthi’s performance is his looks and actions in the song Raachasa Maavaya.

Jayam Ravi as Arunmozhi Varma, aka Ponniyin Selvan, gets his part in the second half in a few interesting scenes. Well, he is super cool in them and justifies the titular role completely. More from him is expected in the sequel.

Aishwarya Rai and Trisha (as Nandini and Kundavai, respectively) are the two beautiful, powerful, and delightful ladies of the film. Their looks, appearance, body language, and what not, every bit of their screen presence and performance looks elegant and royal. An ultimate face-off between the two actresses in a major sequence in the second half of the film just lit the screen.

Aishwarya Lekshmi and Sobhita Dhulipala are good and decent in their roles. Both the actresses justified their roles. Prakash Raj, Sarathkumar, Jayaram, and all the other actors get small but important roles. They are all well suited to their respective roles.

Technicalities

Mani Ratnam is a name well known to Indian film lovers, mostly for his dramas. Action is never his cup of tea, as is known from his filmography. The story of ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, as adapted from the original novel, is a perfect pick by Mani Ratnam. Just like his tastes and choices, the story of ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ is also more of a drama than action. Mani Ratnam perfectly made use of all the beautiful historical characters and the events between them. Thus, ‘PS 1’ comes out as a well-narrated drama. Credit goes to the legendary director here for consuming the entire five volumes of the original story and delivering it to the audience in just two chapters with a clean and clear narration. He should be appreciated for such an amazing and impactful visual wonder he had created Mani Ratnam.

AR Rahman is the true magician of the film. The audience experienced a lot of what the duo of Rahman and Mani Ratnam can do together, from their filmography. The duo repeats the magic here. AR Rahman’s choice of instruments for the background score to bring the original flavours of the history. The Telugu audience has a special gift here from AR Rahman in PS 1. After a long gap, AR Rahman gives his mesmerising vocals in Telugu for the song ‘Ponge Nadhi’. All the technical aspects of the film tick all the right boxes and are exceptional. Special credit goes to the departments of production design, camera, and costumes.

Disadvantages

Boring Narrative

Nativity Issues

• Ponniyin Selvan 1
• PS 1 Review

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Ponniyin Selvan 1 Movie Review

Article by Suman M Published by GulteDesk --> Published on: 8:14 am, 30 September 2022 | Updated on 10:56 am, 1 October 2022

167 Mins   |   Action   |   30-09-2022

Cast - Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prabhu, R. Sarathkumar, Vikram Prabhu, Jayaram, Prakash Raj, Rahman, R. Parthiban

Director - Mani Ratnam

Producer - Mani Ratnam, Subaskaran Allirajah

Banner - Madras Talkies. Lyca Productions

Music - A. R. Rahman

Star filmmaker Mani Ratnam had been trying to make the movie Ponniyin Selvan for more than two decades. Finally, he could make it and release it this year. With a huge and popular star cast, Mani Ratnam made the movie in two parts. The movie is based on the book Ponniyin Selvan’ by Kalki Krishnamurthy. The first part of Ponniyin Selvan was released today. Here is the review.

What Is It About?

Adithya Karikaalan (Vikram), Arunkanimozhi aka Ponniyin Selvan (Jayam Ravi), and Kundhuvai (Trisha) are the heir of Emperor Sundara Chola (Prakash Raj) of the Chola kingdom. While the plans are in work to make Adithya Karikalan the king of the kingdom due to Sundara Chola being ill, internal conspiracies, and the ploy from Pandian rebels take the front seat to stop it. Nandhini (Aishwarya Rai), the wife of treasurer Pedda Palivettarayudu (Sarath Kumar) plays a crucial role in internal politics while Kundhuvai is intelligent enough to barricade her. How does Adhithya Karikalan’s right-hand Vallavaraya Vandiyadevudu (Karthi) help the royal siblings and how the politics lead to the unexpected, is all about PS 1.

Performances

Ponniyin Selvan has got many popular stars in it. Vikram appears in one of the very important roles, Adithya Karikaalan. He lives in the role of the Chola prince. He appears in key scenes and he does his part very well.

Karthi occupies most part of PS 1 and he did exceptionally well in the role he was given. Karthi’s character has a bit of playfulness and wit, which he carried throughout the movie. Aishwarya Rai and Trisha look stunning in the royal attires. Their performances and confrontation episodes are good to watch. Aishwarya Rai’s character has layers in itself and she handled it with ease.

Jayam Ravi, Sarath Kumar, Parthiban, Prakash Raj, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Vikram Prabhu, Prabhu, and others appear in brief roles and they did fine.

Technicalities

PS 1 has got a great story enough to make one gripping movie. It has interesting twists and political tactics, but most of them appear ordinary due to the flat narrative. The screenplay could have been better.

There are some good visuals but the movie on whole is not a visual wonder. The war sequences are typical and there is no wow factor in that too.

The graphics work could have been better and it could have made It more appealing and grand. The Background music is good. The song Ponge Nadhi is also good, but there is some unsteadiness during the songs.

Karthi, Vikram, Aishwarya Rai & Trisha Story BGM

Thumbs Down

Flat narration No Highs Visual effects

Ponniyin Selvan is the story of the Chola kingdom that shows the conspiracies and ill-minded politics that happened for the throne, some 1000 years back. The story is very sound and it has the proper conflicts to make it more interesting.

First things first, one should have a basic idea of who’s who in the film. The voice-over, in the beginning, gives a little insight but the names and places having all the Tamil native names make it tough for the unversed to connect the dots. But being a political drama, Ponniyin Selvan should be having an interesting narrative with that much-needed fervor. The director here tells the story, but the mediocre screenplay makes it more than hard to establish the emotional connection between the characters.

With many characters and each one in different places, the story had to revolve around also showing the cunning ploys in respective episodes. The subplots in some of the episodes relating to Arulmozhi in Lanka could have been cut to simple and shorter scenes. Already with the bland narration, the prolonged scenes distance us more from the actual plot.

The twists in the tale could be more intense. Most of them were just shown while the characters speak about it, without the ‘highs’ or elevations that could have made some impact. PS 1 movie many a time reminds us of the Game Of Thrones, which also revolves around many places, kingdoms, and submerged politics. PS 1 has that potential, but the ecstasy one would feel in that series is missing here.

The audience would expect the least that Vallavaraya Vandiyadevudu (Karthi) takes the front seat and most of the story is driven from his vantage point in the first half. Nandhini’s (Aishwarya Rai) multi-faceted character raises curiosity and also hints that there is more mystery to it. Kundhuvai’s (Trisha) character also is powerful with interesting instincts, which again turn ordinary. With so many wonderful actors, PS 1 had a chance to get a proper connection of two or three main characters to the audience, which did not happen due to giving prominence to the base story alone.

Overall, PS 1 has got very strong content and a talented star cast, but the dull narrative and missing emotional connection with the characters do not make it a phenomenal watch. From names to places, history to nativity, PS 1 has fair chance to connect to the Tamil audience than to the Telugu audience. Having seen the films with large scale and grandeur, like RRR and Baahubali, Ponniyin Selvan might look normal to the Telugu audience. The openings of PS 1 are huge across the globe and it has to be seen how the movie advances at the box office.

Bottomline: Powerful Content – Sluggish Narrative

Rating: 2.5/5

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