Ponniyin Selvan 1 movie review: Mani Ratnam's dream project is a compelling saga; Karthi's Vanthiyathevan steals the show

3.5/5

Story: The beloved king of the Chola kingdom, Sundara Cholan, is facing a serious health crisis. His elder son Aditha Karikalan wants both his siblings - Arunmozhi Varman and Kundavai - to return to the kingdom and sends his friend Vanthiyathevan to bring them back. Meanwhile, the two trusted commanders of the king - Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar and Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar - hatch a plan to stop Sundara Cholan's sons from becoming the successor. On top of it, the Pandyas infiltrate the Chola kingdom to take revenge against Aditha Karikalan and their dynasty for the death of their mighty king. Nandini, a mysterious woman and Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar's wife, too, get involved in the scheme of things. Who will be the descendant of Sundara Cholan? 

Review: The popularity of Ponniyin Selvan novel needs no introduction. Film buffs were excited like never before when Mani Ratnam announced a visual adaptation of the project in two parts in a huge canvas. However, what left many curious is its casting and the possibility to do justice to the novel penned by Kalki Krishnamurthy.

The actors and technicians who Mani brought on board evoked excitement among movie lovers, yet there were people who expressed skepticism over its end result. Has he succeeded in impressing the audience and hardcore fans of the novel? 

Turning an epic historical fiction of five parts into a two-part film is a Herculean task, to say the least. What is more challenging is coming up with intriguing moments at regular intervals to keep the audience hooked, and culminating it with a sequence to make them pumped up for the second installment.

Assuming the story of the movie, that involves desire, love, treachery, friendship, loyalty, valour and revenge, is quite familiar to almost everyone, the manner in which the adrenaline-inducing sequences have been filmed is a treat to watch on the big screen. This applies to those who are completely to the new story as well. 

Set in the 10th century, the future of the Chola kingdom looks bleak with their king Sundara Cholan (Prakash Raj) falling ill. His elder son Aditha Karikalan (Vikram), a fierce warrior, sends his friend Vanthiyathevan (Karthi), a swashbuckler, to send messages to his brother Arunmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi) and sister Kundavai (Trisha).

Sundara Cholan's children get to know about the plans of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar (Sarath Kumar) and Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar (Parthiban) with regard to celebrating Madurantaka (Rahman) as the next king of the dynasty. Meanwhile, Nandini (Aishwarya Rai), Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar's wife, who also has a connection with the Pandyas, comes up with a plan against the ruling family of Cholas.

First things first, what stands out majorly from other technical departments is the splendid cinematography by Ravi Varman. The stunning visuals arrest viewers from the word go and complements the effective storytelling. One prominent factor that transports viewers to the 10th century is Ravi's breathtaking long shots and enchanting silhouettes.

Rahman's background score acts as an apt catalyst in crucial scenes and the instrumentation is in sync with the time period in which the story unfolds. Some of the action episodes helmed by Kecha Khamphakdee, Sham Kaushal and Dhilip Subbarayan are interesting to watch, while the ambitious stunt sequence in the climax turns out to be a disappointment. 

Among the actors, Karthi, unsurprisingly, stands tall with his performance. He carries off the adventure-seeking Vanthiyathevan effortlessly; this is perhaps the only character which goes through varied emotions evidently, and impresses viewers with fights, witty dialogues and romantic expressions. However, his much-hyped portions with Azhwarkadiyan Nambi (Jayaram) entertain only in parts.

The role of Karikalan is a cakewalk for an actor like Vikram. The brave warrior, a loving brother, a noble son and a jilted lover, the actor plays it all with conviction. Ravi as Ponniyin Selvan aka Arunmozhi Varman is a treat to watch, thanks to his agility with which he pulls off stunt sequences and his charm.

Trisha as Kundavai and Aishwarya Rai as Nandini light up screens with their graceful screen presence. The former, an intelligent princess and lovable sister to two brothers, essays her part convincingly, while the latter, who's full of mystery and treachery, leaves viewers in awe with her expressions. Aishwarya Lekshmi and Sobhita Dhulipala make their presence felt.

The production design by Thota Tharrani deserves mention, while VFX is a let down in a few episodes. Mani Ratnam, along with co-writers Elango Kumaravel and B Jeyamohan, is in no hurry and takes ample time to establish the conflict and characters, because of which the narration comes across as a tad slow in the former half.

The makers have largely followed the novel and haven't resorted to forced-heroic moments. This might appeal to a few, but is likely to be a turn off for those who expect numerous heroic elevations and goosebumps-inducing scenes. Despite fabulous performances from its actors, we feel slightly disconnected with a few of them. The film's climax doesn't offer an exhilarating cliff-hanger, but leaves a mystery behind, which should be adequate for the audience to wait for the second instalment.

Verdict: It's a dream-come-true moment for the fans of Ponniyin Selvan novel. What works for the film is its flawless casting, convincing performances and inspiring technical aspects. These factors overshadow the shortcomings, and make for a compelling watch.