Ponniyin Selvan: I

Ponniyin Selvan: I (PS-1, transl. The Son of Ponni) is a 2022 Indian Tamil-language epic historical fiction action drama film directed by Mani Ratnam, who co-wrote it with Elango Kumaravel and B. Jeyamohan. Produced by Ratnam and Subaskaran Allirajah under Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions, it is the first of two cinematic parts loosely based on Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1955 novel, Ponniyin Selvan. The film stars an ensemble cast including Vikram, Karthi, Ravi Mohan (as the title character), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha Krishnan, Jayaram, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prakash Raj, Prabhu, R. Sarathkumar, R. Parthiban, Jayachitra, Rahman, Lal, Vikram Prabhu and others. The music was composed by A. R. Rahman, with cinematography by Ravi Varman, editing by A. Sreekar Prasad, and production design by Thota Tharani. Ponniyin Selvan: I dramatises the early life of Chola prince Arulmozhi Varman, who would become the renowned emperor Rajaraja I (947–1014). In the film, Vandiyathevan sets out to cross the Chola land to deliver a message from the crown prince Aditha Karikalan. Meanwhile, Kundavai attempts to establish political peace as vassals and petty chieftains plot against the throne.

Ever since its publication, a film adaptation of the novel Ponniyin Selvan had been explored by several Tamil filmmakers, including an attempt by M. G. Ramachandran in the late 1950s; however, it never materialised. Decades later, Ratnam attempted to adapt the novel in the late-1980s and early-2010s but was unsuccessful due to financial constraints. He eventually managed to revive the effort in January 2019, after Lyca agreed to fund the film. Following several changes in cast and crew, production of Ponniyin Selvan began in December 2019 and concluded in September 2021, halting twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was shot in various locations across India, with a few sequences in Thailand. It was originally intended to be a single film but was split into two parts.

Ponniyin Selvan: I was released in theatres worldwide on 30 September 2022 in standard and IMAX formats. Ponniyin Selvan: I met with critical acclaim, with emphasis on the direction, musical score, technical aspects, and the cast's performances. The film grossed ₹450–488 crore worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2022, third-highest-grossing Indian film of 2022. The film is currently the fourth highest-grossing Tamil film of all time. The film received six nominations at the 16th Asian Film Awards, including Best Film. It won the Best Tamil film award at the 68th Filmfare Awards South. The film also won four National Awards, in the 70th National Film Awards, announced on 16 August 2024, including the National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film. Its sequel was released on 28 April 2023.

Plot

In the 10th century, the Chola Empire is ruled by Emperor Sundara Chola, with his sons Aditha Karikalan, the crown prince, commanding the army in Kanchi and Arulmozhi Varman, also known as Ponniyin Selvan, leading a campaign in Lanka. After a victory against the Rashtrakutas, Aditha Karikalan suspects political unrest and sends his trusted friend Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan to investigate and deliver messages to his sister Kundavai and their father.

Vandiyadevan visits the fortress of Kadambur, where he overhears a conspiracy by the finance minister Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar and other nobles to replace the crown prince with Madhuranthakan, the emperor's cousin. He also encounters Azhwarkkadiyan Nambi, a Vaishnavite spy searching for his estranged foster sister Nandini, who is now married to Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar.

With Nandini's help, Vandiyadevan gains access to the palace in Thanjavur and informs Sundara Chola of the plot. He is briefly detained by Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar, Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar's younger brother, but escapes. He meets Kundavai in Pazhayarai—where she lives with Sembiyan Madevi (Madhuranthakan's mother) and Vaanathi (Ponniyin Selvan's prospective wife)—and delivers the message. She instructs him to bring Ponniyin Selvan back from Lanka to counter the threat.

Meanwhile, Aditha Karikalan confides in his friend Parthibendra Pallavan that he had once been in love with Nandini, who was later expelled from the kingdom due to her low status. Years later, he killed her guardian Veerapandiyan, the king of the rival Pandya dynasty, which sparked her vendetta against the Cholas.

In Lanka, Vandiyadevan is assisted by Poonguzhali, a boatwoman who secretly admires Ponniyin Selvan. He delivers Kundavai's message and learns that Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar has manipulated Sundara Chola into sending a convoy to capture Ponniyin Selvan under the guise of returning him to Thanjavur. Ponniyin Selvan chooses to obey his father's summons despite warnings.

The Pandya Aabathudavigal, a secret group of assassins allied with Nandini and seeking vengeance for Veerapandiyan's death, ambushes the prince's group. Mistaking Vandiyadevan for Ponniyin Selvan, they capture him. In an attempt to rescue him, Ponniyin Selvan boards their ship, but it sinks during a storm. Both are presumed dead.

The news of the prince's supposed death shocks the Cholas. Grief-stricken, Aaditha Karikalan sets out for Thanjavur to confront Nandini. Meanwhile, the mysterious Oomai Rani, a lookalike of Nandini who once saved Ponniyin Selvan from drowning as a child, dives into the sea, implying that the prince may still be alive.

Cast

The film's narration was voiced by Kamal Haasan (both trailer and film), Anil Kapoor (trailer)/Ajay Devgn (film), Rana Daggubati (trailer)/Chiranjeevi (film), Prithviraj Sukumaran (trailer)/Mammootty (film) and Jayanth Kaikini (trailer)/Upendra (film) in the Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada languages respectively.

Production

Music

The film score and soundtrack were composed by Mani Ratnam's regular collaborator A. R. Rahman. The audio rights of the film were purchased by Tips.

The soundtrack consists of six original songs composed by A.R.Rahman, namely, "Ponni Nadhi", "Chola Chola", "Ratchasa Maamaney", "Sol", "Alaikadal" and "Devaralan Aattam". Lyrics were written by Ilango Krishnan, Kabilan, Krithika Nelson and Siva Ananth in the Tamil version and Mehboob Kotwal, Anantha Sriram, Rafeeq Ahamed and Jayanth Kaikini wrote the song lyrics in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada respectively.

Marketing

Promotional campaign for the film was supposed to begin in July 2022, with the film's teaser trailer planned to be launched at the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur, the city which served as the capital for the Chola Empire. Following the launch event, the team also planned a promotional tour for the film. The movie team later on decided to have a grand teaser trailer launch event in Chennai as per their previous schedule on 8 July 2022. The film's teaser trailer was released on 8 July 2022 in Tamil and dubbed versions of Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages.

The film's trailer and songs were released by the special guests Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan on 6 September 2022 at the Nehru indoor stadium in Tamil and dubbed versions of Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages. The trailer featured Kamal Haasan voice-over in the Tamil version and Anil Kapoor, Rana Daggubati, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Jayanth Kaikini voice-overs in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada version of the trailer respectively. Posters featuring Sarathkumar, Parthiban, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prakash Raj, Jayachithra, Rahman, Vikram Prabhu, Prabhu, Lal and Jayaram were released before the trailer launch event.

Release

Theatrical

Ponniyin Selvan: I released on 30 September 2022 worldwide. It was released in Tamil along with the dubbed versions of Hindi, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam languages. It was previously scheduled to release on summer (May–July) 2022, but was postponed due to production works. It became the first Tamil film to release in IMAX format.

The film's release across Canada was disrupted after major theatre chains Cineplex and Landmark Cinemas refused to exhibit the film due to ongoing anonymous threats of vandalism if Tamil films were released in their locations. The attacks, which have happened during screenings of Theri (2016) and Kurup (2021), are alleged to have been conducted by owners of Woodside Cinemas and York Cinemas, a local theatre chain in Toronto attempting to hold monopoly of screening Tamil films. Ponniyin Selvan: I had a limited Canadian release in select private theatres amidst protection from law enforcement. It was also released in TIFF Bell Lightbox, home of the Toronto International Film Festival, a first for a Tamil film premiere.

Distribution

The distribution rights of the film in Tamil Nadu were acquired by Red Giant Movies. The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana distribution rights were bagged by Sri Venkateswara Creations and Dil Raju. The Kerala distribution rights of the film was bagged by Gokulam Gopalan's Sree Gokulam Movies. The overseas theatrical rights of the film were acquired by TentKotta. The North India distribution rights were acquired by Pen India Limited.