347. Ponniyin Selvan: Part I; movie review

 

PONNIYIN SELVAN I

Cert 15

166 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong violence

I fell in love with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the 2006 movie Provoked when I was beguiled by her astonishing beauty and the quality of her acting.

This was a former Miss World who had incredible screen presence.

Thus, I was thrilled to see her re-emergence from her celebrity family for Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan: Part I.

It is set during the violent 10th century as the Chola Dynasty's prosperous rule in South India is threatened as its emperor (Prakash Raj) becomes increasingly frail.

Thus, the jostling for his crown is already taking place between a group of chieftains, determined it should not fall to either of his sons (Vikram and Jayam Ravi).

Ratnam's film is overflowing with action but is also layered with a healthy dollop of intrigue.

This is where the likes of Karthi, Aishwarya and Trisha have significant parts, caught in the crossfire or moving for power.

Ponniyin Selvan: Part I is an epic movie in every sense.

There is literally a cast of hundreds and its costumes are rich and vibrant as are the backdrops.

But I have to admit that its narrative is not always easy to follow for someone who had no previous knowledge of Indian history in the Middles Ages.

Nevertheless, I could admire the set pieces and could see how, despite a very high body count, its sense of adventure would reel audiences in.

The stellar cast all play their parts in ensuring that this is a cinematic occasion.

And, of course, it is only halfway through!

Reasons to watch: Epic film

Reasons to avoid: Not always easy to follow

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7/10

Did you know? Ponniyin Selvan is a historical fiction novel by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy, written in Tamil. It was first serialised in the weekly editions of Kalki, a Tamil magazine, from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954.

The final word. Siva Ananth, executive producer: "The most interesting challenge was the film’s scale. Going into the shoot, we knew that we needed more people in every department, we had more costume and art requirements, lights, more rooms to be booked and more tickets to be purchased for flights. The numbers were big. The planning had to meet the requirement. The biggest learning was to not leave too many things to the last minute.” The News Minute

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