‘Ponniyin Selvan (son of Ponni River) is an Indian Tamil epic period action drama directed by Mani Ratnam. It was produced by Lyca Productions and Madras Talkies. The film was released worldwide recently. Mani Ratnam has co-written the screen play with B. Jeyamohan and Kumaravel .
The storyline of ‘Ponniyin’ is based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s novel ‘Ponniyin Selvan.’ It was a historical novel first serialised in ‘Kalki,’ a periodical, and was later published as a book running into five volumes. The story revolves around the early days of Arun Mozhi Varman who later became the Chola Emperor as Raja Rajan I. ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ is widely considered to be the greatest Tamil novel ever written. It continues to be admired for its tightly woven plot, vivid narration, witty dialogues and the way in which the power struggle and intrigues of the Chola Empire were depicted.
Adaptation
The film adaptation of the epic novel was a daunting task because Raja Rajan I was a cult figure among a large section of the people in Tamil Nadu. The viewer can draw varied levels of enjoyment due to the emotional attachment with the characters and circumstances. While the novel begins and ends with Vanthiyathevan (Karthi), the film’s spotlight is on the two princes. The story in the film begins with Aditha Karikalan, admirably played by Vickram, and later with Arun Mozhi Varman, played by Jayam Ravi.
The story unfolds in the mighty Chola Empire which flourished in the 10th century. The Chola dynasty ruled a major part of Southern India. At a certain time, Sundera Chola and his two sons – Aditha Karikalan and Arun Mozhi Varman – were away from the Chola capital Thanjavur. They were campaigning against their rival kings. Sundera Chola falls ill suddenly and a comet appears in the sky.
The ailing Emperor announced his eldest son Aditha as the crown prince. However, a few prominent Chola chieftains and Nandini (played by Aishwarya Rai) ex-lover of Aditha plotted to destroy the Chola dynasty. Nandini was now the wife of the powerful chieftain Pazhu Vettaraiyar. He wanted to avenge the killing of Chola king Veera Pandiya of the Pandyan kingdom. Nandini along with the king’s assasins were waiting for an opportunity to destroy the Chola dynasty. Meanwhile, Aditha sends his trusted aide Vanthiyathevan to the Chola kingdom to find out what was happening there.
Power struggle
The Chola kindom was under threats from forces both internal and external. The crown prince Aditha, his younger brother Arun Mozhi Varman and the Emperor had their differences. Vanthiyathevan had the difficult task of ensuring the safety of the Chola Empire. The film depicts the power struggle beautifully.
The acting of Aishwarya Rai as Nandini is spectacular. Even a furtive glance from her was enough to change the situation. The film is a testimony to Mani Ratnam’s master craftsmanship. Even Trisha as Princess Kundavai looks dignified. Both Vikram and Jayam Ravi excel in their acting and dialogue delivery. A.R. Rahman’s captivating music and the song “Alaikadalo” are memorable. Ravi Varman’s cinematography is praiseworthy. Mani Ratnam and his team have made ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ a visual treat.