During a press conference at the launch Ponniyin Selvan 2 in Chennai, I asked Mani Ratnam if he had to squeeze the five-volume novel of Kalki Krishnamurthy into just a two-part film. The ace director shot back saying, “If I had the budget and a producer who would spend, I would have told it elaborately.” While the first part of Ponniyin Selvan had the first two volumes of the book, the second part squeezes the next three volumes into a 165-minute film, filled with treachery, mistrust, and a failed love story.
At the end of Ponniyin Selvan 1, Mani Ratnam left the audience in the deep sea. Chola prince Arunmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi) and his lieutenant Vanthiya Thevan (Karthi) were swallowed by the sea. And now, as Ponniyin Selvan 2 begins Mani Ratnam takes us to the sea again, this time to tell the story of young Nandhini; how she came to Chola kingdom, who is Aditha Karikalan (Vikram) to her and their failed love affair.
The first part of the film showcases the failed love affair between young prince Aaditya Karikalan (played by Santhosh Sreeram) and an orphan girl Nandhini (played by Sara Arjun). Meanwhile, in the middle of the sea, the director shows Vanthiya Thevan’s mission to save Arunmozhi Varman, the prince being treated by the Buddhist monks at a monastery in Lanka, and his return to Thanjavur palace to meet his father Sundara Chozhan.
The second half turns very interesting with Vikram and Aishwarya Rai coming up with some fantastic performances. Aishwarya is at her finest element as Nandhini while Vikram is highly impactful as Aaditha Karikalan.
Of course, like the novel, Mani Ratnam too leaves us with lots of unanswered questions. However, he deviates from the book in telling just the story unlike in Ponniyin Selvan 1. In Ponniyin Selvan 1, the director had to introduce several characters and had long sequences. But in Ponniyin Selvan 2, he focuses on romance, treachery, and mistrust. The romance sequence between young Nandhini and Aaditha Karikalan is narrated so powerfully without dialogue. A.R. Rahman's background score makes the scenes all the more intense.
The second part also shows how the Cholas withstand the wrath of the Pandiya rebels, led by Nandhini. The director also reveals who the silent queen is.
Mani Ratnam has effortlessly delivered a strong story filled with palace intrigue and treachery. The intense plot, battlefield actions, Jeyamohan’s dialogues, Thottatharani’s staggering sets, Rahman’s soulful music, and Aishwarya Rai’s performance make PS2 a must-watch.