Movies recreating ancient history in India have never been able to get by scot-free, and director Mani Ratnam's upcoming period drama Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 (PS1) is no exception. A few years ago director Pa. Ranjith found himself filing for anticipatory bail because of his comment on revered Tamil King Raja Raja Chola I; Ranjith called him a 'land-grabber' and labelled him as a monarch who 'institutionalized the sexual exploitation of women'. This King and his Chola family form the center of PS1 so policing of the highest order comes as no surprise. 

A lawyer named Selvam has sent court notices to Ponniyin Selvan makers (Madras Talkies, Lyca Productions) for misrepresentation of the Chola era in PS1. The movie's teaser which released a few days ago saw Vikram (who plays Aditya Karkikalan) and Jayam Ravi (who plays Raja Raja Chola I and Vikram's brother in the movie) donning Tilaks/Naamams - a vertical streak on the forehead that represents religious devotion to Hindu God Vishnu. 

Vikram [Image Above] and Jayam Ravi sporting Naamam/Tilak

However Raja Raja Chola I was born into a Shaivite family, meaning their staunch devotion lay with Hindu God Shiva. So Jayam Ravi and Vikram ought to be sporting horizontal streaks on their forehead, especially considering Raja Raja Chola I's extreme obsession with proving Shaivite supremacy. 

Shiva Vs Vishnu may not be a huge feudal point anymore, but it certainly is a point of differentiation among certain Hindu sects. In tune of the same, this lawyer Selvam has demanded that PS1 be showcased for analyzing other such 'flaws', before it is out for release on September 30, 2022. It is worth mentioning here that Ponniyin Selvan movies are based on a fictional recollection of the Chola era by Kalki Krishnamurthy.