Ponniyin Selvan 2 Review - Magnus Opus

FDFS Review

(Spoiler-free review) The first ended with Pandiya rebels taking an oath to spill royal blood and Chola chieftains planning a mutiny against their own. The stage was set with the question of whether the next king will be prince Aditya Kariklan or the hermit Prince Arunmozhi or their estranged uncle Madhuranthakan or Pandiya rebel Amarabujanga.

Writing and Direction

The epic writing by Amarar Kalki weaves a web of conspiracies, mysteries, political turmoil, and impending war with an element of surprise and shock at every step of the way. Mani Ratnam took the burden of huge responsibility on his shoulders to do justice to the epic Tamil novel. The narration pace is not hurried as more knots unfold with unexpected twists and turns. The master admirably delivers a sure-fire winner cautiously and confidently in a self-assured manner.

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 faced unfair comparisons to Baahubali. The fans of the novel came in with an expectation that may have been different from the director's vision. The bold decision to set the pace, tone, and mood of the first half part helped clear up all the noise. In the second part, Maniratnam could operate with more creative space to deliver a fitting finale that Amarar Kalki would have been proud of.

Cast

Even though Ponniyin Selvan is touted as a multi-starrer, every character plays a part and the success of the movie is when you forget the stardom of these artists. For example, in the scene when Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, and Trisha share the screen space, you will not hear whistles as the gravity of the scene will keep you glued.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in an author-backed and director-backed role has two of the best emotional scenes in the second part. Every bit of cinematic element comes together to elevate Aishwarya Rai's arguably career-best role.

Every character makes a mark and special place irrespective of screen time. Not a single character was wasted or compromised due to the movie's length. Again, this shows the confidence of Mani Ratnam to give enough breathing space between scenes. The scenes do not feel rushed and as a result, every character gets a moment under the spotlight.

Technicalities

The success of the technical department lies in the fact that you will not break away from the movie to appreciate it. They all blend in seamlessly. Be it AR Rahman's solid background score or the songs. Exceptional art design work (Thotta Tharani) with minute care and detailing for Cholas and Pandyas. The costume design (Eka Lakhani, Chandrakanth Sonawane) and numerous actors who grew their facial hair irrespective of how far back they will be standing in a scene. The computer graphics are used in a subtle and effective way without standing out. Again, a conscious decision to not fall for the comparisons and expectations.

Final Word

Ponniyin Selvan will be a magnum opus in many ways. Ponniyin Selvan 1 and 2 will go down in history for reasons beyond just box office collections.

Ponniyin Selvan team has done their part. Now do your part. Go watch it in theaters.

Rating: 3.5/5