Ponniyin Selvan : II Movie Review- Tamil (2023)

 Movie: Ponniyin Selvan II (2023)

Director: Maniratnam

Production: Madras Talkies

Cast: Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Rai, Trisha, Shobhitha & Others

Music: A. R. Rahman

Editor: A. Sreekar Prasad

Cinematography: Ravi Varman

Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime

Language: Tamil

Censor: U/A

3.5/5

MAJESTIC! But still not too stately to!

01. PS 1 & PS 2- comparision & sum ups. The director's brilliance too.

PS- 1 was more of introduction to PS- 2 or a backend story for PS 2. But this later part is an intervention of detailing, story, action & drama. Maniratnam gets a bit fascinated here in this part, he wholy does'nt stick to the original story of Kalki's PS, but gets in some fantasy & that also works luckily. Someone who didn't watch or listen about the first part & directly watching this- still will'nt have any problem- the film gets into your heart, such is director's brilliance. He used PS-1 as a short story to introduce you all to the world of Chozhans & in later part- no more detailing or playing around characters, direct attack on the story. From the beginning till the end there is only lot of story, drama & story that's it. You even have better action & emotional sequences that work on commercial movie lovers. So, credits to Maniratnam for dealing with all of the odds & putting up a blockbuster show. If you ask me whether the film didn't have any flaws, definitely it had- but the content wins over everything.

PS- 2 is more or less a tale of who's winning the throne & how did they win it & what all they had to lose to reach there. Maniratnam though got deviated here & there- still pulls back in no time. 

02. Plot of PS-2.

Starts with the childhood story of Adithya & Nandini, then goes to Arunmozhi declared dead by the entire Chozhan empire & the commotion within the kingdom. Nandini's revenge plans & her reversal role in a face off with Vanthiyadevan. Pandyans & their avenge schemes- their wrath for Chozhans. Parthibean's change & his revarsal role. Adithya's helplessness & also his uncontrolled emotions for all the happenings. Madhuranthaka's Shiva thatva & shivoham revelation & also his true intentions regarding Chozhans, Pandyas & the precious throne. Swiftly the film changes gears after all the uncoverings within no time to speak along with Kundavai, Sundara Chozhan & Pazhavettaraayans. Again comes back to Nandini & her evil plans which will be justified so beautifully, like I felt it personally- no one other than MR could have sketched it so well. After so much story, the second half has many more revelations- like who's Oomai Rani/Mandakini, Nandini's father, her flashback & the much awaited Nandini- Adithya Karikalan's confrontation.

03. How drama & emotional sequences drive the film on a top gear? Maniratnam the winner again.

We expect alot of drama or action sequences in such period films, but contrarily MR brings in the emotional connect with each character & takes the film for a blockbuster ride. I don't think anyone could have not shed a tear watching Nandini & Adithya confront each other & their death scenes just do something to us from inside. Having choosen such lengthy story & also picking something which is as boring as kings fighting just for thrones & their politics within themselves for the thirst of power & still drawing in people to watch it & still engaging them is a great move & the credits to MR again.

One who supports Nandini has a heart, one who supports Adithya has pain, but making a film with them as main leads & showing all the trauma, happenings of their lives from all angles & still putting the audience in a difficult situation to choose who wins & who loves whom & what our heart feels for them?. etc etc. Who can make us fall for such strange love story- except MR. I have no words, he time & again proves why he's a legend in making films.

04. Performances.

Aishwarya Rai- whom I felt feeble, dull & no/less expressing lady in PS-1 makes me to take back my words with her act as Nandini & Mandakini in PS-2. This shows that it is the decision of the director to make her act in such a manner, it is who he decided to portray her as dull character in PS-1 & suddenly shows her colours in the later part. Aishwarya is just perfect, loved all her acts. Vikram is born to play Adithya Karikalan, no more arguments. Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Trisha, Prakash Raj, Jayram, Shobhitha, Vikram Prabhu, Sarath Kumar & rest others were perfect- MR he who extracted calibre from everyone here. Performances from cast are main assets of PS-2.

05. Technicalities.

ARR as composer believed in him & his work all these days & still believes the same. He never cares about what audience might react or think about some old stuff like this, but he did what his director wanted & what his heart said- so is his work here. Just exemplary. All the songs, slokas at background, BGM were just perfect. Legend for a reason. Still I can hear to the resounds of OST when Nandini meets Adithya in her palace. Editing could have been a bit more focused, felt that few scenes just got cut or mixed abruptly. Cinematography, VFX, CG played safe.

06. All the plus points.

Nandini & Aadithya's drama

Screenplay

Director's vision to just put in the script & nothing else.

Music & BGM

Emotional sequences

Plot

Cast & their performances

07. Drawbacks.

Lag in few junctures

Lot of dialouges

Sequences that dealt with dialouges but lacked soul, felt that there should be more force in action & soul in dialouges.

Deviations- like no one particular rhythm about why such story of so & so person is told.

At places, silence could have been cut down, there were many pauses in the film.

Editing could have been better.

Action sequences involving VFX, CG could have been more better

08. Final Verdict.

It's a great film. Every person can have a varied opinion but still it works. In my opinion after watching PS-1, this is much better attempt but PS-1 should be lauded for the sense in bringing in the story & placing it at right juncture. PS-2 is more or less a commotion, it has many stories & alot of drama to unfold- it is a bit artificial- so PS- 1 wins. Cumilatively, MR wins for the attempt. Thanks to the team for giving a film form to such great epics.