Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2 (2023) [Hindi-Tamil]

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2 are Indian Tamil-language epic historical action adventure films directed by Mani Ratnam, who co-wrote them with Elango Kumaravel and B. Jeyamohan. Produced by Ratnam and Subaskaran Allirajah under Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions, they are the cinematic adaptations of Kalki Krishnamurthy’s 1955 novel, Ponniyin Selvan.

Arulmozhi Varman continues on his journey to become Rajaraja I, the greatest ruler of the historic Chola empire of South India. Ever since its publication, a film adaptation of the novel Ponniyin Selvan had been explored by several Tamil filmmakers, including an attempt by M. G. Ramachandran in the late 1950s; however, it never materialised. Decades later, Ratnam attempted to adapt the novel in the late-1980s and early-2010s but was unsuccessful due to financial constraints. Calling it his “dream project”, Ratnam revived the effort in January 2019, after Lyca agreed to fund the film. Following several changes in cast and crew, production of Ponniyin Selvan began in 11 December 2019 and concluded in 18 September 2021, halting twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was originally intended to be a single film but was split into two parts. Both parts were shot back-to-back in various locations across India, with a few sequences in Thailand. Ponniyin Selvan: I was released in theatres worldwide on 30 September 2022 and Ponniyin Selvan: II is scheduled to be Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2 released on 28 April 2023. In 1958, M. G. Ramachandran announced Ponniyin Selvan, a film adaptation of Kalki Krishnamurthy’s historical novel of the same name. Ramachandran bought the film rights to the novel for ₹10,000 (equivalent to ₹810,000 or US$10,000 in 2020), and would produce, direct and star in the adaptation, which would feature an ensemble cast including Vyjayanthimala, Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, Savitri, B. Saroja Devi, M. N. Rajam, T. S. Balaiah, M. N. Nambiar, O. A. K. Thevar and V. Nagayya. Before shooting could begin, Ramachandran met with an accident, and the wound took six months to heal; Ramachandran was unable to continue with the film even after renewing the rights four years later.