Mumbai: The release date of filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s long-awaited magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan I has just been released and the fans can’t keep calm. Featuring Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, and Trisha, the multilingual film will hit theatres on September 30 across the world. And just a look at the posters, and the actors look royal.
This two-part film is based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s 1955 Tamil novel of the same name. The makers took to Twitter to share the first looks of the lead actors along with the theatrical release date.
A ‘dream project’ for Mani Ratnam, it is said that after legendary M G Ramachandran failed to adapt the novel in late-1950s, the veteran filmmaker tried to adapt the novel twice in mid-90s and early 2010. However, both the time, it got shelved. Then, in January 2019, Mani Ratna teamed up with Lyca Productions to start the work.
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Set in the ninth century, Ponniyin Selvan revolves around the early life of Chola Prince Arulmozhi Varman, who later became the great Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola. Jayam Ravi will be seen in the epic character. Reports suggest, Aishwarya, who has always been a constant in Mani Ratnam’s films ever since her 1997 Tamil film Iruvar, will be seen playing a double role in the film. In fact, this is the fourth time, Aishwarya would be working with the iconic filmmaker. In 2007, the actress-director duo worked in Guru. In 2010, Aishwarya teamed with her mentor again for Raavan. In the Hindi version, she shared the screen with Abhishek Bachchan, and in Tamil, Vikram was her leading man.
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Set to release in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, Ponniyin Selvan has AR Rahman heading the music department and Ravi Varman handling the cinematography. Jointly produced by Lyca Productions and Madras Talkies, the film also stars Sobhita Dhulipala, Prakash Raj, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Vikram Prabhu, R Parthiban and Prabhu in crucial roles.
Mani Ratnam’s last directorial was 2018 Tamil action film Chekka Chivantha Vaanam starring Arvind Swami and Jyothika.
