PETALING JAYA, Oct 3 — The hype train over Ponniyin Selvan: 1, one of this year’s hottest Tamil movies, seems to be gaining even more momentum.

Following its worldwide release last Friday, the film has grossed over 230 crore (RM130 milllion) worldwide and 100 crore on the domestic box office in India, Hindustan Times reported today.

Directed by veteran South Asian filmmaker Mani Ratnam, Ponniyin Selvan: 1 is a period epic set amidst the Chola empire in India and an adaptation of a popular novel of the same name.

Aside from a star-studded cast including Aishwarya Rai Bachan, Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi and Trisha, the film boasts award-winning composer AR Rahman at its helm.

Directed by veteran South Asian filmmaker Mani Ratnam, Ponniyin Selvan: 1 is a period epic set amidst the Chola empire in India and an adaptation of a popular novel of the same name.

Aside from a star-studded cast including Aishwarya Rai Bachan, Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi and Trisha, the film boasts award-winning composer AR Rahman at its helm.

We were so excited to watch this film because of Aishwarya Rai,” said Chamkaur Singh, who came to the premiere with his family.

“My granddaughter who couldn’t be with us kept calling us to ask if Aishwarya would be attending the film premiere,” added the manager of music school SGGS Gurmat Sangeet Academy.

Others were drawn in by their love of the original novel and its place within contemporary Tamil literature.

“I love the novel because it’s so beautifully written, and for how it portrays our culture’s historical roots,” said teacher Chandrakala Muniandy.

I’m hoping the film will encourage more of my students to read up on Tamil history. Even those of us here may find it relevant, as the Chola empire once stretched to Malaysia.”

Written by author and freedom fighter Kalki Krishnamurthy in the 1950s, Ponniyin Selvan is a sprawling 2,200-page historical fiction based on real figures from the Tamil Chola dynasty.

At the peak of its power, the Chola empire extended to South-east Asia including modern day Myanmar, Indonesia and Malaysia.

The film, as with Kalki’s novel, is set in the 10th century and is a story of power struggles at the court of ailing King Sundara Chola (Prakash Raj).

While Sundara’s eldest son, Aditya Karikalan (Vikram) is the main contender for the throne, there is a mutiny plot brewing within the kingdom.

Those vying for power include the royal treasurer Periya Pazhuvettariyar (Sarath Kumar) and his wife Nandhini (Aiswarya Rai), who appears to have machinations of her own.

Added into the mix are Sundara’s other children, princess Kundavai (Trisha) and prince Arulmozhi (Jayam Ravi), as well as external forces seeking the downfall of the kingdom.

The main character weaving all these storylines together is Aditya’s friend Vandhiyathevan (Karthi), who acts as a stand-in for the audience in his role as a messenger.

Audiences unfamiliar with the novel or Chola history may be overwhelmed at first, as the film squeezes in three books worth of story and characterisation in just under three hours.

Mani Ratnam’s adaptation is a visual spectacle, with sweepingly grand landscape shots as well as lavish wardrobe and set pieces.

However, those expecting a bombastic action film along the lines of S S Rajamouli’s Baahubali and RRR may be disappointed — there are no tiger-punching scenes in this slow-burn political drama.

While there are plenty of action sequences, including the film’s climatic cliffhanger featuring a battle at sea, the real tension in the film lies in exploring human desires of love, power and revenge.

The second installment of Ponniyin Selvan is expected to hit theatres in 2023.

https://www.malaymail.com/news/showbiz/2022...-intrigue/31428

Mat Kilau Versi Bollywood

So now all historical movies are Mat Kilau variants? 😝

Dont equate a gem like Ponniyin Selvan with crap Mat Kilau...🤬🤬🤬🤬🤦‍♂🤦‍♂🤦‍♂

You are insulting Ponniyin Selvan epic.....

Please🙏🙏🙏🙏

Lol the inspiration for gang and violent culture

Kek ! Mat Kilau got nothing on the Cholas

Mat Kilau lose the fight and run away like whining dog.

Rajendra Chola I came to Gangga Negara , a Malay Hindu kingdom and wipe it out from existence.

max_cavalera here got many machas and they're on horses! Horses!

Macha careful !

Nanti those self proclaim Mat Kilau descendent gonna find you and angkat their jari

They got beach landing ships like D-day?

Fuuuuuu!!! Our machas brothers stonk!! 💪🏼💪🏼

ayam agree when ppl said mat kilau is a malay nationalist movie..

meanwhile india keeps pushing these hindutva nationalist movie every month

Got rape scenes or not?

Dey ! you post youtube video, your eye no see what ?

go look at 0:51

That’s why I asked got d-day beach landing like WW2 back in ancient time

got minum and parang scene?

The movie is a fictional story based on real characters.

It's about the younger life of Raja Raja Cholan.

How can this be compared with Mat Kilau la ?

Yes. Not only parang but swords and other military weapons

This post has been edited by bananajoe: Oct 4 2022, 08:45 AM

Any nationalist type of movies are now considered at Mat Kilau variants.

Even Ip Man and Wong Fei Hung movies are Mat Kilau versi HK

Why is this post reported? Bincang about a new movie is not allowed in K?

Ok my bad my bad

ahhh my bad abang bananajoe..

No wonder, I went to GSC cinema last weekend, and saw many people waiting outside before getting into hall for this movie PS-1.

While the actual history itself is interesting, but knowing Bollywood, they'd probably have some kind of scenes where they shoot their archers out from big cannons, flying over their enemies and shooting them using arrows with homing/seeking capabilities. After that they will deploy wings and fly back safety behind their own lines....

The movie is based on Kalki's novel.

The military events such as invasion of Sri Lanka is real though. The rest are just fictional as there isnt much info about royal family politics in details. Blame it on invaders who has destroyed much of the info.


The chola navy is also real. It was said that they had more than 1000 warships that defended indian oceans and south china sea. Kept Sri Vijaya under control as well as established borders up to Kadaram (Kedah}.

Nope, go and watch it. It is not bahubali.

They didn't go beyond the boundary of logic like other movies

According to the article, this movie is more grounded on reality and those who expects scenes like Baahubali will be disappointed.

Once Chola empire ruled Indog Sumatra, Singapork, and Tanah Melayu, part Siam but spared Brunei empire.

Who were the majority inhabitants during Malay Hindu Kingdom?

I think during those times, small ships sail upriver where the enemy fort is located

Kek sure many triggered one

Brunei didn't exist 1000 years ago

Yes and no

In Lanka invasion, when young Raja Raja Cholan (at that time, he was yet to be a king - Prince Arulmozhi Varman) invaded Sri Lanka because of disputes with Sri Lanka's Mahinda and their alliance with Cheras and Pandya Kingdom, both are enemies of Chola), he went with large battle ships. They landed with huge numbers of smaller boats from the ships.

If so, then it is certainly interesting. And it looks like that from the trailer. Will keep note on this movie.

But mind you, I'll leave as soon they start mob dancing/singing, or start launching elephants with catapults.

got sudden dancing or not

totally way off in the comparison.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chola_dynasty

Cheras kingdom?

Is it the same Cheras where k say not for human live one? 😝

I thought Cheras cinapek area?

This post has been edited by Namelessone1973: Oct 4 2022, 09:54 AM

Lmao,

But indeed there are three tamil kingdoms

Pandya (or Pandias), Cheras and Chola.

The inhabitants are still Malays except their religion is Hinduism or Buddhism

I think it’s Chera and not Cheras

Yeah i mean thats how they called it la.

Like chola becomes cholas

chera becomes cheras

And Pandia/Pandya becomes Pandyas 😅

haha i prefer future universe like Brahmastra than this wakakaka