Ponniyin Selvan: Part Two

ARR scores big!

Thotta Tharani creates majestic sets and Ravi Varman proves can make any shot look epic.

Even the actors played their roles to satisfaction.

But Mani Sir?

He fails terribly. The movie travels through so many sequences at a lightening pace, but never once does it make you heart skip a beat.

Numerous opportunities are simply present in the book itself, although Mani made great attempts and fought mighty ordeals to make this decades old dear a reality, it simply stands stall to prove one fact.

Which is, Mani has long lost his touch with the audience.

Either he updates or we move on.

The movie has lot of emotional moments but none gets you high and low in the scheme of things. The movie runs and runs without any emotion to connect with. It seems the makers have focused more on the visual elements losing out on the basic stuffs.

The initial flashback is actually parts of a story rather than a narration, and it only gets uplifted purely from Vikram and Aishwarya Rai performance in the later half. The plot reveals are great and stunning, but it is not impactful - it just happens in the scene without any significance.

The climax fight sequence and last act lacks punch and could have been made better!!

Worthwhile storytelling Quite precise and cautious with the writing!!

Unlike part 1 this one has it's own high moments which makes the narration very engaging and entertaining!!

Gripping screenplay right from the start off... well introduced setup with proper establishment of flashback episode!!

Well executed action & emotional sequences... especially intensity in the interval block and making of the pre-climax war episode Bar was pushed a notch higher this time in terms of technicalities... enhanced the chances of valuable development towards the plot and conflict in the story!!

Except for the pace of story progression this movie has got all the potential to be it's better version!!

Authenticity of background score is well maintained throughout!!

Wonderful framing and brilliant shot making!!

Splendid performances from entire cast Overall: Definitely made a better impression for the expectations... emotional quotient outshined every other craft and stood-out to it's range.

Finally, the dream of director "Mani Ratnam" become a reality with release of part 2.

Part 1 was exactly what I thought, a setup for more drama and twisted political games.

What I anticipated for Part 1 is a setup for greater drama and deranged political games and that is exactly what I got.

Better action scenes, cinematography, beautiful lighting, lavish scenery, expansive art direction, authentic costumes and an engaging story are all there in Part 2. I had my doubts about how the director would manage to fit in so much of the tale in this one, but he managed it almost flawlessly, except for the final war sequence, which felt clumsy and averagely staged otherwise it could have been a fantastic conclusion. In the war sequence, camera was too shaky, And I forgot where the warriors were in the field.

A brief backstory of "Aditya" and "Nandini" is given at the start. It helps us to understand the reasoning behind Nadini's action, And Aditya's behaviour.

Reasons why minister trying to coronate "Madhurantkan" as next king, What's "Nandini's connection to "Pandays".

We get to see how different religion and belief were coexisted that time. Whether its "Shaivism", "Vaishnavism" or "Buddhism".

We learn the minister's motivations for wanting to appoint "Madhurantkan" as the new monarch as the plot develops. How each person's loyalty is motivated differently. Some people are driven by friendship, while others are driven by vengeance and pride.

The meeting sequence between "Aditya" and "Nandini" is handled masterfully, and both "Vikaram" and "Aishwarya" gave flawless performances. Their emotional state is shown with circular camera movement, while keeping its focus on their expressions. "Aditya" keeps a smile on his face while carrying guilt in his heart and desire for vengeance of "Nandini" fading away is beautifully done. Fire burning in the back and "Nandini" realises her mistake, and scene end with voice of helplessness, Just beautiful.

Due to Mani Ratnam's cautious direction and AR Rahman's soundtrack, the drama in the film avoids becoming overly dramatic.

When compared to the first part, music whether it be BGM or songs is an improvement.

A beautiful, intimate, and sensuous encounter occurs when "Kundavai" and the blinded "Vallavaraiyan" they meet without being sexually or verbally explicit.

I enjoyed "Jayam Ravi" who played "Arunmozhi" in that role, but the director's decision to have him fight against Pandya assassins in slow motion appeared artificial in the environment, which was depicted as being rustier and rawer.

I would suggest a recap of first part to enjoy part 2 more, And watch it on big screen.

Before reading this review, please ensure that you have read my review of PS1 and watched PS1. It is crucial to avoid spoilers in order to fully appreciate the plot twists in the movie.

In comparison to PS1, PS2 surpasses its predecessor in terms of quality. PS2 effectively resolves most of the confusion and doubt that arose from PS1. However, the writing falls short in several scenes, but the actors manage to make it captivating.

Certain details have been altered in the film. Readers may not appreciate the climax. Nonetheless, Mani Rathnam's direction is a masterclass in itself. The performances are on par with those in PS1, but viewers' expectations may not align after witnessing PS1. Vikram, Karthi, and Ravi deliver performances similar to PS1.

Aishwarya Rai, portraying both Nandini and Umai Rani, may have a greater impact as the latter. The character Kundavai may not meet our expectations, but Trisha's extraordinary acting in her limited screen time is noteworthy. We don't anticipate much from Jayaram, but he surprises us. The child/young characters are satisfactory, and the remaining cast is fine.

I must commend Mani Rathnam for giving faces to the characters in the book. Even if the film fails to impress you, it allows for a clearer and more accurate imagination of the Chola kingdom when reading the books.

Technically, everything is as good as in PS1, and the visual effects seem even better this time. The background music aptly complements the film's mood without overpowering it. I highly recommend watching it in theaters for the full experience.