Conclusion of the Ponniyin Selvan story with PS2 - Movie Review

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Excitement to be entertained watching PS2 in theatres as the PS1 watch experience was fabulous!!

Last week on Thursday I went to watch PS2, Ponniyin Selvan 2 that’s
continuation of the story from the PS1 movie that launched in theatres during Dessehra festival in October last year. I had wrote about how awesome PS1 was in my blog that reviewed the movie 6 months ago -

Dussehra week had movie release of a Tamilian epic story - Ponniyin Selvan 1 (PS1)

We were obviously excited to watch PS2 knowing how entertaining PS1 was.

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Story based on the popular tamil master classic novel - Ponniyin Selvan

Ponniyin Selvan movies are based on Ponniyin Selvan novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy in 1954. Ponniyin Selvan novel is loved by lakhs of tamilians, who enjoyed reading the novel series which I heart has 5 parts.

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So, there’s a big fan following for Ponniyin Selvan, it’s the pride of tamilians as the novel is an epic tamil literature classic narrating story that’s set in the 10 Century BC during the reign of the Chola Kingdom.

Kalki had done extensive research to understand the historical context of that time period, before he set about to write this novel which turned out to be a historical master classic.

Super appealing movie for loyal Ponniyin Selvan enthusiasts across generations

This movie first appealed to that senior Citizen generation of people who grew up reading that novel. I can imagine how thrilled those audiences belonging to my parents' generation felt about the release of the movie because of their emotional connection with the novel.

PS1 was very action packed, fun filled, grand, now let’s move on to PS2.

The trailer of PS1 introduces the main characters of the movie nicely -

As displayed in the trailer Ponniyin Selvan movie series is a production of production houses Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions, under the production direction of Mani Ratnam and Subaskaran Allirajah.

Movie’s very enthralling music is composed by AR Rahman. Movie script is written by B. Jeyamohan with the movie's editor being A. Sreekar Prasad.

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Diving into PS2 from where PS1 ended.…

PS2 is not fast paced like its prequel, although it has action packed scenes. It’s more about storytelling, and we get to understand the dimensions of the characters more indepthly.

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Everything starts seriously here, as PS1 ended with Ponniyin Selvan aka Prince ‘Arulmozhi Varma’ played by Jayam Ravi along with our brave, loyal and mischievous Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan played by ‘Karthi’ sinking into the Ocean along with the ship on which they were mightily fighting Pandya rebel attackers led by Ravidasan played by Kishore.

We see a grey haired old woman resembling ‘Nandini’ played by Aishwarya Rai diving to save the Prince. We are introduced to this mystery woman, who is respected by Ponniyin Selvam for she’s saved his life before as well. She’s Mandakani.

Two faces, one who ploys to vanquish the Chola Clan and the other guarding the Chola Royal family

It’s striking that Nandini is keen on vanquishing the entire Chola clan by arranging the assassination of Chola king - Sundara Chola played by Prakash Raj, Prince Ponniyin Selvam and Prince ‘Aditya Karikalan’ played by Vikram, while Mandakani who is her biological mother is keen on saving them. All the reasons for this are intertwined in the past.

PS2 flashbacks as it delves into the past of some of the main characters

PS2 tells us more details about the past of characters and portrays a evergreen love story between a young Nandini and Aditya Karikalan.

The calamity of a love story that was not left free to bloom - Most unfortunate!!

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Ah!! One just gets surprised to see how different the characters were before things got bitter. A happy youthful Aditya Karikalan who was free from bitterness and an innocent, naive Nandini, unlike the scheming evil, vengeful snake she turned into.

Alas!!! If only that love story was allowed to bloom, things would have been different. The brief portrayal of their love story is so charming and along with AR Rahman’s song, it’s painted and sculptured vividly.

PS2, finally, also turns out to be a love story of these two that ends up as a tragedy.Alas again!!

Flavour of romance sprinkled in the movie here and there

In PS1, we were already shown the vengeful feelings of Nandini towards Aditya Karikalan, due to a merciless act of his, done out of his rash impulsivity.

Remember that scene that kept playing again and again in both Aditya Karikalan and Nandini’s mind on PS1. If only Aditya Karikalan had shown mercy, Nandini would not have been possessed with that hate and vengefulness. Anyway!!

Other than the complicated association of these two brought out at front here, PS2 touches subtly on happier lovers whose association were left to bloom with Prince Ponniyin Selvam together with Vaanathi played by Sobhita Dhulipala, and Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan able to win the heart of Kundavai (Trisha Krishnan).
(All these ladies in the movie are very beautiful with their elegant costumes!! )

Well to me at least it felt that these couples are lucky able to unite with their lover and live happily ever after unlike the story of Aditya Karikalan and Nandini who were not allowed to unite and lived unhappily ever after. Alas again, one feels for them!!

The heroes in the movie!!

We have both Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan and Prince Ponniyin Selvam playing hero in fight action scenes, while we have Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan entertaining us still with humour with his witty, playful spirit as usual again, so pleasing.

Although there are actions of many characters like Poonguzhali ( Aishwarya Lakshmi), Mandakani, Madhurantakan (Rashin Rahman) that are heroic in their way, because they show loyalty, bravery, character and commit acts that save the day.

Movie has a very happy ending despite a very sad event

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In PS1, I had mentioned that a section of powerful characters were plotting secretly to place Madhurantakan on the throne instead of the sons of old Sundara Chola, while Sundara Chola’s daughter princess Kundavai, son prince Aditya Karikalan, warrior Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan with others plot moves to keep the Chola dynasty whole without divisions.

There is just one character Nandini along with the Pandya rebel community who want the Chola clan vanquished. The reason for this will be known to those who have watched PS1 or read the Ponniyin Selvam novel!!

In PS2, we have all major characters who were plotting against the Sundara Chola family come together in the end to save the Chola Kingdom from getting taken over. In that way, the movie has a happy and noble ending

The reflection of the dark dimension of characters portrayed in PS2

Another subtle element that’s whispered but not portrayed much in the movie is lust which has made kings commit atrocities for which they feel guilty life long. There is the adamance of belonging to the royal clan, and characters have been mean due to that adamance.

Just shows many of these characters have a grey side to them, although that past of theirs may be buried due to their present acts of valour, compassion and gracefulness that earned them greatness and admiration from their subjects.

Perhaps it’s human to err but it feels good to actually do the right thing to the guilty conscience, justice and fairness can make amends and set things at least a little straight. This never happened to certain characters in the movie and one’s heart bleeds for them.

This way PS2 showed the grey shades of characters, their ugly side alongside their tender soul.

Summarising my thoughts about PS2 Movie…

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For me alhough PS2 movie was an entertaining watch, I enjoyed PS1 more.

PS2 was too serious, severe, dramatic and artificial. I felt at some places Nandini did not act with tact, as the actual Nandini would.
Our Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan, is fun to watch but it just seems unreal that he can keep going on doing energetic action hero deeds despite him being wounded severely so many times. Perhaps it's really over done.

There are some mildly unrealistic events played according to me in the movie and a disconnect in how characters should have reacted in certain circumstances.

So, out of a rating of 10 , I would probably give PS2 7. The music backgrounds that narrate the essence of things are brilliant, soulful here.

Action scenes are mostly brutal fight scenes, but they are moderate, not unnecessarily violent, but in a way it’s a little brute, macho at those places.

There are touches of humour sprinkled here and there which is very refreshing, easing the tension of seriousness. There is a lot of drama at some scenes which seems like a over reaction to me.

It was heartening to see qualities of nobleness reflected in some characters, it too makes them a hero!!

Thankyou for reading my movie review about PS2…

Here is the PS2 trailer…

Enjoy!!