New Delhi: The trailer and music launch of Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus 'Ponniyin Selvan Part 1' was a big affair with the who's who of the South film industry attending the event. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who is playing Nandini, the Queen of Pazhuvoor in the film, flew down from Mumbai to attend the event in Chennai.
Tamil superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan were the chied guests of the event. The film’s cast including Vikram, Karthi, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Trisha, and the film’s director Mani Ratnam were present at the event too.
Aishwarya, who wore a black and silver salwar suit, touched Rajinikanth's feet and hugged him at the event. She was also seen running to meet Mani Ratnam and hugging him as soon as she saw him.
The gesture impressed netizens as many appreciated her for ’embracing Indian culture’ and ‘respect for elders’.
Addressing Mani Ratnam as her 'guru (mentor)', Aishwarya said, “Mani Ratnam is my guru and he will always be my guru…Forever. I started my journey with him with Iruvar and thanks for the honour yet again. This film will he forever memorable. Thank you Suhasini for being there for me always. It is a dream moment to sit together with Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.”
Ponniyin Selvan- Part 1 is based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s series of Tamil novels with the same name that released in the 1950s.
Interestingly, the adaption of the novel had been planned by many directors and actors in the past but for various reasons did not become a reality. Earlier in the late 50s, M. G. Ramachandran tried to adapt the novel but failed. Likewise, Mani Ratnam tried to adapt the novel in the mid-1990s and early-2010s, which became unsuccessful.
Kamal Haasan also revealed at the event that he wanted to make Ponniyin Selvan and had even bought rights to the novel from M. G. Ramachandran.
“I don’t know where to begin. Mani Ratnam and I have spoken about the film a lot. That itself is a separate story. The story was with MGR and when I went and asked, he gave it to me. And he told me to make the film immediately. I didn’t understand why back then. The novel came into the public domain. I felt very bad about that. I always thought about whether it will be me or Mani who will be making something like Ponniyin Selvan. I tried but I couldn’t make it. But Mani has had this dream all along. This film will be a success. And I am glad I am a part of it,” The Indian Express quoted Kamal as saying.
The 3 minutes 23-second-long trailer gives a glimpse of the scale, drama, and array of diverse actors that are part of this huge project. It gives a glimpse into the socio-political and personal aspects of the Chola dynasty.