New Delhi: Mani Ratnam, who left us wanting more with the first part of Kalki Krishnamurthy's literary epic, 'Ponniyin Selvan', finally dropped the curtains on all the mysteries in the sequel. The magnificent sequel focuses on a love tale gone awry while the previous half dealt with adversaries plotting to take control of the Chola realm. The Chola prince Arulmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi) and his trusty lieutenant Vandiyathevan (Karthi) were abandoned to perish by Pandya assassins at the bottom of the ocean when 'Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1' ends.
However, this time around, the filmmaker dwells on the star-crossed courtship of an orphan girl Nandini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) and crowned prince Aditha (Vikram). A young Nandini (Sara Arjun) meets Aditha Karikalan (Santosh Sreeram). We only witness their romance blossoming as one of AR Rahman's melodic tunes serves as the perfect backdrop. The two soon become cut off from one another, allowing for numerous misunderstandings as fate plays its card. Over time, the anger they harbour manifests as rage and a need for revenge. A deadly sword looms over the Chola dynasty's fate as two lovers grow into sworn rivals.
Periya Pazhuvettayar, Nandini's spouse, has set up a scheme to assassinate the Chola King Sundara Cholan (Prakash Raj). To exact revenge on Aditha for what she perceives to be her treachery, Nandini has joined forces with the Pandya rebels, led by Ravidasa (Kishore). Aditha swears to behead Nandini in vengeance for the death of his younger brother. Feels like everything is tumbling down at every turn.
After being rescued by Mouni Rani, Arulmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi) valiantly repels the Pandiya insurgents. Princess Kundhavai (Trisha) undertakes the duty of defending her realm but finds herself baffled when she finds out about Nandini's lineage. Aditha, who still holds a soft spot for Nandini, lands in Kadambur Palace mindful of the threat to his own life. When Vandhiyathevan (Karthi) learns that princely state rulers are putting together plans to topple the Chola empire, he employs every trick in his bag to thwart the schemes. Karthi, who made a lasting impression in the prequel, made it even bigger this time around with his performance.
But anyone who is acquainted with Ratnam's brilliance knows that the director holds the narrative firmly while keeping its essence untainted. 'With Ponniyin Selvan 2', the director follows suit, reviving the breathtaking setup, deeply ingrained politics, and fascinating drama that leaves you seeking even more. The plot develops, entwining one mystery at a time in the maze of riddles laid out in the first chapter.
Although Vikram and Aishwarya become the axis of it, almost every character is finely fleshed out. They both excel in the roles they portray with such conviction. It is needless to point out how much Aishwarya is adored by Ratnam's camera; this is apparent in every shot of her. The outstanding performance she delivers makes the actor's major comeback worthwhile. Nandini's character is compelling enough to take the stage over the heroic princes and kings.
Their much-anticipated showdown is a particular sequence that underlines the chemistry between Nandini and Vikram's characters as well as once more proves the filmmaker's artistic ability. With his commanding presence on screen, Vikram holds the scene and Aishwarya's gaze says it all.
The period drama's defining feature, beyond the flawless storyline, is its smooth camera movements, which have been superbly done by cinematographer Ravi Varman. If a frame is paused, every single one feels to be an old painting with gorgeous tones. There isn't much need for dialogue because the visuals are so stunning that they effortlessly express what is going on. Meanwhile, the musical backing of scenes comes from AR Rahman's tracks and background score.
Despite its convoluted plot, Mani Ratnam masterfully pulls a fine effort when it comes to his adaptation of Kalki's work, which is almost flawless. The film has put itself in a separate league where the drama takes centre stage as opposed to flashy action sequences, despite the internet drawing parallels to the epic 'Baahubali'. The only time we see swords clashing and a gory battlefield is during the final moments, but the political drama keeps you glued every step of the way. 'Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2' is one of the rare sequels that not only lives up to, but much exceeds, the expectations spawned by the first part.