Ponniyin Selvan (Tamil Movie -My Review) Oct 2022 

Ponniyin Selvan (Tamil Movie Review) Oct 2022 

I’m curious this time, wondering if my review would matter at all especially if I write controversially against the success of the film. No point in being euphemistic about it. Let me try.

Notes:

Kalki’s magnum opus was a fiction with historic background. This is the most dangerous combo films can come up with because it leaves a permanent impression then on.

The word ‘Ponni’ is another name for Cauvery. ‘Ponniyin Selvan’  literally means ‘Son of Cauvery’, referring to Raja Raja Chola who in the picture comes as Arulmozhi Varman played by Jayam Ravi.

Here are my observations and comments:

A film on Cholas without a word about the growth of Shaivism , discussions on construction of temples, reservoirs, prosperity, music, dance and fine arts –  is already a misplay to begin with.

Those who expected them all should have sat like me sitting in a well-grown marijuana field expecting tomatoes to grow. I was tired of this disappointment all through the film and still hope that part 2 would compensate.

It was all about a political conspiracy. If the conspiracy is just fiction, it isn’t clear and if it was true it never took off, anyway. Kalki would have gone deeper in his novel, which I found garrulously descriptive, and hence I stopped reading it halfway, two decades back when I realized that I forgot the beginning. Damn me, but I hold all respects to Kalki.

A novel that doesn’t center on a hero is a risk in a movie. Here everybody thinks he is the hero and plays his role of ‘social loafing’ or ‘ royal loafing’ perhaps, with others.

A galaxy of stars was there without a chance to glitter. Karthik and Vikram had a bit, but Karthik had no big status in the content and Vikram was disgruntled with an irrelevant love past.

Thanks to Jayam Ravi who glared with the glitter of the title even though he was used minimally.

Actor Jayaram lived the role as the only performing artist in the film, cast as Alzhvarku Adiyaan.

Aishwarya Rai and Trisha were as beautiful as the celestials standing mute, like giving poses for still pictures. It was nice to see them, anyway. After all –  a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

AR Rehman’s songs were not of his standards and that was another unexpected fiasco. Missed Keeravani so dearly as much as my dog missed me at home.

The script should have been more eloquent with clear word stress at a better decibel. But typical of a Manirathnam movie, most dialogues were thrown like two students talking in an exam hall about a question from outside of the syllabus. This was a bigger disaster than the conspiracy theory itself. What an unfinished movie to ‘finish’ the audience.

Some people safely said that the movie should not be compared to Bahubali. I agree. Bahubali was a feast for the senses way beyond and we should not draw parallels. This  movie has the similarity in the grandeur of its visual presentation and is dwarfed by its content recipe.

Congratulations to the art director, choreographer and the stunt masters for all the hard work that has paid.

A film with the least entertainment value in terms of romance, comedy and any such positive emotions, shown in dim light,  is hyped to the zenith and beyond.

With garbage like the movie Vikram hitting the box office  in the recent past and with this kind of hit, I notice and conclude here, that people have compromised their taste in the content of cinema and have started admiring film-making techniques with the awe it brings. Manirathnam could  sense such pulses and has blown them big.

Some gruel or porridge was a welcome feast for Oliver Twist. I was one like him and walked out happily with all disappointment and no regrets.

Harnessing boredom with a smile is a great virtue. In reverence to the project, waiting for part 2 with enthusiasm is social wisdom. Therefore, I will.

–Srirangam Ramesh