Having set the plot in motion in the first part, with Ponniyin Selvan 2, Mani Ratnam dives right into the heart of the novel - the unrequited love between crown prince Aaditha Karikalan (Vikram) and Nandhini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan). PS2 begins with a prelude that captures the romance between these two characters when they were young, and without saying too much in the form of dialogues, the director shows us the blossoming of love between a prince and an orphan girl and the heartache it leaves in the wake of them being separated by forces beyond their control. In fact, right until the climax, this doomed romance is what sustains the tension in this tale and drives the characters to make decisions that have far-reaching impact. Even when he realises that an acceptance of an invitation to the Kadambur palace - a place where his own chieftains plotted against him - could be a folly, Karikalan is unable to turn it down. For his sister, Princess Kundhavai (Trisha), the mystery around Nandhini's lineage drives her actions. And the young prince Arulmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi) ends up fending off the Pandiya rebels, who have sworn an oath to kill Karikalan, whose romance led to the murder of their king. Up until the intermission, the film continues with the brisk narration that we got in the second half of the first film, proceeding more like a swashbuckler. We witness the daring attempts to murder Arulmozhi, who is recovering from an illness at a monastery, and Vandhiyathevan's (Karthi) efforts to foil them. The latter half is more concerned with the fate of Karikalan. Mani Ratnam fills the much-anticipated moment between him and Nandhini with so much dread and pain that we even forget the rest of the characters for a brief while. And Vikram and Aishwarya are terrific in these portions, delivering performances that are so naked, adding to the vulnerability of their characters. In fairness, the climactic portions are hugely impacted by this emotional high, as the events that follow Karikalan's death cannot match the suspense and the drama the narrative held until then. And Mani Ratnam seems to realise this too, and decides to have a war scene in the end to amp up the drama to give us an adrenaline rush. But the more underwhelming moment is the climax. Even in Kalki's book, we get a rather low-key ending, with one too many twists, but here, while the writers sensibly give us a more agreeable twist, they fail to pack a punch with the speech that Arulmozhi delivers in the end to make the ultimate sacrifice.Read more

Going into Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2 after being mindblown by the first part makes you wonder if Mani Ratnam’s epic adaptation would live up to your expectations. The second part doesn’t begin with the magnetic voice of Kamal Haasan. Instead, it takes us to the world of young Nandini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) and Aditha Karikalan (Chiyaan Vikram). We finally get to know how they fall in love with each other and what transpires between them and Kundavai. It also shows how the two are the heart and soul of the story. After we find out how Nandini and Karikalan are separated, Kamal Haasan gives us a recap of what happened in the first part. Meanwhile, Arunmozhi Varman AKA Ponniyin Selvan (Jayam Ravi) and Vallavarayan Vanthiyathevan (Karthi) fall into the ocean. Oomai Rani AKA Mandakini Devi (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) saves Ponniyin Selvan, yet again. By the time he recovers from his ill health, things go haywire in the Chola Kingdom. Nandini wants to kill Karikalan in Kadambur and has sent him a message. Nandini's aides, who belong to the Pandyas, are plotting to kill Sundara Chozhar (Prakash Raj) and Arunmozhi Varman on the same day when Karikalan dies. Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar (Sarathkumar) and Madhuranthagan (Rahman), along with their aides, plan to take over the crown. Meanwhile, Sundara Chozhar and Kundavai learn the truth about Oomai Rani. Who will be crowned the prince of the Chola kingdom? Reading the synopsis of Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2 gives you an idea of how the story is packed with multiple subplots. But, Mani Ratnam, being the maverick director that he is, has adapted the novel with all heart. Unlike the first part, the second part has a lot of changes when compared to the film’s book. And these changes add a great touch to the film. Those who haven’t read the books will be able to comprehend the story without much difficulty. The first part of Ponniyin Selvan begins with Aditha Karikalan waging a war against the Rashtrakooda king, Kothigan. Instead of killing him, Karikalan shames him. Malayaman (Lal) advises him that this act will backfire later. And it does. The second part ends with yet another war against the Cholas and Rashtrakooda king. Ponniyin Selvan Part 2 is full of many cherishable moments that will linger in your mind even after the movie ends. Take the romantic scene between Trisha’s Kundavai and Karthi’s Vanthiyathevan. The sharp dialogue and their actions will make you feel the butterflies in your stomach. And with AR Rahman’s soothing Aga Naga, this is a scene to remember. Similarly, take the scene where the Pandyas enter the Nagapatnam Choodamani Viharam to kill Arunmozhi Varman. It’s not a scene that’s in the books. But, this is one scene that will give you goosebumps. When they approach Arunmozhi with swords in their hands, the monks gather around him. They move forward and the Pandyas drop the swords in their hands. If this scene doesn’t depict what Buddhism is, we don’t know what else will. Yet another brilliant scene is the confrontation between Chiyaan Vikram and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Cinematographer Ravi Varman’s brilliant work transports us to their room where they are talking about their ill-fated relationship. We get extreme close-ups of the two with the camera moving around them. Like a swirl of emotions just like what they are going through. Their eyes convey their longing-ness and the dialogues are about their fate. Ponniyin Selvan 2 also gives a backstory of Nandini's traumatic childhood. When she gets to know the ultimate truth about her lineage, she can be seen crying while standing neck-deep in water. How poetic and metaphoric the frame is! Ponniyin Selvan is replete with brilliant performances featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Chiyaan Vikram, Karthi and Jayaram. Trisha and Jayam Ravi did their parts with the utmost sincerity too. Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Sarathkumar, Parthiban and Ashwin Kakumanu had very little screentime in this part. One of the negatives that could be mentioned is the character transformation of Madhuranthagan, which is quite unconvincing. Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus ends with AR Rahman’s voice and what a fitting end to one of the best adaptations of a popular novel! Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2 is immersive and visually stunning. Aided by brilliant performances and sharp dialogues, this is indeed a solid sequel. And for those who haven’t read the book, the film still offers a great experience.Read more