Tag: Prophecy

Ponniyin Selvan – 2 – A Review

High on the beautiful saga of Ponniyin Selvan -1, I managed to watch Ponniyin Selvan -2  yesterday and here comes the review, while it is still in fresh in my mind!

While PS-1, was all about introducing the various important characters of the Chola Dynasty and their power equations and enemy rulers Pandyans, PS-2 is all emotions and drama!

Adithya, Arulmozhi and Kundavai

***Major Spoilers ahead***

Title : Ponniyin Selvan – 2

Director : Mani Ratnam

Released in: May 2023

QB watched on: May 2023

 

PS-2 starts with the love story of Nandini and Adithya Karikalan, which although is beautiful, it is short lived. I loved watching the young actors perform the sad love story! Once Adithya shows off Nandini as his love interest, she is deported from the Chola empire, thanks to crown Princess Kundavai and Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi (yesteryear heroine Jaya Chitra), both of who despise Nandini, largely due to the fact that she is an orphan. Adithya only finds her, years later, with Veera Pandyan (Nasser in a cameo), who takes her under his wings. Here, we was left wondering what exactly the relation was, between Nandini and Veera Pandyan.

Meanwhile, Arulmozhi Varman and Vandiyadevar, survive the ship wreck thanks to the old mute Mandakini Devi (Aishwarya Rai,in dual role, supposedly the birth mother of Nandini) who manages to save the injured Arulmozhi Varman. Vandiyadevar diverts the pandyans (and sends away Arulmozhi to a safe location) in search of Arulmozhi, fights Pandyan Ravidasan (Kishore, who also happens to be Forest Officer from the Kantara movie, if you need the reference) and is captured and taken to Nandini, the ally of Pandyans. Nandini vows to avenge the death of Veera Pandyan. Here, Vandiyadevar finds out that Nandini intends to kill Adithya Karikalan by herself.(The Pandyans have their doubts, because, it is a known fact that Karikalan and Nandini were once lovers) Once Vandiyadevar reveals to Nandini, about meeting her mother in SriLanka, she spares his life in return. The boat scenes in the movie, are beautiful to look at, I loved the cinematography.

Vandiyadevar meets Kundavai and tells her Arulmozhi is safe and sound with the Buddhist monks, whereas Nambi  relays the same message to Adithya Karikalan. Both the siblings reach Lankan Buddhist monastery and meet Arulmozhi, who plans on returning to the Cholan capital of Thanjavur. (Meanwhile, Madhuranthakan is creating an army for himself, which consists mostly of Shiva Bhakts, in the hopes of defeating Adithya Karikalan and Sundara Chola and ruling the Chola Kingdom. At first glance I thought what are Aghoras doing with Madhuranthakan!)

Here, Kundavai, Vandiyadevar and Arulmozhi warn Adithya Karikalan against meeting Nandini at Kadambur. (Earlier in the movie, Parthibendran Pallavan(Vikram Prabhu), best friend of Karikalan, who is besotted with Nandini, convinces Karikalan to meet Nandini at Kadambur) Nandini, who is the famed beauty of Cholan Empire, has a sway with men. (I loved the costumes and jewellery of Aishwarya rai in the movie. Excellent work by the design team.)

Soon, we learn that, Sundara Chola and Mandakini Devi (the mother of Nandini), loved each other! During the Pandyan assassination attempt on Sundara Chola, Mandakini saves him and dies in the process. Thank God for that. (I didn’t like watching Aishwarya Rai as an old lady, with little scope for acting!) At one point in the movie, I wondered if Nandini and Kundavai, Adithya Karikalan and Arulmozhi were really half siblings, thanks to the love between Sundara Chola and Mandakini Devi. But the doubt is soon clarified. Nandini and the Cholan siblings are not related. Phew, the story would have been so sad, if they really were half siblings!

Adithya Karikalan, inspite of his knowledge of his planned assassination, meets Nandini and dies in the process. (He is ok with dying at the hands of Nandini. Just like in the Hindi movie, Raanjhanaa, where Dhanush dies in a similar fashion!) The death predicted at the beginning of PS-1 is that of Adithya Karikalan.  Vandiyadevar, tries to save him, but fails and he is mistaken to be the murderer!

Later, Nandini finds out VeeraPandiyan was infact her father and she commits suicide, unable to come to terms with the death of Karikalan. (I still don’t understand Nandini and Karikalan, if they were so in love, why didn’t they just run away and live happily after? This point might have been explained in the book, but in the movie, it is still a mystery!) There is a fight between Pandyans and Cholas and Madhuranthakan aides Cholas. Cholas win.  Ponniyin Selvan Arulmozhi Varman crowns Madhuranthakan as the new Cholan King! (and 15 years later, Ponniyin Selvan ascends the throne of Chola Empire and his reign saw  most advancements in the Empire. He comes to be known as Raja Raja Chola, king of the Kings!

*** spoilers end***

What I liked, is the top notch acting. It is sad to see Adithya Karikalan and Nandini’s love come to a tragic end, Vikram and Aishwarya Rai shine in their roles. Like I said in PS-1 post, Karthi excels as Vandiyadevar. All the others have bit roles and limited screen time.

What I didn’t like is the last twenty minutes seem rushed. The fight could have been better. But that is not all. Why name the movie Ponniyin Selvan if the actor playing Ponniyin Selvan gets less screen time? I liked Jayam Ravi as Ponniyin Selvan and he shows in bits and pieces why he is liked and loved by his people. He is level headed and intelligent.  The movie should have been named, Adithya Karikalan! Although I love Vikram and his acting, I didn’t understand why he got top billing in a movie about Ponniyin Selvan! I was eagerly waiting for scenes of Arulmozhi Varman, but the achievements of Raja Raja Chola are mentioned at the end and the credits roll! (Does that mean, PS-2 is just a tragic love story, albeit in a historical setting?)

Such a disappointment!

P.S:

  1. I searched the net far and wide to see if there is going to be a Ponniyin  Selvan – 3, but I don’t think there is going to be one! So it is a big let down, rushing the last twenty minutes of the movie, with reams and reams of story remaining!
  2. According to online sources, Ponniyin Selvan , as written by Kalki Krishnamurthy, focuses and heroes Arulmozhi Varman, but this PS-2, although named after Ponniyin Selvan, talks more about his elder brother Adithya Karikalan! (I forgave the first movie with less screen time for Ponniyin Selvan, because, Mani Ratnam had to introduce us to many characters and I was fine with it.)
  3. I am hungry for more information regarding the real Arulmozhi Varman, i.e. Raja Raja Chola, who was the inspiration for Ponniyin Selvan. He was the man behind the construction of Brihadeswara Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. I hope to visit it someday, in future. Probably in my 40s!
  4. The elder brother of Arulmozhi, Adithya Karikalan was murdered in real life too and it still remains a mystery, but some historians believe the Pandyans were behind the crime. Pandyans wanted Adithya dead, for killing Veera Pandyan. (Kalki Krishnamurthy had used real historical figures as characters for his novel, including the Chola siblings.)

Till the next post!

Ponniyin Selvan – 1 – A Review

Although the movie, Ponniyin Selvan -1 was released last year, what with the mixed reviews of it being confusing and lengthy, I refrained from watching it! Then again, with Ponniyin Selvan -2 releasing a week ago, I really wanted to see what all the buzz was about. So a late review of PS-1 is here.

Let’s jump right into the review.

Disclaimer : I hardly know Tamil and Tamil literature. My review is based on my understanding of the movie.

Title : Ponniyin Selvan – 1

Director : Mani Ratnam

Released in: September 2022

QB watched on: May 2023

Streamed on Amazon Prime

Review:

The movie starts with a falling star and death of an important person in Chola Empire is predicted! Now, who is the important person in chola Empire? Is it Sundara Chola (weak and sick Prakash Raj) or the Crown Prince Adithya Karikalan (Chiyan Vikram, still looking like a 40 year old!) or Kundavai, the only daughter of Sundara Chola (Trisha) or Arulmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi as Ponniyin Selvan)? Or is it the Sundara Chola’s cousin Uttama Chola or Madhuranthakan (Rahman)?

***Major spoilers ahead  ***

Adithya Karaikalan, is stationed at Kanchi, fighting wars and annexing new kingdoms to the Chola Empire. Kundavai is stationed with her sick father, aiding in the rule.  Karikalan, sends his trusted friend, Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan (Karthi), a Vaanar clan prince , as a spy to relay some of his doubts regarding unrest in the political scene of Chola Empire, to Kundavai and Sundara Chola.

During his visit to Kadambur, Vandiyadevan finds out that Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar (Sharat Kumar), Chinna  Pazhuvettaraiyar (Parthiban), some other ministers don’t want Adithya Karikalan to ascend the throne. They want to back Madhuranthakan to be the new face of Chola Empire! Madhuranthakan, is the cousin of Adithya and Arulmozhi.

We also get a brief glimpse of Adithya Karikalan and Nandini’s love story.  As the movie progresses, we find, Nandini is in fact married to Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar (whom Adithya Karikalan addresses as grandfather! )

Meanwhile, Vandiyadevan comes across a Vaishnavite Azhwarkkadiyan Nambi( Jayaram), who is also a spy for the Cholan Prime Minister. Thanks to the information from Nambi, Vandiyadevan manages to reach Nandini (Aishwarya Rai). He later reaches out to Sundara Chola and Kundavai and relays his message. (Vandhiyadevan is a clever and brave ally to Chola Crown Prince and he proves his worth time and again.) Kundavai asks him to bring Ponniyin Selvan aka Arulmozhi Varman to Chola Empire, from far away Sri Lanka!

That is the first time we see Ponniyin Selvan, at SriLanka, where he is busy learning the wisdom of life from Buddhist monks and also defeating Raja Mahindra in Lanka. Ponniyin Selvan infact means, son of river Kaveri, because, Arulmozhi was once saved from drowning in the river. In fact, he was saved by a lady with long tresses of grey hair. (We later learn that it is Aishwarya Rai in a dual role.)

Unknown to all, the Pandyans are after the three heirs of Chola empire, Karikalan, Kundavai and Ponniyin Selvan. They want all of them dead!

Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar and the other ministers force Sundara Chola to issue an order to arrest his own son, Ponniyin Selvan in SriLanka and bring him to Thanjavur, the capital of Chola Empire. (PS had infact rejected the throne of Asoka’s daughter, given to him by the Buddhist monks and that is considered an offense by the ministers of Chola. Sundara Chola agrees to arrest his son, only because he thinks, that will guarantee his son’s safe travel!)

Meanwhile, the pandyans arrive at Lanka, to assassinate Ponniyin Selvan. Samudrakumari or Poonguzhali (Aishwarya Lekshmi) who admires the Ponniyin Selvan, warns him regarding the Pandyans, once they enter Lankan waters. (Poonguzhali is actually the niece of old Aishwarya Rai!)

Vandiyadevan agrees to be the decoy, by dressing up as Arulmozhi Ponniyin Selvan. He gets captured, whereas Arulmozhi manages to escape the Pandyans. Once Ponniyin Selvan finds out that Vandhiyadevan is captured, he returns to save his friend. The movie ends with the storm wrecking the ship with Arulmozhi Varman and Vandhiyadevan and Chola Empire hearing the news of the death of Ponniyin Selvan! (We also get to see old Aishwarya Rai, dive into the ocean waters, trying to save Arulmozhi Varman, once again, that is the actual end of the movie!)

After watching the movie, the revelation was Karthi! Boy can he act. He is a natural. He fares better than his sibling, who is more popular, I don’t know why (He seems stiff and one dimensional!) It is a pleasure watching Karthi in the movie. Bravo!

Once I saw the movie poster, I thought the main character of Ponniyin Selvan was played by Chiyan Vikram, but nope, it was played by Jayam Ravi! (He is built for the character of a future king. He looks powerful and level headed.)

Vikram’s role is a piece of cake for him , Trisha, has a sizable character. Sobhita (lover of Ponniyin Selvan), Prakash Raj, Aishwarya Lekshmi have very little screen time. I liked watching Jayaram as Nambi, who is a little goofy, perfect as a spy. Aishwarya Rai gets the best role, which has internal conflict, grey shades and scope for acting.

It was an engaging watch (doesn’t seem lengthy or boring at all) and I hardly knew what was in store. It didn’t have any hero elevation moments or stuff like that. But still, it managed to capture my heart. It shows what an efficient director can do, even without any theatricals. (Mani Ratnam movie direction style is so different from that of Rajamouli. I don’t mean to compare them, as they are as different as chalk and cheese.)

All in all, I wanted to watch the PS – 2 , as soon as I was done watching PS -1 .

P.S:

  1. Ponniyin Selvan is a fictional historical novel written by the Tamil writer, Kalki Krishnamurthy. Although I never read his novel, I became a fan, once I was done watching the movie. I want to start reading the novel too, if I get a copy in either English or Telugu. Need to surf the net regarding the same.
  2. After studying briefly about Mr.Kalki Krishnamurthy, I wonder if he was an inspiration behind the story and or character names of Baahubali movies too! He had written a novel called Shivagami Sapadham and Karikala Kattappa reminds me of Adithya Karikalan (it might just be a coincidence).
  3. Ponniyin Selvan character is based on the historical figure, which we had studied in our schooling(long forgotten), Raja Raja Chola!
  4. The hair bun of Trisha seems so unique and must have been heavy on her neck, though!
  5. The words with ‘z’ in it, like in Poonguzhali  need to be pronounced with a ‘lla’/’lli’ sound. I found it the hard way, when I first pronounced the old and famous Shobhana starrer Malayalam movie, Manichitrathazhu!
  6. Since the movie has loads and loads of characters, it is a little tricky writing the review! Review of PS-2 coming soon!

Rowdy Baby!

Thanks to the energetic and graceful dancer Sai Pallavi and Rajnikanth’s Mapillai (son in law) Dhanush, Rowdy Baby is a popular chart buster in South India. The song is beautifully pictured and choreographed and is a foot tapping number, which doesn’t bore us, even if we have seen it more than a couple of times in one sitting!

The context in which I am going to use the said catch phrase of Rowdy Baby is completely different though. This one literally means a baby who is a rowdy, i.e. KBee!

Two years ago, when the little baby KBee was born, I and Mr.Bee were alone in the hospital thanks to COVID restrictions, we had everyone of our family near us but no one was allowed inside!  (So near yet so far!) We had to fend for ourselves, leaving GBee at maternal grandparents’ house and ya, it felt lonely!

Since we were managing everything by ourselves, we had little to, no sleep. Mr.Bee and I took turns to sleep when the tiny KBee was awake and when he was asleep, both of us would sleep.

On the day of his birth, by evening, the duty pediatrician had arrived, to check the progress of KBee.

Queen Bee in a post partum daze, standing with her hand on imaginary wall!

The pediatrician was so good as to warn us before hand, that the baby is going to be one hell of a rowdy fellow! I laughed it off, poor Queen Bee!

One and half years later…one evening…

1.5 years later, KBee, kicking the books, like there is no tomorrow!

KBee enjoys throwing all the books from their shelves on to the ground and stamping and kicking them, like they owe him an apology for some reason!  I am yet to come up with a reasonable explanation, except that boys will be boys and they tend to ‘rough-house’! I pity all those books, which have lost their covers or miss their pages and which are forever imperfect, thanks to the rough housing! Suddenly I am thankful that they have managed to survive these many years, without all the abuse, so that is a plus.

Some other times, KBee tends to bring his shoes, wear them and plead me to take him outside to play. If I ever tell him NO, then all the hell breaks loose.

A ‘no’ from me gets, flying flip flops as a reply!

I once told KBee that the Moon was already out and it is not the time to wear his ‘shoos’ and go to play outside. The next second, I saw flying flip flops and a tantrum throwing baby on the ground and I knew he will surely shine in soccer or football or whatever it is Lionel Messi is good at! (Soccer = Football, but these people love to confuse us with two different terms for the same sport.)

With incidents like these happening in quick succession, a memory suddenly flashed before my eyes…The one, where the duty pediatrician had commented about KBee being a Rowdy Baby!

The prophecy comes true ; Rowdy Baby indeed!

What else can I do now, except play Rowdy Baby in a loop!

P.S:

Disclaimer : I am in no way trying to demean Dhanush by saying he is just a son in law of popular superstar and nothing else! I wanted to use the little Tamil that I know in the post and that is the only reason for such a usage. No offense intended.

By the way, I prefer the Rowdy Baby song in Tamil, than in Telugu.  Which one do you like? Do drop in comments.

Till the next post…cheerio!

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