Ponniyin Selvan teaser: Mani Ratnam’s film matches Baahubali standards, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan looks ethereal in dual roles  

The teaser of Mani Ratnam’s highly anticipated magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan - Part 1 (2022) was released on Friday. The teaser promises that the film has been mounted on a lavish scale and its visuals match standards set by SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali series. 

Ponniyin Selvan, based on the eponymous epic novel by Kalki, has been produced by Mani Ratnam’s Madras Talkies. Lyca Productions will be releasing the film. The first part will be released in cinemas worldwide on 30 September. 

The film will be released in five languages. Amitabh Bachchan unveiled the Hindi version of the teaser. 

It is evident from the teaser that this could be undoubtedly most expensive film in Mani Ratnam’s career. All the lead characters are given equal importance in the teaser while Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who just appears in two shots, appears to be playing dual roles. 

In the film, Aishwarya will be seen in the character of Nandini, the wife of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar, and her mute mother, Queen Mandakini Devi. 

Last year, the film’s title poster was unveiled. The film went on the floors in Thailand where a major portion, including war sequences, was shot.  

The poster features a sword with a golden hilt and it bears the emblem of the Chola kingdom along with the words ‘Beginning of the Golden Era’. 

On Friday, the makers unveiled the first look poster of Jayam Ravi’s character from the movie. He plays the character Ponniyin Selvan. 

Tweet from Madras Talkies read: “Hail the Visionary Prince, the Architect of the Golden Era, the Great Raja Raja Chola…introducing Ponniyin Selvan! (sic).” 

The film has music by AR Rahman while Ravi Varman handled cinematography. Sreekar Prasad took care of editing and Thota Tharani was roped in for production design and writer Jeyamohan for dialogues.

Sharing credits for the screenplay along with Mani Ratnam is actor Kumaravel.