Ponniyin Selvan: I and Ponniyin Selvan: II | |
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Directed by | Mani Ratnam |
Written by |
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Story by | Kalki Krishnamurthy |
Based on | Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki Krishnamurthy |
Produced by |
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Cinematography | Ravi Varman |
Edited by | A. Sreekar Prasad |
Music by | A. R. Rahman |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Red Giant Movies |
Release dates |
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Country | India |
Language | Tamil |
Ponniyin Selvan: I and Ponniyin Selvan: II are Indian Tamil-language epic historical action drama films directed by Mani Ratnam, who co-wrote them with Elango Kumaravel and B. Jeyamohan. Produced by Ratnam and Subaskaran Allirajah under Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions, they are the cinematic adaptations of Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1955 novel, Ponniyin Selvan.
Ever since its publication, a film adaptation of the novel had been explored by several Tamil filmmakers, including an attempt by M. G. Ramachandran in the late 1950s; however, it never materialised. Decades later, Ratnam attempted to adapt the novel in the late-1980s and early-2010s but was unsuccessful due to financial constraints. Calling it his "dream project", Ratnam revived the effort in January 2019, after Lyca agreed to fund the film. Following several changes in cast and crew, production of Ponniyin Selvan began in 11 December 2019 and concluded in 18 September 2021, halting twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was originally intended to be a single film but was split into two parts. Both parts were shot back-to-back in various locations across India, with a few sequences in Thailand.
Ponniyin Selvan: I was released in theatres worldwide on 30 September 2022 and Ponniyin Selvan: II was released in theatres on 28 April 2023.