Ponniyin Selvan 2 Review: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Chiyaan Vikram Steal The Show

Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan is established as his own even in the first part, and this is reinforced in the second instalment. Although Kalki Krishnamurthy's story remains intact, the film has some twists and changes to the novel's plot. However, Mani's magic translates into a fine on-screen adaptation.
The film starts with the flashback portion of Adithya Karikalan and Nandhini, which goes on for a while. Unfortunately, the actors who played the younger version of Kundhavai and Adithya Karikalan fail to deliver the emotion their characters deserve. The flashback portion is also flat, with no situations or scenes that would elevate the mood. Additionally, the placement of two songs in the first half diverts your attention.

Lack of organic flow diverts your attention

The scenes in the first half are scattered all over the place with no organic flow or continuity between them, leaving viewers to piece together the proceedings. The pre-interval block is where the film takes off, with an intense scene backed by intriguing background music by AR Rahman. Post-interval, the film takes viewers to a different world, with every scene arresting their attention.

Ravi Varma's cinematography showcases some jaw-dropping visuals, particularly in the scene right before the song sequence Aga Naga, which is particularly captivating. With Karthi's timely wit and Trisha Krishnan's charm, the scene's mood is perfectly captured through the lens.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Chiyaan Vikram lead the show

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan holds the screen together with her persona as the evil all-powerful queen, managing to hinge the tension around her. Vikram's Aditya Karikalan has the next-longest screen appearance and holds the story together with his personal. While all the other actors, including Trisha Krishnan, Karthi, and Jayam Ravi, have limited screen presence, Karthi delivers some whistle-worthy performances that make viewers crave more of his presence. It is highly disappointing that Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Ashwin Kakamanu, Parthiban, Sarath Kumar, and Jayaram hardly appear in 3-4 scenes.

Fast-paced second half makes up for the slow first half

Overall, the first half slacks in pace due to a rather boring flashback sequence, but the second half makes up for it. The war sequences are reminiscent of Game of Thrones, and unlike the first part, the songs in the second part do not make much of an impact. Nevertheless, Ponniyin Selvan is an unmissable drama that must be experienced on the big screens.

PS: The climax of the movie differs from the climax of the novel. Though it IS disappointing, it can be assumed that the decision was taken to deliver a less complex story.