Reviewing Ponniyin Selvan 2 & Irrfan's Final Film

Ponniyin Selvan 2: Mani Ratnam's Epic Vision Comes To Fruition

With PS2, the filmmaker completes his outstanding condensation of Kalki's epic, imprinting larger-than-life flair on the best aspects of the novel.

Dir: Mani Ratnam

Cast: Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, more

Playing in: Theatres

‘DISARMING’ is the catchphrase of Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan 2. The second and final part of his adaptation of Kalki R Krishnamurthy’s Tamil magnum opus of the same name, a historical fiction based on the Chola dynasty in 10th century begins with a young prince-in-training disarmed by the beauty of a young girl, one who sings Andal’s “Thiruppavai” at the temples — Harini’s “Aazhi Mazhai Kanna” doing wonders for the film’s opening. Script and dialogue writers Ratnam, Jeyamohan and Elango Kumaravel give a robust backstory to Aditha Karikalan and Nandini, how they fell in love when they were young, and how they were subsequently ripped apart. But the film is replete with a war of dialogues and charm that one character uses over the other to disarm him or her, either physically or psychologically.

— ADITYA SHRIKRISHNA

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Stream on: ZEE5

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— RAHUL DESAI

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The Song of Scorpions Is A Potent Reminder Of Irfan Khan's Genius

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— I.S.

Playing in: Theatres

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