Ponniyin Selvan: I

Ponniyin Selvan: I (PS-1) (2022):

Ponniyin Selvan: I (PS1) is an Indian historical action drama film directed by Mani Ratnam and stars Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha Krishnan, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prakash Raj and Jayaram.

Produced by Ratnam and Allirajah Subaskaran under Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions, it is the first of two cinematic parts based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s 1955 novel Ponniyin Selvan. It was originally intended to be a stand-alone film but it was later split into two parts.

The film’s music is composed by A. R. Rahman, with cinematography handled by Ravi Varman, editing done by A. Sreekar Prasad, and production design by Thota Tharani. The film was shot in various places across India, with a few sequences being shot in Thailand.

Ponniyin Selvan: I was released in theatres worldwide on 30 September 2022 in standard and IMAX formats, where it received positive reviews from film critics, who praised the direction, cast performances, musical score, visuals, and faithfulness to the novel.

• Vikram as Aditya Karikalan, the crown prince and the commander of Northern troops in Sundara Chola’s Reign and Arulmozhivarman’s elder brother.
• Jayam Ravi as Arulmozhivarman or Ponniyin Selvan, later known as the great Raja Raja chola, a Chola emperor.
• Karthi as Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan, the brave, adventurous, and sarcastic warrior prince of Vannar.
• Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Nandini and Mandakini Devi.
• Jayaram as Azhwarkadiyan Nambi alias Thirumalaiappan, a Veera Vaishnavite spy who works for the Prime Minister and Sembiyan Mahadevi.
• Trisha as Kundavai Pirattiyar, also known as Illaiya Piratti, the Chola princess and daughter of Emperor Sundara Chola.
• Sobhita Dhulipala as Vaanathi, also known as Kodambalur Ilavarasi, a shy Kodumbalur princess.
• Aishwarya Lekshmi as Poonguzhali, also known as Samuthirakumari (transl. ”The princess of the ocean”), a boat woman who lives in Kodikarai.
• Vikram Prabhu as Parthibendra Pallavan, a friend of Aditya Karikalan, who comes from the lineage of Pallavas.
• Ashwin Kakumanu as Senthan Amudhan, a flower seller.
• R. Sarathkumar as Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar, the chancellor and treasurer of the Chola kingdom from the Paluvettaraiyar clan who was respected for his valor and 64 scars he got in battles.
• R. Parthiban as Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar, the chief in-charge of Thanjavur fort.
• Prabhu as Periya Vellar Boothi Vikramakesari, the Irunkovel chieftain, uncle of Vaanathi and the Commander of the southern troops during Sundara Chola’s reign.
• Prakash Raj as Sundara Chola alias Parantaka Chola II, the emperor of Chola empire, also known for his beauty giving him the name Sundara.

• Rahman as Madurantakar alias Amarabhujangan Nedunchezhiyan, the son of Sembiyan Mahadevi who was raised as a Shaivite.
• Aswin Rao as Kandhamaaran, also known as Illaiya Sambuvaraiyan, the prince of Kadamboor.
• Nizhalgal Ravi as Kadmabur Sambuvaraiyar, the petty ruler of Kadamboor from the Sambuvaraya family.
• Lal as Tirukoilur Malaiyaman alias Milaadudaiyar, the father-in-law of Sundara Chola and maternal grandfather for his children.
• Vidya Subramanian as Vanavan Mahadevi, the Empress of the Chola empire.
• Jayachitra as Sembiyan Mahadevi aka Periya Piratti, the wife of Gandaraditya and mother of Utthama Chola.
• Nassar as Veerapandiya
• Kishore as Ravi Dasan, the antagonist of the novel Ponniyin Selvan.
• Riyaz Khan as Soman Sambhavan one of the members of Pandya Aabathudavigal.
• Vinay Kumar as Parameswaran or Theveraalan one of the members of Pandya Aabathudavigal.
• Mohan Raman as Kudanthai Jothidar, the astrologer in the town of Kudanthai (present-day Kumbakonam).
• Vinodhini Vaidyanathan as Vasuki, maid of Nandini.
• Master Raghavan as Pandya prince.
• Makarand Deshpande as Chief Kaalamugar.
• Balaji Sakthivel.
• Vijay Yesudas.
• Arjun Chidambaram.
• Babu Antony.
• Amzath Khan.