In Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2, director Mani Ratnam delves into the heart of the novel with the ill-fated romance between crown prince Aaditha Karikalan (Vikram) and Nandhini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan). The film begins with a prelude that shows the blossoming of love between a prince and an orphan girl, and the heartache it leaves when they are separated. This doomed romance sustains the tension and drives the characters to make decisions that have far-reaching impact.
The first half of the film is fast-paced, with daring attempts to murder Arulmozhi and Vandhiyathevan’s efforts to foil them, a heartwarming reunion between siblings, and a thrilling pre-interval action sequence with a rousing AR Rahman background score.
The latter half is more concerned with the fate of Karikalan, and the much-anticipated moment between Karikalan and Nandhini is filled with dread and pain, with Vikram and Aishwarya delivering terrific performances.
The climax is impacted by this emotional high, and while the writers give us a more agreeable twist, they fail to pack a punch with the speech that Arulmozhi delivers while making the supreme sacrifice that makes him the titular hero of this sprawling epic.
Mani Ratnam hews closer to the spirit of Kalki’s novels, which are fictionalised accounts of historical personalities, largely focused on interpersonal drama. The grandeur in this film comes mainly from the emotions of characters within its walls, rather than from grandiose visual effects. The war scene at the end attempts to give viewers an instant adrenaline rush, but lacks strong emotional grounding.
Overall, Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2 is a well-crafted film with outstanding performances, especially in the portrayal of the ill-fated romance between the crown prince and the orphan girl.
