Filmmaker Mani Ratnam has finally fulfilled his long-time dream of adapting Kalki’s literary masterpiece Ponniyin Selvan into a film after two failed attempts.
Described as India’s first pan-Indian director by his peers SS Rajamouli and Shankar, Mani Ratnam seems content with the way his latest project is being received by the audience. Its soundtrack has been composed by AR Rahman.
Source- Times of India
The magic of Kalki’s novel is this. It is set in an era a thousand years back. It was written nearly seventy years back. But it remains relevant even today. The politics, the power-play, human behavior, sacrifices done for the larger good, all are relevant. Maybe yesterday, helps us to understand today and leads us into tomorrow. Yes, I think it will be very relevant to the audience today.
In a recent interaction, he admitted that it is good that the novel was not adapted into a film before as this is the right time. He’s glad he could make it into two parts and release it now as audiences are ready to watch a film in multiple parts.
“Casting for a film is such a crucial aspect. Correct cast would mean that 50% of my job was well done. So it is never a one-shot decision. Especially with these many characters. Their time, the need to let them get into the period look, which would mean growing their hair not changing it till the film was over, etc. I was lucky to land on this cast. Most of the characters are done by artists who play leads in many films even today. It was the magic of the book, and the love for it that brought so many of these eminent actors together”, he added.
Source- Filmibeat
Mani confirmed that the shoot for the second part is over as well. “In another six-nine months’ time, the second part should be ready for release. Post-production work is currently underway.”
Talking more about the adaptation process, the filmmaker said Ponniyin Selvan will be both a faithful representation as well as interpretation of Kalki’s novel. “I’m also a fan of the book and it has deeply impacted me. This is my interpretation and presentation of the story in the way it has impacted me,” he said.
Ponniyin Selvan, which features an ensemble cast of Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Aishwarya Lekshmi, releases in cinemas on September 30.
