Adapting a novel of around 2,000 pages on the big screen can be a Herculean task, one that auteur Mani Ratnam achieved with his Tamil period epics. If you wish to watch the Ponniyin Selvan movies in order, we have got you covered with a complete streaming guide to help you navigate the intricate world of the Cholas.
How to watch the Ponniyin Selvan movies in chronological order
The Ponniyin Selvan movies can fortunately be watched in the same order as their release date.
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Ponniyin Selvan: Part One (2022)
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Ponniyin Selvan: Part Two (2023)
An ambitious passion project in the works for years, Mani Ratnam shot the two movies in quick succession but released them within the gap of a year. Ratnam’s source material was the novel of the same name that was serialised in a whopping 2,210 pages and divided into five volumes. Largely faithful to Kalki Krishnamurthy’s novel, Ponniyin Selvan was a semi-historical account of the ancient Indian empire of the Chola kings.
With its ensemble cast starring as multiple characters within the Chola kingdom in ancient Tamil Nadu, both movies dealt with conspiracies to usurp the Chola throne along with a tale of personal vendetta and tragic romance. The cast included A-listers like “Chhiyan” Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha, and Prakash Raj. Set in the backdrop of AR Rahman’s orchestral score and Ravi Varman’s larger-than-life cinematography, Ratnam succeeded in bringing the Cholas alive for immersive theatrical experiences.
The first movie dealt with political chaos during the early years of Chola prince Arunmozhi Varman (Ravi) who would later go on to become the king Rajaraja I. Meanwhile, the movie also covers the attempts of a loyal chieftain (Karthi) to carry an extremely secretive message while audiences get a glimpse at the ill-fated romance of prince Aditha Karikalan and the rival kingdom’s queen Nandhini.
The second installment amps up the scale of the battle sequences as more context is offered behind Varman and Karikalan’s later campaigns and Nandhini’s ominous origins.
Will there be any more Ponniyin Selvan movies?
Despite the novel being divided into five volumes, Ratnam summed up the entire narrative in the two Ponniyin Selvan movies and has no plans to expand the story further.
Where can you stream the Ponniyin Selvan movies?
Below you can find the latest streaming information for the Ponniyin Selvan movies in order. This includes every offer for viewers in India today.
