Ponniyin Selvan II: A Disappointing Conclusion

Unfortunately, the highly awaited Ponniyin Selvan sequel, directed by Mani Ratnam, is dissatisfying.

Intro

Ponniyin Selvan II has hit the theaters and is displaying its box office prowess, passing 100 crores in just 2 days. However, the film does not meet the expectations of its star-studded cast or the legendary book it’s adapted from. Structured like a visual audiobook, PS-2 showcases poor directing/plot execution that has to be carried heavily by acting performances.

Storyline

The story starts off strong, right where it left off in the PS-I. However, as the film progresses, the viewer experience worsens. The dialogues are well written, but the scenes that they are executed in are not well directed whatsoever. There are no Bahubali-styled epic scenes or KGF-styled goosebump moments. Instead, the entire movie is a string of different plots abruptly placed one after the other, with the overall storyline not falling into place smoothly. Moreover, several scenes have such potential but are incredibly anticlimactic and rushed, leaving watchers extremely dissatisfied.

Superstar Cast

The acting is excellent, but that’s expected, with a cast featuring almost 10 lead role actors and several other spectacular side characters. The wardrobe, lighting, and effects are all decent as well. It’s the directing that really lets the film down, which is unfortunate as it wastes the talent of a phenomenal cast and the legendary author, Kalki, who wrote the book on which the movie is based upon. Mani Ratnam proved that he is incapable of creating epic scenes like Rajamouli or Prashanth Neel and demonstrated the difference in talent between Kollywood and the Tollywood/Sandalwood industries.

Closing Critiques

Now for the important question: Is it worth watching? The movie is solid and represents one of the greatest literary works of South India. The film has been critiqued so hard because the expectations were exceptionally high, and it did not meet its potential. Overall, it’s a must-watch for any South Indian casual viewers.

Raving Rating: 7.1