Top 10 facts you need to know about the talk of the town: PS 1

 Dear readers,

Here are a few facts I have compiled from the blockbuster adaptation of Ponniyin Selvan novel by Kalki Krishnamurthy. Enjoy!

1. The legendary actor and former CM of TN, M.G.R  had wanted to play a role in the film adaptation of PS, back in the 1950s. Many other legends have yearned for a role in this mega blockbuster movie, but in vain.

2. The discussions for the film adaptation by Mani Ratnam has been going on for more than 20 years and had finally started filming pre-covid in 2019.

3. The film is set in 900 to 950 AD in the administrative capital of the Chola Dynasty- Thanjai AKA Tanjore and also in Kadambur.

4. The original novel is of 5 bulky volumes-  New Floods (Puthu Vellam), Whirlwind(Suzharkatru), Sword of Slaughter(Kolai Vaal), The Crown(Manimagudam),The Pinnacle of Sacrifice(Thiyaaga Sigaram)

5. The novel appeared in small excerpts in a weekly Tamil magazine titled Kalki and ran for almost 4 years.

6. The title Ponniyin Selvan translates to the 'Son of Ponni', where Ponni is the local name for the river 'Kaveri'.

7. The movie is released not only in the original language TAMIL, but also in MALAYALAM, TELUGU, KANNADA and HINDI.

8. The movie can be considered synonymous to the Indian version of GAME OF THRONES.

9. Thota Tharani, the film’s production designer, revealed that extensive research has gone into recreating the lost glory of the Chola empire. The attention to detail in each aspect of the set ranged from the grand home décor of the Cholas to the stationery they used. Moreover, Thailand was chosen as one of the locations for filming because the country has dense rain forests and temples that resemble 10th-century Chola architecture.

10.  No cost was spared, which can be seen that every ounce of jewellery was made of real gold! (Shocking but true!)

[If you ask me, it would have been great if the money was better invested elsewhere, but yeah the movie did turn out to be great!]

Even if you did not watch the movie, do not miss out the chance to listen to the songs of the PS 1 Album. (The ones I am listing below is the Tamil Version, however its available in major languages)

1. Ponni Nadhi (Rating- 5/5)

2. Raatchasa Maamaney (Rating- 4/5)

3. Alaikadal (Rating- 4.75/5)

4. Sol (Rating- 3.75/5)

5. Chola Chola (Rating- 4/5)

6. Devaralan Attam (Rating- 4.5/5)

Please let me know your feedback in the comments!