(This article is authored by Alar)

It was a night to remember, full of glamour, glitz, and a sense of anticipation for the upcoming film, Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan 2 as the audio launch was a star-studded affair at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai on March 29th. The members of the star-studded ensemble cast started arriving, looking resplendent and dashing in their respective outfits. Many of them were seen having a gala time with the 360-degree camera, capturing fun moments before heading to the photo and video booths.

Trisha who managed to steal the limelight as she made a grand entrance dressed in a stunning blue saree, looking like a true diva. Trisha, who plays Kundavai, thanked her fans. She expressed her gratitude towards the fans who dressed up as Kundavai and sent her over 100 DMs after the release of PS 1. She thanked them and concluded her speech by saying, "Uyir Eppodhum ungalodadhu dhan" (my life is yours), while pointing towards her fans.

Karthi, dressed in a traditional outfit, looked graceful and composed at the audio launch event of Ponniyin Selvan 2. The actor expressed his gratitude towards the movie's success and shared that he has been receiving a lot of direct messages on Instagram after appearing as Vanthiyathevan in the film. He also praised Mani Ratnam's direction skills, saying that nobody can direct love scenes like him.

Furthermore, Karthi mentioned that Ponniyin Selvan has broken many records and brought several people back to the theaters. He also shared that Mani Ratnam offered him the role of Vanthiyathevan when he was shooting for Kaithi, and he was confident enough to pull it off. Karthi added that he was already envisioning the character in his mind, with visuals of gladiators and Marudhunayagam running through his thoughts.

Aishwarya Lekshmi looked ethereal in an ivory mirror-work lehenga, radiating an aura of elegance and grace, said, "Poonguzhali is so full of love and that is known after reading the book. Thank you Mani sir for giving me Poonguzhali. This film is my pride. I am so happy that I could be part of it."

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was a sight to behold as she graced the event with clad in a magnificent pink and gold ethnic ensemble that accentuated her elegance. The actress, who portrays the dual roles of Nandini and Mandakini in the film, She was warmly greeted by the director and his wife, Suhasini, who she embraced affectionately.

In a gesture of respect and gratitude, she also touched Mani Ratnam's feet.Beginning her speech with "vanakkam," Aishwarya expressed her delight at being present at the event and thanked the fans for their love and support. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the audience for acknowledging their work and conveyed her gratitude to Mani Ratnam, her mentor, saying, "I will always remain your student."

Sporting a rugged look with a man bun, Chiyaan Vikram captured the attention of fans with his Thangalaan avatar. The actor, who has previously collaborated with Mani Ratnam in Raavanan, expressed his gratitude towards his mentor in his remarks, Vikram expressed his admiration for the character he portrays in the film."The role of Aditha Karikalan is something that I cherish, just like how he can't forget Nandini in the film, I can't forget this role. I have many dream roles, and this character is one of them. The courage, compassion, and love that he embodies are aspects I really loved about the role,"

"I feel blessed to have played this character in a Mani Ratnam film, and I'm grateful to him for giving me this opportunity. I would also like to thank the entire team involved in bringing this character to life, from the costume designer to the choreographer. AR Rahman's background score is exceptional and every time I listen to the songs, I keep hitting the repeat button." he added.

Jayam Ravi looked suave and sophisticated in a black kurta, who plays Arulmozhi Varman in Ponniyin Selvan expressed his gratitude towards the elders who came to watch the film in theatres, some of whom had not visited cinemas in years. He thanked the audience and promised them that the second part of the film will have twice the amount of everything they enjoyed in the first part. The actor added that he, like the audience, is eagerly waiting to watch the second part of the film in theatres.

The actor also commended Mani Ratnam for completing both parts of the film simultaneously and delivering a unique experience to the audience by making them wait for the second part after watching the first. It was the highlight moment when Simbu took the stage and shared his excitement and nervousness about the launch event. He expressed his respect for his guru, Kamal sir, and the presence of Mani and Rahman sir, which added to his tension. Simbu referred to Mani Ratnam as an "adamant baby" and praised his persistence in achieving his goals. He further acknowledged Ratnam's impact on his personal and professional life by revealing that it was the director who introduced him to the magic of early morning work schedules.

Simbu was also eager to watch the performances of his co-stars, particularly Vikram and Aishwarya, and expressed his excitement to witness the character arcs of his favourite character, Vanthiyathevan, and Trisha's portrayal. The actor ended his address by congratulating each cast member for their contribution to the film. Music maestro AR Rahman expressed his gratitude towards the film's director, Mani Ratnam, stating that he has been fortunate to have worked with him for 31 long years. Rahman described Ratnam as not just a filmmaker, but also a brother, friend, and mentor to him.

While addressing the audience, Rahman revealed that people often ask him about Ratnam's comeback, but the director simply encourages him for everything. Rahman further praised Ratnam for his contribution in taking Tamil cinema to the global stage. He acknowledged that Ratnam has been doing this for over 40 years, and others, including himself, are merely following in his footsteps.

The film is slated to release in theatres on April 28 in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages.  Ponniyin Selvan 2 is the second part of Mani Ratnam’s epic historical drama based on the novel by Kalki Krishnamoorthy. The film narrates the story of Arulmozhi Varman, who becomes Rajaraja I, the greatest ruler of the Chola empire of south India. The film features an ensemble cast of Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha, Sobhita Dhulipala, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Jayaram, Sarathkumar, Parthiban, Prabhu, Prakash Raj, Rahman and others. The music for the film is composed by AR Rahman.