(This article is authored by Alar)

The wait is finally over for the fans of Mani Ratnam’s historical drama franchise Ponniyin Selvan. The second instalment of the magnum opus, based on the novel by Kalki Krishnamoorthy, is set to hit the theatres on April 28, 2023. The film will continue the story of Arulmozhi Varman, who goes on to become Rajaraja I, the greatest ruler of the Chola empire of south India.

The makers of Ponniyin Selvan 2 just recently kickstarted the film promotions as the debut date is getting nearer. A press conference was also held in Delhi on Tuesday, where the entire cast, including Chiyaan Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Trisha, and Karthi, was attended, where each of them radiated elegance and regal bearing.

Speaking to the media, Karthi said that it was not easy for people unfamiliar with the history of the Chola Dynasty to understand the first part of 'Ponniyin Selvan'. The actor shared how he explained the story to his friends. "I sent them a WhatsApp message with info about the story and it helped them understand the film. PS-1 has done the basic work and introduced the story. So, PS 2 won't be tricky," He also added by saying that if the first section was an introduction, then the second section reveals the meat of the story.

Adding Vikram, "I don't think guys have ever before had to think about things like hair, earrings, and jewelry. After that, we stopped being envious of our heroines. It's incredibly challenging, and there's also the fact that we fought while wearing leather armor. We intended to be truthful. However, even back then, it chaffs or cuts, and swinging it is a struggle. That wasn't a piece of fabric." he said.

The film also boasts of an ensemble cast that includes Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Mandakini Devi, Trisha as Kundavai, Sobhita Dhulipala as Vaanathi, Aishwarya Lekshmi as Poonguzhali, Jayaram as Azhwarkadiyan Nambi, R. Sarathkumar as Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar, Parthiban as Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar, Prabhu as Periya Vellar Boothi Vikramakesari, Prakash Raj as Sundara Chozhan and Rahman as Madurantakar.

The music of Ponniyin Selvan 2 is composed by AR Rahman, who has already delivered some chartbusters in the first part.  The film is produced by Lyca Productions and Madras Talkies and will be released simultaneously in multiple languages.  The epic film has been shot by cinematographer Ravi Varman and edited by Sreekar Prasad. Ponniyin Selvan 1 is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video, which grossed over 500 crores.