Behind The Orchestral Work of AR Rahman’s Score For Ponniyin Selvan 2

Post the release of Ponniyin Selvan 2, Firdaus Orchestra, a women’s ensemble mentored by AR Rahman that was pivotal in producing the background score for the epic, released a BTS video. The video opens with a rap score and AR Rahman briefs them that “It is a big film.”

“Ponniyin Selvan part 1 and 2 is a Mani Ratnam film. He has a certain sensibility and he has a certain aura, and it is about the Tamil Culture, about the Cholas,” says Rahman, who further explains how they curated the background score. We are shown glimpses of how the team recorded the song using violin, cello and other instruments, as the scenes — like Vandhiyathevan (Karthi) fighting outside the monastery, the war sequences, and the stretch where Aditha Karikalan (Vikram) and Nandini (Aishwarya Rai) meet — play in the background. Rahman also introduces sound engineer Simon Rhodes, who has worked on productions like Avatar 2: The Way of The Water. “He is amazing,” Rahman concludes. 

Firdaus Orchestra team is mentored by AR Rahman. Releasing the video, they wrote on Twitter, “Thrilled to be a part of the epic journey that is #PonniyanSelvan II & grateful to our mentor @arrahman & Mani Ratnam for trusting us with this monumental task. Congratulations to the team for their hard work! It was a pleasure working with Simon Rhodes!”