Mani Ratnam: Tech advances made Ponniyin Selvan possible

In a conversation with IANS, director Mani Ratnam spoke about being happy that Ponniyin Selvan 1 didn’t materialize in the Nineties, when he had first thought of adapting the bestselling historical fiction to film. "In a way, I am glad this film didn't materialize back then because I feel today we are far more equipped to handle such a subject on screen given the technological advances. This film is made for the big screen as it has an expansive set design, action, costumes, photography and pretty much everything."

Ratnam’s magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan I, an adaptation of Kalki Krishnamurthy's eponymous novel was attempted twice in the past by Ratnam. The first time, was in the 1990s, and the second time, was in the 2010s, but somehow neither effort materialized into a film.

Ponniyin Selvan-1 will release on the big screen on September 30.