Ponniyin Selvan: I

I am the biggest fan of Maniratnam. I was so eagerly waiting for this film. I watched it on the first day itself. This film needed a better hero than Karthi. It was hard to take him seriously as a picaresque swashbuckling warrior. He lacked the physical frame and the acting chops to pull it off. Trisha looked gorgeous. The sets and visuals were also lavish. Songs and background score were unremarkable at best. Has Rehman declined this badly? He used to bring his A game for Manirathnam movies. I wouldn't really recommend this film.

So what really went wrong? A lack of narrative punctuation. It lacks those memorable and spectacular scenes that ties it all together. The narration is quite flat and only the occasional beautiful visual spruced me up as a viewer. Remember the Udal Mannukku monologue in Iruvar? That 3 minute 24 second clip on Youtube was more innovative and had more swag than this whole film.

But I am so glad the film is a big hit and it is a pleasure to see your favorite director smiling and celebrating. Mani sir really stuck his neck out with Iruvar and Kannathil Muthamitaal. He deserves this success. Bravo, Mani sir.