Kamal Haasan calls Ponniyin Selvan 2 mark of Tamil cinema's 'golden age': 'We need to nurture and cherish it'

Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan has admitted to feeling jealous of director Mani Ratnam at the audio release event of Ponniyin Selvan 2, a movie that he has longed to turn into a reality for years. Speaking at the event, Kamal Haasan heaped praise on Mani Ratnam for succeeding where he had failed .

"People today debated whether it was love or courage that was the reason behind the success of this movie. I believe it's both. And director (Mani Ratnam) is a prime example of it. The great love he had for Ponniyin Selvan is well known. Even I'm a lover (of that book). But, he continued to follow his love and turned it into courage. You need the courage to make a movie like this," Kamal said.

Also Read: Ponniyin Selvan 2 will be Tamil cinema's first Rs 1000 crore movie: Leo producer SS Lalit Kumar 

Kamal noted that not many would muster the courage to make a movie like this. "Why many people can't make a movie like this? Because it's not possible. It's fear. And one should feel so much fear. It doesn't mean Mani Ratnam didn't have fear while making this movie. He would have felt it too. But, you know what's courage? Pretending as if one has no fear," he added. 

Kamal also emphasized the importance of working together with great talents from around the world to create great artistic work and make the most out of one's time in movies.

"All great artists (from around the world) should join forces and work together. We don't have time to feel jealous. The truth is we don't have any time at all. I'm not saying it for people of my age group. It's for everyone. Because life itself is short and the opportunity to work in movies is ever shorter. And during that short period, we should make use of this opportunity and work together," Kamal Haasan said.

Kamal described the current phase of Tamil cinema as the "golden age." "We need to celebrate this golden age of Tamil cinema, nurture it and cherish it," he said.

Kamal has played the role of a narrator in Ponniyin Selvan 2. The movie also stars Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prakash Raj and Jayaram among others. 

Ponniyin Selvan 2 will release in cinemas worldwide on April 28.