Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan has been the most difficult film to work on, says AR Rahman

Mani Ratnam's adaptation of Ponniyin Selvan is scheduled to release in theatres on September 30. The latest information is that the post-production work has been going on in full swing. A picture of a technician drumming has been doing the rounds on social media. From this, we learn that the film's sound mixing process is on.

Ponniyin Selvan's score and soundtrack are composed by AR Rahman. Calling it his most difficult film, he said he did extensive research for the same. In an interview with The New Indian Express, the Oscar-winning music composer added, “It is an epic film and required a lot of work and research. We almost worked for six months on the album. We even went to Bali to write some of the songs!"

However, the challenging part was to create a particular sound that Mani Ratnam was looking for, Rahman said. “He wanted a particular sound, which is unique but at the same time, relatable. We had to work quite hard to crack the sound. Ponniyin Selvan is probably my most difficult film thus far."

Featuring a stellar cast of Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha, Vikram Prabhu, Sobhita Dhulipala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Aishwarya Lekshmi and Ashwin Kakumanu, Ponniyin Selvan will be released in two instalments.

Based on the best-selling novel by Kalki Krishnamurthy, Ponniyin Selvan has a screenplay by Mani Ratnam, Jeyamohan and Kumaravel. The lyrics of the songs have been penned by Elango Krishnan, Kabilan, Siva Ananth and Krithika Nelson.

The book chronicles the story of the early days of Arulmozhivarman, one of the most powerful kings in the south, who went on to become the great Chola emperor Rajaraja Chola I.

Further, there were speculations that Ponniyin Selvan was going to have a digital-only premiere. But, the makers had clarified that the film will surely have a theatrical release, and eventually be streamed on an OTT platform.

A source tells OTTplay, "Ponniyin Selvan was created for a theatrical experience. We want our viewers to celebrate the film on the large screen."

Backed by Mani Ratnam's production house Madras Talkies and Allirajah Subaskaran's banner Lyca Productions, Cinematographer Ravi Varman has shot Ponniyin Selvan.