Ponniyin Selvan: Did you know which South-Asian film used the IMAX technology first?

We had told you Mani Ratnam's much-anticipated Ponniyin Selvan-1 would become the first Tamil film to release in the IMAX format. But, did you know that Satan’s Slaves: Communion became the first South-Asian film to use the same technology? Directed by Joko Anwar, the horror film is a sequel to the director's 2017 project, Satan’s Slaves.

The plot of Satan's Slave: Communion revolves around a family that goes through terrifying events after their mother dies and returns to haunt them. Tara Basro plays the young woman attempting to break the curse that has befallen her family. Bront Palarae, Endy Arfian, Nasar Anuz, Egi Fedly, and Ayu Laksmi are among the cast members.

IMAX has a strong presence in much of Asia, with China now having the most Imax screens in the world. Over the years, the company has attempted to persuade Asian filmmakers to release their work in the premium large format, either as conversions or as original works shot with IMAX-certified cameras.

The release of titles such as KGF: Chapter 2 and RRR in IMAX theatres has accelerated the wave of South Indian blockbuster action films crossing over into the mainstream and achieving national release.

In terms of Ponniyin Selvan-1, IMAX Corporation and Lyca Productions have announced a collaboration to bring the film to IMAX screens in India and around the world on September 30. On that date, it will also be released in non-IMAX theatres in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada.

The film, set in the 10th century and based on Kalki Krishnamurthy's classic Tamil-language novel, revolves around the early life of Chola Prince Arunmozhi Varman, who was later known as the great Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola and was the most powerful king in South India at the time. He is credited with reestablishing the Chola empire's hegemony and ensuring its dominance in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prabhu, Sarath Kumar, Jayaram, Prakash Raj, Jayachitra, Rahman, Vikram Prabhu, Ashwin Kakumanu, Lal, Parthiban, and Riyaz Khan star in the Ponniyin Selvan franchise.

"We are super excited that Ponniyin Selvan-1 can be seen in IMAX by audiences all over the world," said Aashish Singh, CEO of Lyca Productions. Further, he added, the IMAX format will fully realise the creators' vision of the film, enthralling audiences with an unforgettable, immersive experience.

Megan Colligan, president of IMAX Entertainment, said, "IMAX continues to be a global destination for fandom of all kinds. PS-1 is a perfect example of how we're continuing to enhance and diversify our content portfolio on the international stage. We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Lyca Productions to bring this film to the big screen. We remain committed to the Indian film market as it expands, and local language blockbusters like this one continue to be an important part of our international footprint."