2022 · Film
Ponniyin Selvan: I
Tamil historical epic by Mani Ratnam, adapted from Kalki Krishnamurthy's novel, about a plot against the 10th-century Chola throne and the princes who stand in its way.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, Ponniyin Selvan: I is free to watch in India on Prime Video.
- Checked Sun, 18 Oct, 2026Open ↗
The story
In the 10th century, the Chola Empire is at its height, but Emperor Sundara Chola is ailing. Crown Prince Aditha Karikalan holds the northern front, while his younger brother Arulmozhi Varman fights in Lanka. Sensing a conspiracy at home, Karikalan sends his trusted friend Vandiyadevan with secret messages to the emperor and to Princess Kundavai. On the way, Vandiyadevan stumbles on chieftains plotting over the succession, and on Nandini, a queen with her own reasons to hate the Cholas. Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Karthi star.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
Made for viewers who like court intrigue, large ensembles and historical spectacle, and are ready to watch both parts. Rated U/A, it has battle violence but little gore. It runs almost three hours and introduces a lot of characters early on.
Genres:HistoricalDramaAction
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
Ponniyin Selvan: I is the first of two films based on Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1954 Tamil novel Ponniyin Selvan. Its story concludes in Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023). Both parts were shot together between December 2019 and September 2021, and Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions produced them.
The film opened on 30 September 2022 in Tamil, with dubbed versions in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. It was the first Tamil film released in IMAX. Prime Video began streaming the South Indian versions on 4 November 2022 and added the Hindi dub on 26 November 2022.
Several outlets, including Hindustan Times and Outlook, reported a worldwide gross of about ₹500 crore. The Hindi version took about ₹22 crore in India. At the 70th National Film Awards, the film won four awards: Best Tamil Feature Film, Best Cinematography (Ravi Varman), Best Music Direction for the background score (A. R. Rahman) and Best Sound Design. It also won Best Film – Tamil at the 68th Filmfare Awards South.
The facts
- Language
- Tamil
- Hindi
- Hindi dub available
- Genre
- Historical epic, Period drama
- Runtime
- 167 min
- Certificate
- U/A
- Director
- Mani Ratnam
- Cast
- Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Karthi, Ravi Mohan, Trisha Krishnan
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Ponniyin Selvan: I in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, Ponniyin Selvan: I is free to watch in India on Prime Video.
- Is Ponniyin Selvan: I available in Hindi?
- Yes. Ponniyin Selvan: I was made in Tamil, and a Hindi-dubbed version is available on Prime Video.
- Is Ponniyin Selvan: I suitable for children?
- Ponniyin Selvan: I has a CBFC U/A certificate, which means children under 12 should watch with a parent or guardian.
- How long is Ponniyin Selvan: I?
- Ponniyin Selvan: I runs for 2 hours 47 minutes (167 minutes).