Vikram says PS-1 scene where he sees Aishwarya Rai’s Nandini with Veerapandiyan was to be more ‘gruesome’: ‘Had to walk away with his head’

Vikram sheds light on one of the most unforgettable bits in Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan, which released last year. Its second part hits theatres on April 28.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | Updated: April 27, 2023 03:44 PM IST

2 min read

Vikram in a still from Ponniyin Selvan.

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With Mani Ratnam directorial Ponniyin Selvan 2 release around the corner, fans are waiting with bated breath for the epic saga to reach its conclusion. The first part, which released last year, was not only one of the highest grossing Tamil films of the year, but also managed to win over critics.

Recently, while speaking with Film Companion, lead actor Vikram, who plays Prince Aditya in the feature, shed a little light about one of the most talked about scenes of PS-1. Speaking about the bit where Aditya sees Nandini with Veerapandiyan for the first time, Vikram said the sequence was supposed to play out a little darker than is finally shown.

“It was a very important scene that comes after a big battle, a chase and one more fight and it was an elaborate scene which was compressed into a couple of shots because it comes into a song. So, I already had a description of what had happened and while filming I realised that within those three shots I had to communicate (their bond),” said the actor.

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Vikram added that a lot of people had questions about the segment: “Actually a lot of people asked me what were you thinking when you opened the door, but I was not thinking, I was just feeling the moment. And I don’t meet Nandini at all in the film except there so that was very significant to me in the film. Actually it had to end gruesomely, I had to walk away with his head. It would have been a silhouette shot.” The actor then stated while speaking about the blood stains that finally made it to the screen, that ‘it was supposed to be gruesome but suddenly it became art.’

The second part of the Mani Ratnam movie, Ponniyin Selvan 2, will release in theatres on April 28, and stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vikram, Sobhita Dhulipala, Trisha Krishnan, Jayam Ravi and Karthi among others in pivotal roles.

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