Ponniyin Selvan Part 1, directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Chiyaan Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Rai, and Trisha, debuted to great acclaim both domestically and abroad. The movie adaptation of Kalki’s book has a strong emotional impact on Tamil audiences, and the film’s box office results are quite unbalanced, with the Tamil version accounting for the majority of its earnings. The movie went incredibly well in Tamil Nadu, where it ranked third in terms of ticket sales for a Tamil movie this year, just behind two-star pictures Beast and Valimai. The movie had significant pre-orders, which suggests a promising run.
Ponniyin Selvan Part 1’s Hindi version did well on day 1 with earnings of roughly Rs. 1.6–2 cr nett. The numbers are respectable for a dubbed movie with little advertising. However, considering the enormous scale at which the movie was produced, one might have anticipated stronger sales from other versions, which can take over if demand for the original version starts to wane. It competed with Vikram Vedha on the north circuit, but business was unaffected because there were enough screens for both movies to play simultaneously. If PS-1 is going to succeed, one would expect that it expands over the weekend and records a Monday that is comparable to Friday. Part 2 has already been shot and if the first part is able to ensure a steady run, part 2 will open well all over.
Mani Ratnam’s 25th film as a director is Ponniyin Selvan Part 1. In his career, the filmmaker has produced a huge number of notable movies, including Dil Se, Bombay, Roja, Ok Kanmani, and others. PS-1 has given the director his biggest international opening.