PS1 (Ponniyin Selvan Part 1), a film directed by Mani Ratnam, an upcoming Indian Tamil-language action film, released earlier today. It stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Vikram, Sobhita Dhulipala and others. Kalki Krishnamoorthi has written epic historical fiction.
The drama-fantasy film will be released in five Indian languages: Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Netizens have shown excitement for its original Tamil version and tickets are getting sold in huge numbers. It is said to be made with a Rs 500 cr budget.
Netizens took to social media to share their experiences as it takes a good start on Day 1 at box-office. A social media user stated, “Thoroughly enjoyed the movie. MR perfectly justified the storyline and did the best he could for this massive story.. not easy…Huge respect for the entire cast and crew for this effort to initiate and made this happen.” Another said, “PonniyinSelvan blockbuster Being a person who have not read d book or tried to know wat d story was before watching and i Enjoyed it. Super work by #ManiRatnam Tis is going to b d Next big thing from Kollywood in terms of collections…”
What’s adding to the release is the legal trouble for people leaking this film. The makers of Ponniyin Selvan requested the Madras High Court to prohibit the film’s release on pirated websites, which led to ban on over 2000 websites for doing such activity.
Meanwhile, the overseas distributors of PS1 took to Twitter to share that they received threats with attacks from fringe groups, in an email, adding that their claim to create chaos if they play PS1. “I have updates from Hamilton, Kitchener, and London. All the theatre owners have been threatened with attacks if they play PS1 Tamil or any movie from KW Talkies. Let’s see how other places fare,” it had said.
The distributor issued an apology to viewers who were waiting to watch Mani Ratnam’s Magnum Opus. “We would like to apologize to you for all the confusion around PS1 Tamil release in Canada. We had an understanding with Landmark (chain of multiplexes) as soon as we signed the movie, to have the Tamil version release in 20 locations including IMAX but the recent vandalism and continued threats made them reconsider. Cineplex has been subject to this before this and they have taken a stand that the attacks need to stop. That is why you see only Malayalam and Hindi across Cineplex locations,” said KW Talkies in an official statement.
It added, “It’s very unfortunate and shameful that the biggest movie chains in the country won’t show this epic and eagerly movie on their screens. Tamil movie lovers in Canada deserve better. Our hands are tied without the largest exhibitors accepting our requests for the Tamil version. The exhibitors and their film buyers will not commit without assurances that vandalism will not happen. Whoever did this vandalism and sent these threats has done a huge disservice to the community.”
“Everyone who are calling us to open the Tamil version of the movie, please call your representatives instead, ad ask for them to help release the original version in Cineplex. Call Cineplex and Landmark instead. That will help the situation than calling us. Make some noise!” the statement further said.
Statement from us about why #PS1Tamil is not releasing in @CineplexMovies and @LandmarkCinemas #PS1TamilInCanada #PS1TamilInCineplex #PS1TamilInLandmark @LycaProductions @MadrasTalkies_ pic.twitter.com/ePkjeF1d5Y
— KW Talkies (@kwtalkies) September 28, 2022
This is not the first instance when a Tamil film received intimidation from some fringe groups in Canada. Dulquer Salmaan starrer Malayalam film Kurup, a Malayalam film, starring Dulquer Salmaan came under attack last year in November in Ontario.
