@notyourhijabi I just booked my mom & I tickets to this because of you lol. I'm spluttering 'cause the cast list is AMAZING and I literally didn't know this existed.

Mani Ratnam went full epic mode, rich, detailed, and crazy dense. The film throws you into a complex political world with multiple characters and shifting loyalties, and it expects you to keep up. That can feel overwhelming at first, but once it clicks, it’s immersive. The visuals are grand without being flashy, the music elevates the drama, and the storytelling focuses more on intrigue than action. The pacing is slow, especially in the first half, but it’s all about setting the chessboard. Not an easy watch, but a rewarding one if you invest in it.

A very difficult movie very well done. Some notable issues though - Aishwarya Rai looks like she is in Jodhaa Akbar, doesn’t look anything like a Chola queen. Each character has their own “theme song” which plays whenever they are on screen. That got very annoying after a while. The music in general isn’t great, which is hard to say for a Rahman musical. Some pacing issues. For a nearly 3 hour movie, some parts got an unnecessary amount of attention while others were skimmed over. Overall though, incredibly well done. Cannot wait for Part 2.

An yet another amazing film by Mani Ratnam. Even though the story is adapted from the famous novels written by Lt. Kalki, Mani Ratnam has done a fantastic job of selecting his cast and keeping the story relatable to the real Chola Empire. Big shout out to all the artists big or small, they did an excellent and phenomenal job. It’s the tiny details make the movie even more attract. One such with the Fearless Aditya Karikalan who has no peace in him expect his war. Which is represented by a white horse he Carries to the Battle Ground and everywhere he travels.