Ponniyin Selvan: I is an Indian Tamil-language epic period action film directed by Mani Ratnam, who co-wrote it with Elango Kumaravel and B. Jeyamohan. Produced by Ratnam and Allirajah Subaskaran under Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions, it is the first of two cinematic parts based on Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1955 novel Ponniyin Selvan. The film stars an ensemble cast of Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prabhu, R. Sarathkumar, Vikram Prabhu, Jayaram, Prakash Raj, Rahman and R. Parthiban. The music is composed by A. R. Rahman, with cinematography handled by Ravi Varman, editing done by A. Sreekar Prasad and production design by Thota Tharani. The film tells the story of early days of Arulmozhivarman, who later became the great Chola emperor Rajaraja Chola I (947 CE – 1014 CE).
Plot: Vandiyathevan, sets out to cross the Chola land to deliver a message from the Crown Prince Adithya Karikalan.Kundavai attempts to establish political peace in the land seemingly civil war plotted by vassals and petty chieftains.