Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 - Opening Sequence

The opening animation for the 2022 Indian Tamil-language epic historical action drama film directed by the award-winning veteran director Mani Ratnam. The sequence introduces its primary protagonists while also setting the stage for the geo-political rivalries outside as well as inside one of the longest-ruling dynasties in world history: The Chola Empire.

This historical drama from acclaimed director Mani Ratnam, adapted from Kalki Krishnamurthy's celebrated novel, stars Tamil cinema's biggest actors - Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Jayam Ravi, with a score by Oscar winner A.R. Rahman.

The idea for the opening sequence was to give the audience a vivid and lush version of the Chola Dynasty which bore resemblance to some of the architectural and sculptural geniuses from that era. We get to experience moments frozen in time of this swashbuckling adventure depicting the prelude that led to the war between the Pandyas and Cholas. Yet the nearly seamless camera transitions give the sequence a folklore kind of quality.

Opening Animation by PLEXUS MOTION

Concept & Direction: Yashoda Parthasarthy
Creative Producer: Vijesh Rajan
Director of Photography: Harshvir Oberai
CG Supervisor: Varun Ramanna
Color Grading: Sidharth Meer (Bridge PostWorks)
Art Direction: Thiyagarajan S

Modeling: Vijay Vikas Chaudhari, Shaswata Bhowmic, Bharathi Raja Elango, Abhijeet Ghodake, Manoj Budake, Anand Chander, Thiyagarajan S
Junior Pre-visualisation Artist: Jhanvi Ambasta
3D Generalist: Devanshu Tak
Lead Material Artist: Ishan Verma
Lighting & Texturing: Etienne Jacques

Motion Designers: Kiba Raman, Peter Chang
Technical Supervision: Parthiva Chandramohan, Ranjan Kutty
Associate Design Lead: Aneri Shah
Editor: Chandrashekhar Parab (Magic Farm Studios)
Storyboards: Thiyagarajan S
Animatic: Goba Gonsalves
Simulation & FX: Ekadish Solanki, Subbu Iyer
Compositor: Varun S Ramanna
Rendering: Raman Vyas
Pipeline Management: Rajesh Menon
Budgeting & Accounts: Jayesh Samudra (SHAS & Co)

Secondary Characters Team (Pod8 Studios)
Asset Supervisor Shikhar Sharma
Production Manager Ashwini Rane
Sculptors: Kapil Gunpal, Nagesh Kumar, Akash Chakraborty, Kuldeep Rawat, Sucharita Nath, Imran Raichuri


Director's Cut Sound Design: Vijesh Rajan
Director's Cut Music: Pete Johnson (Risian)