Ponniyin Selvam a big challenge for Director Maniratnam

Mani Ratnam is making a film many, from MGR to Kamal, wanted to make but couldn’t

The story is winding and has many episodes, suiting a web series, not films

Writer Jeymohan’s job is to adapt it as a film story

Ponni demands epic look, VFX better than Bahubali, and mammoth sets

Mani Ratnam used to make big budget films, from Nayakan to Thiruda Thiruda

They overshot budgets and producers had to shell out extra cash Since then Mani Ratnam has cut down on budgets and used ruses to convey lavishness