Mani Ratnam’s grand period drama Ponniyin Selvan: I — starring Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Trisha and Kirthi among others — is all set to hit the cinemas on September 30. The film’s music, composed by A.R. Rahman, has already created a buzz online. At a recent media interaction in Mumbai, the cast and crew of Ponniyin Selvan: I discussed their upcoming visual extravaganza. Excerpts from the session.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the event in Mumbai.

On Jodha from Jodha Akbar, or Nandini from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: As an artiste, I don’t compare. Every experience is challenging, beautiful and memorable in itself. And as an artiste, whenever we get to be part of such experiences, we consider ourselves blessed. Because you get an opportunity to essay such impactful and memorable characters you read about in a book. You get to work with filmmakers who we can keep complete faith in where you know the interpretation, the language of cinema and the movie itself is going to be a memorable experience. That frankly makes our job very easy.

It all begins with the filmmakers. They do all the hard work. They conceive, they write. It ought to be our sincere effort to give our all to realise their vision and bring that in its truest form in front of the camera. That’s our job and commitment. That earnestness is always in place.

On daughter Aaradhya’s reaction to Aishwarya’s role as a queen in Ponniyin Selvan: I

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: She has not seen the movie yet. But she got to visit the sets during the filmmaking. She was mesmerised. I could see that in her eyes. I think because of my admiration for Mani sir, she is in awe of him. She respects him. And his affection is also so sweet. What excited her the most was that on the day she came on to the sets, he gave her the opportunity to say ‘action’. She couldn’t get over it! None of us have had that opportunity. That was a really precious, most cherished memory and she values it a lot.

Jayam Ravi, Vikram and A.R. Rahman at the event.

On what one learns by going back in history through films based on literature

Mani Ratnam: I think you learn everything from history. I think, especially for this novel and this film, even after a thousand years it is still relevant. The politics of it is still relevant. The psychology of it is still relevant. And, therefore, it is as contemporary as it could get.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: History is your foundation. We are because of our past. We all arrive into this world from the past. And you can keep delving back, it’s your interest, it’s your approach. Respect and acknowledgement of our history is what takes us forward. You learn, unlearn and relearn.

A.R. Rahman: People (came to) know about the Cholas through the trailer of this movie. That’s an important statement. And even for the present generation to know what existed a thousand years ago is important in order for them to know where to go. Not just celebrating the past, they would also know what they are capable of and understand themselves.

Vikram: Everyone has influences, maybe science, astronomy, geography or history. But I think the most important thing is history. As children we have listened to the stories of the past. We have had such an illustrious past.

The star-studded cast of Ponniyin Selvan 1 with the director.

On whether Mani Ratnam took creative liberties in Ponniyin Selvan: I or stayed true to history

Mani Ratnam: The book (Kalki Krishnamurthy’s Tamil novel Ponniyin Selvan, on which the film is based) itself is historical fiction. A lot of characters are real and are recorded in history whereas there are some characters that Kalki had written, which were fictional. I think the way he blended the two was fascinating and that is what we have tried to capture in the movie.