Ponniyin Selvan: II

A flashback chronicles the childhood romance between Aditha Karikalan and Nandini in Pazhayarai. Despite their deep bond, Karikalan's sister, Kundavai, and their grand-aunt, Sembiyan Madevi, forcefully expel the low-born Nandini from the kingdom during Karikalan’s military deployment. Devastated upon his return, Karikalan learns that Nandini has sought refuge under the rival Pandya king, Veerapandiyan, establishing her lifelong vendetta against the Chola dynasty.

In the current timeline, the presumed drowning of Prince Arulmozhi Varman throws the Chola Empire into deep mourning. Sensing an opportunity, the vengeful Nandini manipulates the smitten Chola chieftain Parthibendran Pallavan into diverting Crown Prince Karikalan to a trap at Kadambur Palace. Concurrently, the fanatical Pandya Abathudavigal assassins pursue the surviving royal lineage. In reality, a frail Arulmozhi Varman has survived the ocean storm but is incapacitated by a severe shipboard fever. He is clandestinely escorted to a Buddhist monastery in Nagapattinam by Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan, Poonguzhali, and the Vaishnavite spy Azhwarkadiyan Nambi. While running a distraction to throw off the pursuing Pandya assassins, Vandiyadevan is captured. In prison, he overhears Nandini planning Karikalan's assassination, but he buys his freedom by revealing that he witnessed Oomai Rani, the mute, mystical lookalike of Nandini, acting as Arulmozhi's silent protector. Nambi subsequently rescues Vandiyadevan, who rushes to warn Kundavai.

Kundavai and Karikalan converge at Nagapattinam, where Arulmozhi is convalescing. Although Vandiyadevan warns Karikalan of the trap awaiting him in Kadambur, the arrogant Crown Prince dismisses the threat. Meanwhile, Arulmozhi reveals the striking physical resemblance between Oomai Rani and Nandini. This prompts a suspicious Kundavai to confront her father, Emperor Sundara Chola, in Thanjavur. The bedridden Emperor confesses his past romance in Lanka with Mandakini Devi (the Mute Queen). Meanwhile, internal rebellions fracture the capital; the ambitious Prince Madhurantakan allies with the rival Rashtrakuta dynasty to claim the regency. However, the unexpected arrival of a recovered Arulmozhi Varman and his prospective bride, Vaanathi, defuses the warring domestic factions and restores peace to the Thanjavur fort.

Karikalan arrives at Kadambur Palace, where the conspirators propose partitioning the empire to appease Madhurantakan. Seeking only his siblings' safety, Karikalan shocks the council by offering to abdicate his claim and surrender the entire domain to Madhurantakan, provided he retains control of the military. The council agrees, and finance minister Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar departs for Thanjavur to finalize the treaty. En route, he learns from a local rower that the Pandyas have breached Kadambur via subterranean tunnels to assassinate Karikalan. Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar and a arriving Vandiyadevan rush back to intervene, but both are knocked unconscious by the infiltrators. Simultaneously, the assassins infiltrate Thanjavur, where Mandakini shields Emperor Sundara Chola from a fatal arrow, sacrificing her life just before Arulmozhi Varman arrives to decimate the remaining infiltrators.

In the secluded chambers of Kadambur, Karikalan confronts a conflicted Nandini. Recognizing her internal struggle between her past love and her sworn vengeance, a guilt-ridden Karikalan confesses that the agony of their separation outweighs his desire to live. When Nandini falters, Karikalan draws his own dagger and drives it into his chest while embracing her, choosing death to fulfill her vendetta. As he expires, a traumatized Nandini screams in grief, realizing her residual love for him. The fleeing Pandya assassins drag her away through the tunnels to save her from execution, framing the unconscious Vandiyadevan and Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar for the regicide.

Upon regaining consciousness, a devastated Vandiyadevan carries Karikalan's body to the nobles, who immediately arrest him for murder. On a getaway vessel, a captive rower reveals to a grieving Nandini that her biological father was actually Veerapandiyan, who had violated a vulnerable Mandakini, making Nandini an illegitimate princess. Overwhelmed by the horrific revelations and the weight of Karikalan's death, a broken Nandini commits suicide by drowning herself in the Ponni River.

In Thanjavur, Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar returns to court to exonerate Vandiyadevan, publicly confessing the details of the Pandya conspiracy. However, Parthibendran Pallavan, believing the royal family orchestrated the tragedy, launches a massive retaliatory invasion alongside the Rashtrakutas. Sundara Chola releases Vandiyadevan to ride alongside Arulmozhi Varman into the impending conflict. Realizing the existential threat to his homeland, Madhurantakan defects from his foreign allies and joins forces with Arulmozhi, securing a decisive victory for the Chola military. Following the war, a weary Sundara Chola abdicates the throne. On his scheduled coronation day, a selfless Arulmozhi Varman shocks the empire by stepping aside and crowning his cousin Madhurantakan, who ascends as Emperor 'Uttama Chola.'

The epilogue notes that Vandiyadevan and Arulmozhi Varman subsequently spearheaded historic naval conquests across the seas. Following Uttama Chola's eventual demise, Arulmozhi Varman finally ascends the throne, taking the legendary mantle of 'Rajaraja Chola I,' while the remaining Pandya pockets are decisively systematically suppressed.

Ponniyin Selvan was originally planned as a single film with a budget of ₹500 crore (US$52 million).^[7][8] After principal photography commenced in December 2019, it was reported in January 2020 that the film would be split into two parts,^[9] which was confirmed by Mani Ratnam that April.^[10][11] Both parts were to be shot back-to-back, with some sources reporting that the ₹500 crore budget was spread across two parts.^[12] In September 2021, production of the first part wrapped, with filming for a few sequences of the second part remaining.^[13] Part of this took place in March 2022, with a sequence involving Ravi and Karthi filmed in Mumbai.^[14] The remaining patchwork of Ponniyin Selvan: II was filmed in January 2023.^[15]

The film score and soundtrack were composed by Mani Ratnam's regular collaborator A. R. Rahman. The audio rights of the film were purchased by Tips Industries.

The soundtrack consists of seven original songs composed by A. R. Rahman. The first, "Aga Naga", was released as a single on 20 March 2023.^[16] The remaining tracks were revealed at a trailer and audio launch on 29 March 2023.^[17] Lyrics for the Tamil version of the soundtrack were written by Ilango Krishnan.^[18] It includes Sangam-literature poet Kudavayil Keerathanar's excerpts, whereas "Aazhi Mazhai Kanna" was inspired from Andal's Tiruppavai,^[19] and "Shivoham" from Adi Shankara's Atma Shatakam in the Tamil version.^[20] Gulzar, Anantha Sriram, Chandrabose, Ramajogayya Sastry, Rafeeq Ahamed and Jayanth Kaikini wrote the song lyrics in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada respectively.

In May 2023, Wasifuddin Dagar claimed that "Veera Raja Veera" had been adapted from a 1978 Dhrupad composition by the Junior Dagar Brothers without attribution.^[21] The case was closed by the Supreme Court in February 2026 with the direction to add the following line in the song credits: “Composition inspired from the Dagarwani tradition Dhrupad, first recorded as Shiv Stuti by late Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar and Ustad Nasir Zahiruddin Dagar, popularly known as Junior Dagar brothers."^[22][23]