film indian epic historical drama film directed account epic adapted novel features son lead dual roles warrior princes portraying title characters actresses making film debut film features extensive cast supporting actors napoleon background score soundtrack film composed released march filming significantly delayed began august ancient township film set temples forts lake palaces built film producers encountered difficulties making prompt payments crew consisted members filming forests filming shifted battle sequences shot prior release film drew criticism party unsuccessful petition filed seeking ban film claiming portrayed traditional deities community bad light film released april mixed response critics praised cinematography art direction criticised having weak plot character deficiencies film later dubbed released hindi telugu respectively plot love affair maternal uncle badly received family especially financially father king arranges marriage ruler neighbouring country rejects arranged marriage later marries lover come marry challenges brother marry daughters sons marriage cousins custom daughter choosing kingdom years later village kingdom encounters twin brothers played martial arts poor day twins save sisters death girls later revealed daughters impressed agrees marry daughters flashback reveals actually sons servant saved twins small children attempted avenge rejecting hand marriage learns twins alive conspiracy kill tricks napoleon father helping leads intense battle ends good prevailing evil cast historical background believed rulers area medieval said good terms ruler contemporary legendary folk tale brothers known passed generations means village songs known traditional street theatre known absence reliable written historical records makes difficult credibility claims widely held legend late 1980s novel subject according legend brothers born belonging community attained kingdom help king capital early neighbouring country king belonging rival hatched conspiracy brothers led war subsequent death tricked proving innocence falling sword loss brother entered battlefield killing proceeding kill brothers brought life sister help goddess brothers told gods duties led leaving mortal world followed suit throwing royal ornaments village temple later erected spot falls present day died presiding deity belief near drowned gold ornaments story subject poems songs tamil historical novel novel drew inspiration work written researched documented references ancient palm leaves came today brothers deities people belonging community tribute brave way brothers defended kingdom production development early approached intention making film adaptation epic written late 1970s accepted offer approved decision cast son dual lead roles july project officially announced press meet film subsequently began pre production opting produce film banner preliminary stages production took year story boarding costume designs set designs finalized revealed extensive research time period took year half launch film july announced prominent actors play lead roles supporting roles invitation cards launch designs won awards year initially considered female lead roles miss india accepted roles producers initially listed cast later replaced approximately junior artists artists annual reportedly taken film music approached declined offer eventually replaced selected art director film cinematographer took care visual effects film ran production trouble mid close shelved sources reporting sold film revive project reports proved maintained producer film film begun surpass budget casual nature shooting difficulties creating historical sets shots film video songs unveiled publicly march publicity campaign initiated filming filming commenced july entire ancient township film set temples forts lake palaces created scenes containing actor politician napoleon historical figure shot scenes featuring filmed portraying characters considerably younger real life revealed portraying dual role meant forced change costumes times day order portray twin brothers differences correctly march play sister warrior twins scenes filmed climax scenes film shot february final phase filming going forests elephants horses resembling region production team couldn prompt payments crew consisted members displeasure shown crew threatened disrupt filming process writer visited sets film studio february scenes shot time filming moved battle sequences movie shot near scene took days complete junior artists soldiers horses battle scene shot underwater scenes film criticism received premiere characters showed emotions death parents soundtrack soundtrack film composed album released march presiding event soundtrack album consists tracks sung film initially track removed later editing process tracks belongs tamil folk genre song received special mention hindu newspaper cited simply rings ones ears long soundtrack received negative review stated tunes generic background score film subject summed bare bones usually fulfilling musical compositions review film tracks reviewer felt ill suited film historical themes release film began publicity campaign february goal releasing film period legislative assembly elections raise support party led film writer criticism mounted involved artistic pursuits chief ministerial duties elections approached prior release film drew criticism party claiming film portrayed traditional deities community bad light showing dancing semi nude women leading figures party wrote ban film holding promotional material movie evidence received response petition filed seeking ban article indian constitution petition dismissed given article court body falls jurisdiction film released april days election received lukewarm response box office opening theatres collected days week run collected declared average trade reception film received mixed reception critics film praised technical merit art direction cinematography recording crisp editing predominantly dialogues unusual films criticised weak storyline continuity problems times_of_india praised terrific art direction cinematography stated far gaps story ensure movie rises ends epic disappointment giving stars compared film noted making high budget films tamil press gave positive review aspects film particularly film war scenes highlighting contemporary tamil instead ancient counterpart dialogues audience better relate review hindu fair film canvas praising sets locations rich costumes imposing cast noted short appreciated debut role credited attractive expressions needed stunt acts appreciated pointed character flaws minimal expressions barely initial scenes distinct lack distinguishable traits twin characters depicted highlighted lack logic animosity daughter cheerful appearance sad wedding scene stated good aspects movie expensive sets avoidance boring archaic tamil dialogues common period films tamil giving rating points historical declared remotely historical movie added film said based novel film look half clad women resemble film went historical accuracy thrown winds references actual places kings time periods times_of_india noted historical inconsistencies presence british constructed dam scene film set pre colonial period wire stunts action sequences revealing costumes donned lead actresses bamboo dance sequence film actually native summed film lacks attention detail necessary feature historical films called pseudo historical work basis novel observed originated novel usage literary devices like stated remained lives movie shown dressed women married avenge ill treatment mother promptly sent newly wives prison denying relations added film title characters shown committing suicide version depicted emerging victorious war alive
Ponnar Shankar (film)