In a year filled with fantasy and modern storytelling, Mani Ratnam made his comeback with a genre that he hasn’t tried before: Historical fiction. Although he has made films set in the past, Ponniyin Selvan is the first time the legendary director has rewound to another era. It’s also the first time he’s made a duology (the sequel to Ponniyin Selvan-1 will release in 2023). With its grand scale and star-studded ensemble cast, the film shows a very different style of Mani Ratnam’s filmmaking. It also brought to our screens a period of Indian history that hasn’t been explored much, particularly for north Indian audiences. Ponniyin Selvan-1 became the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2022 and minted Rs. 500 crore worldwide within 50 days of its release.