#aishwarya lekshmi

[holly-mckenzie]

You mean to oppose the emperor, destroy the kingdom? You want to divide the Chola kingdom? You’ll divide it? Dividing the kingdom is like dividing a mother’s heart.

PONNIYIN SELVAN: II (2023) dir. by Mani Ratnam

[vennilave]

 @userdramas event 05: women

Ponniyin Selvan: Navarasa - 9 Emotions ↳ Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) dir. Mani Ratnam

[nidhi-writes]

Vēṭkai (Part -1)

Karikalan knows that going in meant that there is no exit, no way to live once he stepped inside the room which was light by his past love who now waits for him to plunge his heart. He knows that there will be no going back, and he didn't want to go back. All these years he waited and endure the torture of his own heart that cause him great loss. If this is what will free him then he wants it to accept it, what's better than letting it go by her hands?

As he entered the surroundings made it look as if he is teleported to this world where it was just him and her. There she is currently close to the ground and touching the sword that is on the ground. A gold-embedded sword with a fish-like structure adorning its hold. But it's her fish-like eyes that captivated him. There she just being her, her skin glows like shining gold, her hair black as khol that spreads to the surface, Her face showed both longing and hurt along with something he can't read. As he proceeds to get near her she looks up and meets his eyes.

There they are feeling like a 15 yr old who fell in love with each other, who didn't expect anything from each other, who wants to live together and cherish their love. But here they are now completely separated by their duties, their living, their pride.

When the words failed. When the eyes look through each other's souls. When the time stops two hearts can beat at once.

Aditha watch Nandhini silently picking up the sword, the same sword which she kept to take his life.

Nandhini abruptly stood and placed the sword in between them, ready to pierce his heart and take his life to present to the ones she owed. The sharp end of the sword poked Aditha's chest, a tiny scarping of the skin causes it to tear and from inside a single drop of blood poured out. He didn't care or give sense to it nor did he acknowledge it. It was her eyes that held the answers to all his answers.

Nandhini opened her mouth to speak for the first time over the years to him

NANDHINI: I have been waiting for this moment my whole life.

ADITHA: You do?

NANDHINI: Yes, I do! you are the reason for my life being hell, you are the reason I have been banished out of the kingdom. You are the reason that I am having to deal with all kinds of madness that is played out so far in my life. So for that, I will be the reason for your death

Aditha held the sword that has been cutting his chest little by little and dig it deeper. But the action made Nandhini nervous and tried to take it out of his hand. She knew that they are being watched and this is the moment she was trained for, but her emotions are making her blind and her hand are trembling to not take action further.

Silent tears fell down her eyes running down her cheeks, and that's when she knew that she can't do it. How could she? After all it's him, the one who made her fall in love and made her earn for the same love over the years. Seems both of them need the same thing.

His eyes didn't leave hers. How could he look away, it's her! Who made him feel harder for her. She is his as much as he is hers.

NANDHINI: After all this time?

ADITHA: (smiling softly) Always.

Like the cry of the peacock who is missing her mate, Nandini dropped the sword and hugged the man before her. The souls which are separated for a long time finally touched others to drink from each other. No other thoughts crossed their mind. Aditha hugged her back and silently caressed her upper back like a feather going down and buried his head into her aroma-filled hair. It is like he finally breathed into the life of elixir which made him feel alive.

With her head against his chest, she listened to his heart beating faster but that made her feel safe, safe after life long run that finally led her to her destiny. This is her destiny, at that moment her past trauma has been forgotten, her relationship with others has been forgotten, and now she is just a Nandhini who was waiting for her prince long back.

But their moment of solitude with each other was short-lived, Karikalan was quick on his feet and took out the dagger that has been in his hip, and shoved Nandhini to his back to protect them from whoever that is in the room with them.

NANDHINI: You have to leave! I will hold them, please escape from here.

ADITHA: (Looks at her with a smile) Do you think I am going to leave you here with those people? after all this time! We will be out of here but I won't be running away like a coward.

He jumped to his feet as Ravidasan came towards them but Aditha is quick on his feet and made a dagger cut the chest of the enemy who is currently standing in front f him.

Nandhini watched the fight helplessly, She knew Karikalan could able to overpower Ravidasan but he is not alone there, as she is thinking Devaralan came running inside but he is been caught by Vandiyathevan who just in time broke the door lock to defend his Prince. And also he heard everything, but who is he to judge as what he witness is nothing but pure love.

Nandhini went in and held Ravidasan's hand from going forward with his action, the look of betrayal crossed Ravidasan's face and anger took over him as the woman who promised to support them and kill the Chola prince now turned against them. Just cause of her itch to be with a prince, and he looked at her with utter disgust. But Nandini didn't care, all these years she helped them and made sure to do so without expecting anything in return.

Ravidasan pushed her and fought with Aditha, he have to say that the Chola prince is indeed a great warrior, that he give him and it would be an honor to take his head off and keep it as a trophy. Maybe Kotravai is blessing him to do the killing. As he yield the sword and run to take the life out of the Chola prince, he planned to first strike at his stomach and make him weak to see the pain, the Chola prince's experience should be equal to what his King Veera Pandian experienced at the last moment.

But as he struck the sword it punctured the stomach but not Aditha Karikalan's but Nandini's who was now standing in front of him. Aditha froze and held the body of his love who saved him, the one he fell in love with saved his life and doesn't care that she took the blow for him. Vandiyadevan looked at the scene and anger consumed him as he punched Devaralan and got hold of Ravidasan by his neck.

VANDIYADEVAN: Ilavarase(Prince)! you have to take Devi Nandini to Vaidyar now! I will hold them as much as I can.

Aditha didn't wait for one sec he carried Nandini and she rested her head against his chest. If this is how she is going to go then she is most fortunate. She may have gone against the promise she made for Veera Pandian but nothing comes before Love, Heart wants what it wants.

ADITHA: Don't close your eyes, Nandini, don't you dare do it.

His voice broke as he said those lines and his eyes never left his lover's body which is now slowly losing its blood. He couldn't use the regular way to get outside of the palace nor did he trust the raja vaidya here will be helpful, he knew that down the hill a Siddha vaidya works for the poor. His legs carried him outside and to the end of the hill. As he is going to descend the hill a loud shouting made him turn around only to be struck by an arrow in his chest a few inches away from Nandini's head

There stood Ravidasand and injured Devaralan who is making sure to get the task done, but one thing they didn't expect is there is no fear in the eyes of Karikalan who stood there holding his love close to him, he is not running away but he is in need to make sure to protect his Nandini. As the thoughts consumed him he smiled at the attackers. Vandiyadevan came running shouting at the attackers along with him all the Kadamburs and other chieftains who is shocked to witness the scene before them.

Karikalan looked down to see Nandini smiling at him, even with both of them in so much pain this moment made them happy. He knew that they can't be together here, nobody would accept, as he looked down at the hill and back to Nandini who nodded her head like she knows what was going on inside his brain. As he smiled at her he stepped backward and welcomed the fall with grace. There they are finally reunited and happy, even if it's dead they are together and none can now separate them.

VANDIYADEVAN: Ilavarase! No! No!

As he run towards the end of the hill ready to jump in to save his prince but was held back by Kandamaran, who told him to not do it, as they are already dead by now. Vandiyadevan sobbed and cried his heart out. Ravidasan and Devaralan escaped like how the wind goes by fast to not get captured.  Smirking at themselves that they are now closer to defeating Cholas.

Is this the end of the love of the Chola crown prince and the beauty of his eye?

                                             To be Continued..

@vibishalakshman  @thatacademic @thelekhikawrites Let me know your thoughts! 

[neengareadynaaready]

Keerthy veera level!

Bonus:

Gatta Kusthi (2022) Aishwarya Lekshmi as Keerthy Vishnu Vishal as Veera Keerthy's Fight Part 2

[exotic-indians]

[teaah-art]

Poonguzhali!!

This started out as a simple screencap redraw, became a value study, then a digital painting practice, then back to screencap redraw, then I got frustrated that she doesn't look like Aishwarya Lekshmi, then I realized I'm having fun and as long as she looks like a strong Lankan lady who can brave the Indian Ocean she is Poonguzhali and in the end, that's all that matters

[eenadu-varthalu]

Okay, review of Ponniyin Selvan 2 incoming (whether you like it or not) (and again, this is my personal opinion about the movie so please don’t kill me if you don’t agree).

I don’t know what to say. I really don’t. *proceeds to write essay*

Is it a good movie? Yes, hell yes, 100%

But will I be religiously rewatching this like I did part one? Maybe not.

Part 2 is a different vibe than part one. Like a complete script flip. It's a different movie (I guess one can figure that out from how different the album of the second movie is to the first). The drama (more like angst, ngl) amongst the characters is intensified while the story just seems to be something running in the background. We learn a lot more about some of the characters-- we see a different side to them: let it be the vulnerable side of Nandini or a more humanized form of Adhitha. Some of the prominent questions from part 1 are answered in part 2 (point to note: we are given the backstory of adhita and nandini which I think is a fantastic addition) but yeah I still don’t really know how to clearly explain this movie. It’s like one of those pieces of art that you have to see to cherish, to understand why people are going crazy about it.

There are moments that just make you want to go “what the actual hell” but there are others where you’re just sitting there, with your mouth wide open and/or tears welling up in your eyes. And it does not help that oftentimes this movie becomes a pendulum between these feelings.

The acting and the actors are a saving grace. Everyone is PERFECTLY cast and the scenes are such that even if there is a small hiccup, it's going to look like a big joke. The chemistry the cast has with each other is insane. Off the charts. (and I'm coining this right now, Chiyan Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, and Karthi are going to SWEEP all the awards). The scenes between the lovers, let it be kundavai and vanthiyadevan or nandini and adhitha is some of the best acting I have seen.

The music is also another savior in disguise. Let it be the first 10 minutes of the movie with the three songs back to back, or let it be using Veera Raja Veera on three separate occasions to highlight three different moments in the movie-- Rahman really killed it with this one (although I am a bit disappointed that NONE of the songs were used in their entirety— someone pull the editor out of the editing room asap).

The cinematography? *chefs kiss* Give Ravi Varman a National Award right now.

I think the most disappointing aspect for me is that Mani sir was never really given the chance to fully explore the characters, the themes, the subplots, or just the book in general. Don’t get me wrong, this is one of the most genuine book-to-movie adaptations I’ve seen and although Mani Ratnam was insistent that Ponniyin Selvan is something that truly deserves to be on the big screen, I think it would’ve worked absolute wonders if it were a series. I would totally not be opposed to a director's cut (trust me I will watch it even if it ends up being a seven-hour movie) if it gives us an opportunity to see Mani sir's strengths and the usual magic in his other films shine through more because the restriction of time is taken out.

[balladedutempsjadis]

Ever since I saw Ponniyin Selvan, I’ve been on a quest to watch many Tamil movies, since I think the last Tamil film I watched before the PS saga was Kandukondain Kandukondain (that was at a time when I was watching Jane Austen adaptations non-stop!) I’ve been choosing in a rather erratic way from films that either were directed by Mani Ratnam or starred Trisha, Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bacchan, Jayam Ravi, Karthi or Jeyaram. (As far as I’m aware, neither Aishwarya Lakshmi nor Shobhita Dhulipala have acted in other Tamil movies? I do have Shobhita’s Prime show to watch though.)

The other actors whose movies I’m also watching are Vijay Sethupathi and Samantha Prabhu because I saw their acting in “Farzi” and “The Family Man” (both Hindi-language OTT series directed and produced by two Telugu gentlemen so really very all-India!) After I watched Thani Oruvan, I added Nayanthara and Aravind Swamy to the list so … basically, I’m set for like the next 20 years ;)

Sometimes I get lucky and two of the actors are in THE SAME MOVIE. Which brings me to the fact that I watched “Unnakum Ennakum” last night, and my goodness, Arulmozhi Varman and Kundavai Devi were SUCH BABIES in this film. (Also, much closer to the ages of their characters in Kalki’s novel - Arulmozhi Varman is 19 and Kundavai is 21, and Aditha Karikalan is 25 … so yeah.) This movie came out in 2006 so I think Trisha was 23-24 and Ravi was about 25-26?

Farming is HARD WORK, y’all, but this boy was willing to collect cow dung in his bare hands for the sake of Trisha. And who wouldn’t! (Vandiyadevan would die for her, but would he plow and plant rice and milk cows? Hmm?)

This picture is for contrast! They’re still beautiful, but definitely not playing 19-21 year olds any more :)

[nspwriteups]

Can we just take a minute to appreciate how perfectly well the Poniyin Selvan casting was?

[pariaritzia]

-She's valorous!

Aishwarya Lekshmi in GATTA KUSTHI (2022)

[aestheticssirens]

[timesofwoods]

Aishwarya Lekshmi

[vennilave]

@kdramaspace + @userdramas YEAR IN REVIEW 2022 | Cinematic Excellence: Best Cinematography of 2022

Ponniyin Selvan (2022) dir. Mani Ratnam, dop. Ravi Varman

[nidhi-writes]

Clash of Passion

So, which side are you on?

I can't wait to share this series with you guys!! And I have never been so excited like this before. It is going to be filled with passion, love, heartbeat and steamy!!

Stay Tuned!! The first Installment of "Sea Of Desire" will be out soon.

@whippersnappersbookworm  @harinishivaa @thelekhikawrites  @willkatfanfromasia  @yehshuhua  @arachneofthoughts  @vibishalakshman @nspwriteups  @thirst4light  @hollogramhallucination   @celestesinsight ​  @curiousgalacticsoul  @themorguepoet @tranquilsightseer @nature-writes29

[neengareadynaaready]

I just saw Gatta Kusthi (2022) and I absolutely fucking loved it! (Mixed messages about the partiarchy aside 🙃)

Wikipedia bills it as a romantic sports comedy drama but while watching, I realized it was a dual-hero mass action film, too. You get a villain in the first half, and a new villain in the second half.

You get two heroes, Keerthi (Aishwarya Lekshmi) and Veera (Vishnu Vishal), both fighting personal and social battles. Keerthi is fighting her family, social expectations, and personal expectations when it comes to her responsibilities and her dreams. Veera — you will hate him in many scenes but you will also learn that he is unlearning the toxic things he has learned from his uncle and other men in his life.

Both Keerthi and Veera are given cool mass moments, but Veera has more mass action scenes (one man vs many), while Keerthi has the cool hero lines when she’s talking to the bad guys (stuff like “you’ll have to get through me to get to him”). Although, Veera still gets to be the one to make a big speech about men and women equality. (I really wished Keerthi could have done a bigger speech, too.)

All in all, it’s a good family entertainer. The songs are really nice. I’ve got the track on spotify now because they’re such bops. I’ll probably post some gifs tomorrow.

Also… does anyone have recs for Aishwarya Lekshmi? Vishnu Vashal is cool and all, but I think I fell in love with Aishwarya more. I want to see more of her movies. (Forgot to add that I already saw her in PS but I need her to be in the lead role 🥰)

P.S. Yes, I giggled when they mentioned an old Vijay movie.

[exotic-indians]