The first part of filmmaker Mani Ratnam's Tamil-language historical drama 'Ponniyin Selvan' is set to be released in 2022, the makers announced on Monday. The star-studded magnum opus features an ensemble of actors like Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Karthi, Trisha Krishnan, Prakash Raj, Jayaram, Jayam Ravi and Aishwarya Lekshmi among others.

The film is based on Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1955 novel 'Ponniyin Selvan'. The book chronicles the story of the early days of Arulmozhivarman, one of the most powerful kings in the south, who went on to become the great Chola emperor Rajaraja Chola I. 'Ponniyin Selvan' is backed by Ratnam's production house Madras Talkies, along with Allirajah Subaskaran's banner Lyca Productions.