Plexus Motion's opening animation for Mani Ratnam’s critically acclaimed epic historical action drama "Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1,", is a stunning blend of design, art and technology. This sequence introduces the primary protagonists and sets the stage for the geo-political rivalries within the Chola Empire, one of the longest-ruling dynasties in world history.
The sequence vividly captures the grandeur of the Chola dynasty through detailed visual storytelling. Under the direction of Yashoda Parthasarthy and the creative production of Vijesh Rajan, with CG supervision by Varun Ramanna, the sequence was one of the first in India to utilise Unreal Engine’s real time rendering pipeline to bring historical narratives to life with photorealistic CGI.
The technical execution of the opening sequence showcases Plexus Motion’s expertise in CGI, animation, and VFX. The visual elements are meticulously crafted to reflect the epic scale and complexity of the story, based on actual historical references of the Chola dynasty. Aiming to tell the story in one long take for the entire duration, the team employed sophisticated techniques to create a fluid and engaging narrative. Their work involved detailed modelling in Maya, texturing in Substance Painter, simulations in Houdini and real time rendering in Unreal Engine to ensure high-quality visuals.
Praised for its creativity and execution, the opening sequence of "Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1" received high scores in concept, design, and motion on the Motion Design Awards platform. It was also prominently featured in IGN.
Plexus Motion’s opening animation for "Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1" is a vivid example of their capability to deliver outstanding results in CGI, animation, and VFX.
