Aishwarya Rai looks regal as Nandini in PS1

After dropping several character posters and a teaser, the trailer of Mani Ratnam’s next magnum opus, Ponniyin Selvan: I (PS1) released on Tuesday at a grand trailer launch event in Chennai. The film will release on September 30.

Starring Karthi, Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Trisha, Sobhita Dhulipala and others, the film is a historical drama full of spectacles, reports Collider.

The three-and-a-half minute long trailer packs in sweeping visuals and teases epic battle scenes, colorful musical numbers and palace intrigue. Set during the Chola dynasty 1,000 years ago, the film traces the early days of brothers Arulmozhi Varman and Aditya Karikalan, played by Jayam Ravi and Vikram, respectively. They would later be known as Rajaraja I and Aditya II. Karthi stars as the warrior Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan, while Aishwarya Rai Bachchan appears in a dual role.

At the trailer launch, Aishwarya said, “Ponniyin Selvan is a very precious film, very dear to our hearts. It has been an absolute honour to work with Mani Ratnam again, with such a talented team of actors and technicians. The entire cast is stellar. To actually celebrate this momentous occasion, also recognising rightly the incredible coming together of iconic talents AR Rahman and Mani Ratnam. I had the privilege of working with them at the beginning of my career—this talented duo, with Iruvar, and here I am again, as part of Ponniyin Selvan.”

For Western audiences, Aishwarya will perhaps be the most recognizable member of the cast. The film is based on the 1955 novel by Kalki, Ponniyin Selvan will be released in two parts. Ponniyin Selvan is an Indian film, but it isn’t a Bollywood film. It hails from the Tamil language film industry, based in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.