Post the success of his last release, the multistarrer movie Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, director Maniratnam is all set to begin his ambitious historical extravaganza, the film adaptation of Kalki Krishnamurthy's classic novel Ponniyin Selvan, and the movie is currently in pre-production phase.

It has been said that the movie will feature a number of stars like Chiyaan Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Nayanthara, Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh Bachchan, Keerthy Suresh and recently veteran actor Sathyaraj was said to have been roped in to play the role of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar in the epic movie.

The latest news making rounds is that, the seven times national award winning lyricist Vairamuthu has yet again teamed up with Maniratnam in Ponniyin Selvan as well. The combo of AR Rahman and Vairamuthu has been traveling with Maniratnam right from Roja till Chekka Chivantha Vaanam recently, and is expected to continue in Ponniyin Selvan as well.