EXCLUSIVE: Karthi and Trisha's first meeting in Ponniyin Selvan: 1 - editor Sreekar Prasad opens up on the deleted scene!

Acclaimed film editor A. Sreekar Prasad has collaborated with ace filmmaker Mani Ratnam on several films over the course of his glorious career, including Ponniyin Selvan. With the sequel, Ponniyin Selvan: 2, all set for a grand opening in cinemas worldwide on April 28, the National Award-winning editor sat down with Galatta for an exclusive interview to talk about the epic historical action adventure film and his association with the iconic Tamil director. Speaking about Ponniyin Selvan: 1 released last year, Sreekar Prasad discussed the first meeting between Karthi's Vanthiyathevan and Trisha's Kundavai characters in the 'Ratchasa Maamaney' dance sequence and how the scene was slightly altered for the film version and the video song that was later released online. 

Explaining the decision to alter the sequence, Sreekar Prasad said, "In Ponniyn Selvan, there's a song called 'Ratchasa Maamaney'. If you watch the film, when the dance is going on, Karthi will come and sit in one place. Next, he and Trisha will see each other. But, in the film, you'll notice that they won't exchange any glances. So, when the song was released as a video, I made the edit and showed them seeing each other because that's a different experience. You're just watching a song. The director (Mani Ratnam) picturised this sequence where a look is passed between each other. In the scene, the dancers appearing in the song, will be coming in between and hindering his (Karthi) vision not allowing him to see her (Trisha). This is a very simple thing." 

Sreekar Prasad continued, "When we released the song, we kept it because it's just an expression. In the film, we didn't include that one portion. So, some people started questioning and saying that it should have been in the film and that we made a mistake by removing it. But, what they need to understand is that, if you include that in the film, it will cause a logical error because when they see each other, he doesn't even recognize her. He acts wondering who is she and she's telling her name and (introducing herself). So, it doesn't make sense. Like this, so many things happen in films, which are deleted. It is for the betterment of the film rather than only the length. Many people must be thinking we removed it for the length and that it would have been nice had it been included. They said the same for this too. The people who liked the film said some more footage could have been added and that there could have been more length. If there were deleted scenes, they could have been included. But, that is not true."

Watch editor Sreekar Prasad talk about Ponniyin Selvan below: