For the first time, maverick filmmaker Manirathnam will be directly adapting a film based on the novel, 'Ponniyin Selvan' (authored by Kalki). This bilingual film with a heavy investment of Rs. 250 Crores features Vijay, Mahesh Babu and Arya in the lead roles with Anushka as the only heroine so far confirmed. Anushka plays the role of Mahesh Babu's sister and she will be romancing Vijay, who takes on the role of King Vallava Devarayan. Manirathnam is known to pair actors with good onscreen chemistry, in earlier movies including Karthik and Revathy, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Madhavan and Meera Jasmine; and now Vijay and Anushka. A.R. Rahman will be providing the music score and the cinematography will be handled by P.C. Sriram.