“The one huge thing it did was… it came in two parts,” said the PS-1 directorSS Rajamouli has, on several occasions, called Mani Ratnam his inspiration. However, during a director’s panel at the South India Media and Entertainment Summit, the tables turned as the PS-1 director called Rajamouli the inspiration behind his blockbuster historic drama. During the panel hosted by Anu Haasan, the audience posed several questions to the directors. One such inquiry aimed at Mani Ratnam was, “What’s the one thing that has made a huge impact on you, in a positive way?” His response surprised everyone present, including the Baahubali director, “I think, Rajamouli (is the one who impacted me) I will tell you why. You know… I have been wanting to make this film called Ponniyin Selvan for years, and I could not find a way, till Baahubali came. The one huge thing it did was… it came in two parts. That you can tell a story in two parts and keep the audience glued. It just opened my… you know… possibility of me making the film. If Baahubali hadn’t come in two parts, I wouldn’t have been able to make Ponniyin Selvan. So, thank you very much. (sic)”Rajamouli responded, saying, “Sir, this is the biggest compliment I can ever get. The biggest."