On day 1, the remastered 4K version collected around ₹50 lakh and is expected to bring profits to the makers this time.
Published Jul 29, 2024 | 1:15 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 29, 2024 | 1:15 PM
'Devadoothan' re-release gets a heartwarming response in Kerala. (X)
The remastered 4K version of Mohanlal’s Devadoothan, released in theatres on 26 July, has evoked a tremendous response from the Malayali audience. Indeed, social media is buzzing with discussions on the rousing welcome the Malayalam movie got in cinema halls and its duration.
Devadoothan was restored with 4K Dolby Atmos technology and the remastered version was released in 56 theatres. Much to the delight of the makers, it is running to packed houses everywhere. Interestingly, the film was a flop upon its release 24 years ago, in 2000. However, it got a cult status over the years.
In a social media post, the makers claimed that the number of shows increased since the re-release of Devadoothan on 26 July, and the film is now being screened in 100 centres, owing to the overwhelming response from the viewers.
As per reports, Devadoothan collected around ₹50 lakh on its first day. The re-release is expected to bring profits to the makers this time, unlike when it was released first.
Meanwhile, netizens are wondering why the makers trimmed the runtime. Sadly, the remastered 4K version of Devadoothan doesn’t have any comedy scenes, including Jagathy Sreekumar’s track.
The scene where Mohanal engages in a fight with a goon has also been deleted. While some weren’t happy with the deletion of these scenes, especially Jagathy Sreekumar’s comedy track, a few others were happy with the newer version of Devadoothan.
Responding to this, Devadoothan director Sibi Malayil said he added those scenes in the original only to add commercial value to the flick. But now, he felt that they weren’t needed.
#Devadoothan the @mohanlal – #SibiMalayil film got a re-release in Kerala 24 years after its release. The upgraded 4K Dolby Atmos version is drawing huge crowds. The producer Siyad Koker will make more money out of the re-release than when it was released first! pic.twitter.com/jgZj3Weaeb
— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) July 28, 2024
In one of the discussions, an X user observed that most scenes that were deleted added nothing to the story except rousing nostalgia.
“We all know a lot of scenes were added by the producer to make it more commercial. Why can’t we respect the director who’s getting a chance to show his original vision after the one that came out was panned by the public two decades ago?”, the netizen asked.
Meanwhile, another netizen asked, “Am I the only one who loved Jagathy Sreekumar’s scenes in the old version.”
At the launch of the trailer of the 4K version, Mohanlal said Devadoothan was one of those films that’s closest to his heart. He felt that it could not succeed because people didn’t understand the film’s pace when it was released in 2000.
Sibi Malayil said when the producers decided to re-release Devadoothan, he suggested that the movie should be edited to suit today’s audience. “People say Devadoothan came ahead of its time. I believe this is the right time for its release,” the filmmaker said at the trailer launch.
Devadoothan boasts soulful music by Vidyasagar and brilliant technical aspects like cinematography. Vidyasagar’s splendid work was undoubtedly the soul of the film. Similarly, the script penned by Raghunath Paleri played a pivotal part.
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
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