Mammootty's critically acclaimed film 'Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha' (2009) is gearing up a for re-release now.
Published Sep 07, 2024 | 5:30 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 07, 2024 | 5:30 PM
Mohanlal's classics spark revival_ Re-releases gain traction in Malayalam cinema. (X)
In 2023, Mohanlal’s Spadikam (1995) was re-released without much fanfare. At the time, re-releases were not widely celebrated in the Malayalam film industry, unlike in Tamil and Telugu cinema. However, upon its re-release, Spadikam became a phenomenal success, opening up a new market for re-releases in Malayalam cinema.
In Kerala, the movie-watching experience differs from the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, where old theatres continue to screen films by legends like MG Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, and Ajith.
In contrast, Kerala lacks theatres that screen old films, as it is not considered viable to exhibit old prints using analogue projectors.
Interestingly, Kerala has only one theatre in Thiruvananthapuram that still operates with an analogue projector, primarily showing B-grade films.
Old film prints are now scarce, and 90 percent of theatres have upgraded to state-of-the-art digital projection and sound systems, replacing outdated analogue technology. As a result, re-releases now depend on the digital restoration of films, rather than screening old prints.
Directed by Bhadran, Spadikam, was re-released after being restored with a 4K projection and Dolby Atmos sound. Bhadran revealed that he and his friends spent around ₹2 crore on the restoration.
‘Spadikam’ re-release poster. (X)
The re-release was a success, earning more than ₹3 crore at the box office, making it a profitable venture.
The second film to be re-released in Malayalam was Mohanlal’s Devadoothan. Originally released in 2000, the film was a box office failure But it gained cult status later, with its soundtrack by Vidyasagar playing a significant role in its resurgence.
The re-release of Devadoothan after 24 years was embraced by movie buffs and the film completed 50 days in theatres by collecting around ₹5 crore. This marked a historic turnaround for a Malayalam movie that had originally flopped.
Director Sibi Malayil, who helmed the Malayalam movie, previously stated that its failure deeply affected him, even leading him into depression.
Scriptwriter Raghunath Paleri expressed surprise at the film’s revival. He remarked that he never expected the character Vishal Krishnamurthy, played by Mohanlal, to make a comeback after all these years.
Revisited this film after 24 years. It feels as if a Devadoothan’s blessing touches every frame, adding extraordinary charm.
Congratulations to the entire team.#Devadoothan4K pic.twitter.com/iFgOco4BRY— Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) July 29, 2024
Following the success of Devadoothan, Mohanlal’s other classic film Manichitrathazhu was re-released with 4K Atmos sound.
According to producer Appachan, restoring the Malayalam movie was a challenge as the original print had been lost. Fortunately, a copy was retrieved from the National Film Archives in Pune, and the remastering process began.
Appachan also noted that Mohanlal was initially sceptical about whether the restoration would be successful.
Mohanlal, reflecting on the trend of re-releases, acknowledged that it is slowly emerging in Malayalam cinema. He emphasised that finding old prints of films is difficult, as they were not properly preserved.
Many studios in Chennai, which once stored the old analogue prints, have since closed down. This made some classic films irretrievable. He also questioned how long this re-release trend would last.
In another interview, Mohanlal revealed that his superhit film Aaram Thampuran (1997) is preparing for a re-release. However, he shared the unfortunate news that his 1988 hit Chithram cannot be re-released as no prints of the film are available.
#Manichitrathazhu 4K playing in #OakCenter theater #Oak #PA on Saturday & Sunday afternoon
Don’t miss it in theaters #Mohanlal #Shobhana #SureshGopi pic.twitter.com/DM4wbx7olO
— PrimeMedia (@PrimeMediaUS) September 7, 2024
Thus far, the successful re-releases in Malayalam have all been Mohanlal films. These encouraged filmmakers to consider re-releasing other classics.
A film critic South First spoke with remarked that re-releasing old films is beneficial as it offers the new generation an opportunity to experience these classics on the big screen. He added, “Nostalgia is something that can be marketed effectively, and it’s proving to be lucrative.”
Following Mohanlal’s films, Mammootty’s superhit movies are also lined up for re-release.
Matinee Now, a Kollam-based company, is actively involved in re-releasing films. According to Soman Pillai, the owner of Matinee Now, they are working on the re-release of Valyettan (2000), the period drama 1921 (1988), and Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989).
Mammootty played three roles in ‘Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha’. (X)
Meanwhile, Kaalapani (1996), Devasuram (1993), and Aaram Thampuran (1997) are some of Mohanlal’s other films expected to be re-released.
All these films enjoyed a dream run at the box office upon their original release. Millennials who have since watched these films on OTT platforms and YouTube are expected to relish watching them in theatres. This was evident from the footfalls at Kerala theatres for the re-release of Tamil films like Ghajini (2005), Pokkiri (2007), and Thuppakki (2012).
Meanwhile, Mammootty’s critically acclaimed Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha (2009), directed by Ranjith, is gearing up for a grand re-release. Although the film received positive reviews upon its initial release, it did not fare well at that time. Producer Maha Subair is now overseeing its re-release in 4K Atmos sound.
Initially, exhibitors across Kerala were reluctant to screen re-releases. However, the success of Spadikam, Devadoothan, and Manichitrathazhu has encouraged producers to schedule more films in theatres.
A Kochi-based theatre owner told South First that re-releases are proving to be a profitable venture, attracting family audiences as well.
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
