Tt is not often that a film which was a colossal flop gets a re-release in theatres purely due to the love it has garnered over two decades. Prolific filmmaker Sibi Malayil has achieved this rare distinction with (2000), which is now running successfully two weeks into its second coming on the big screen, 24 years after its original release. The Mohanlal-starrer’s failure at the time was a disappointment that once shattered Sibi’s confidence as a filmmaker, though he later bounced back with Ishtam (2001).
Expressing his elation, Sibi says, “I am extremely happy, along with Raghu (Raghunath Paleri), to have been proven right that was not a film that deserved such a fate when it was originally released.” Taking a cue from one of Vishal Krishnamoorthy’s (Mohanlal) memorable lines from the film, ‘Somebody wants to say something to someone’, the veteran filmmaker added, “Back then, people didn’t listen to what I wanted to say. Now, I’m glad that they finally understand what I wanted to convey through this film.
” I wasn’t involved in the initial stages of the restoration process, which was actually initiated by the producer Siyad Koker’s daughter. I only came into the picture about five or six months ago during the final mixing process. Once I saw the final output, I was convinced that it would offer a fresh experience for the audience in theatres.
I also insisted on re-editing the film to remove unnecessary scenes, including those added to cater to Mohanl.