Devadoothan, the iconic musical mystery film starring Mohanlal, recently had a re-release in digital 4K format. Directed by Sibi Malayil and written by Raghunath Paleri, the movie was a massive failure at the box office back in 2000. However, after 24 years since its original release, this classic film is finally experiencing the success it was meant for. The newfound success of Devadoothan is undeniably a major achievement in Malayalam cinema, and its impact on the industry is something that all fans of Malayalam cinema can be proud of.
Earlier, a few well-received movies, such as the Mohanlal starrer Spadikam, were able to replicate their success at the box office with a grand re-release. However, all of these movies that made a comeback were beloved blockbusters. The situation is a bit different from Devadoothan’s. Sibi Malayil’s musical mystery thriller, which is gaining immense popularity among audiences, did not succeed commercially during its initial release. Devadoothan’s Producers decided to have faith in the modern Malayali audiences and give the film a second chance, believing in its quality. The decision to re-release the movie Devadoothan turned out to be a success when audiences, particularly the younger demographic who had missed the opportunity to see it in theaters, embraced the movie wholeheartedly. This Mohanlal-starrer is the first Malayalam film to have initially flopped but then received a second chance from viewers. This is solely due to the audience’s recognition of its exceptional craftsmanship and their growing appreciation for it over the years. It also demonstrates that Devadoothan was truly ahead of its time, both artistically and technically.
The successful re-release of Devadoothan has reportedly inspired the makers of several forgotten classics to re-release those films in theatres. However, the confirmed re-releases are of some of the most successful films in Malayalam cinema. Fazil’s classic film Manichitrathazhu is scheduled to be re-released on August 17, 2024, on the special occasion of Chingam 1. If the reports are accurate, several iconic films, including Mohanlal’s Devasuram, Mammootty’s Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, multi-starrer Summer In Bethlehem, and many more may hit the theatres once again in the coming months.
