Thirty-six years is a long time to wait for a second chance at the big screen. Kireedam, the 1989 Sibi Malayil film written by Lohithadas and starring Mohanlal, is returning to theatres in June — restored in 4K and mixed in Dolby Atmos. Seven Arts International Limited, in association with the National Film Development Corporation, is presenting the re-release. Distribution in India will be handled by Haissin Global Ventures. The announcement was made alongside a new poster, timed to coincide with Mohanlal’s birthday.
The restoration work has been carried out by Prasad Corp, with 4K remastering done at Hi Studios. Atmos mixing was handled by Hari Narayanan. The original film was produced by N. Krishnakumar — known to Malayalam audiences as Kireedam Unni — and Dinesh Panikkar under the Kripa Films banner, with cinematography by S. Kumar.
Why This Re-Release Matters
Kireedam is not simply a film people remember fondly. It is the performance that proved Mohanlal could disappear into a character so completely that the character outlives the film. Sethumadhavan — the young man crushed by circumstance into becoming a criminal, wearing a crown of thorns he never chose — is cited as one of the defining roles in Malayalam cinema’s history. The scene where a broken Sethumadhavan is confronted and the line “Kathi thaazhe ideda, ninnachhanaada pareyunnat” lands remains, nearly four decades on, one of the most emotionally devastating moments Malayalam cinema has produced.
The Mohanlal-Thilakan chemistry as Sethumadhavan and Achuthan Nair gave that film its emotional spine. Watching it in 2026 will also mean watching Thilakan, Mamukkoya, Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Murali, Cochin Haneefa, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, and Philomina — actors no longer with us — on the large screen one more time. That weight is inseparable from what this re-release will feel like in the theatre.
Johnson’s score, Kaithapram’s lyrics, and Sibi Malayil’s craft all arrive remastered for a generation that may know Kireedam by reputation more than by experience. June will give them the chance to close that gap.
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