This March, Chennai cinemas are echoing with the dialogue delivery of Ajith and the melodies vocalized by Vijay as timeless Tamil films make a grand return to the silver screen. It is a journey back in time for movie lovers, as GK Cinemas opens its doors not to the latest releases, but to an array of beloved re-releases.
At the heart of the cinematic revival in GK Cinemas is not the hype of the latest blockbuster but the affection and nostalgia for old films. “With exams around the corner, this has traditionally been a low period for cinema. Therefore, we often resort to re-releases which attract movie-goers,” Ruban Mathivanan of GK Cinemas discloses. This year brings additional excitement as GK Cinemas has revamped its main screen with a print projector, re-introducing a technology that has been out of the spotlight for over a decade.
Ruban describes the process as a labor of love, with old projectors meticulously preserved by his father and refurbished after much effort and time, particularly in sourcing scarce spare parts.
The story of this cinematic resurgence is also the story of S Kamalakannan, GK Cinema’s theatre operator for over a decade, whose relationship with projector rooms spans back to 1984. “Handling a machine I worked with in my younger days brings a certain joy,” Kamalakannan states, threading a film reel into the projector, eager to witness modern audiences’ reactions to the original print and sound quality.
After a meticulous year of preparation, Ruban is set to screen cinematic gems like ‘Minsara Kanavu’ from 1997, featuring Aravind Swami, Kajol, and Prabhu Deva, followed by Ajith’s ‘Kaadhal Mannan’. Efforts are also underway to procure a print of ‘Lesa Lesa’.
With tickets set at an affordable ₹80, these film screenings invite not only older generations to relive their cherished memories but also offer younger viewers a unique window into a bygone era of film projection.
The Tamil cinema’s re-release wave has garnered significant success, marked by the return of movies such as ‘3’, ‘Aalavandan’, ‘Baba’, and ‘Vaaranam Aayiram’. Ruban acknowledges this trend as a “passing fad,” pointing out that careful film selection is key to these re-releases’ success, with movies featuring hit songs enjoying the most popularity.
Kamala Cinemas in Vadapalani is another venue giving Chennai’s movie buffs a taste of the past, reviving their print projection to meet the demands of audiences yearning to experience classic films in their original glory.
As cinemas nationwide tackle challenges from the scarcity of major new releases, rising operational costs, and the burgeoning OTT platforms, theatre owners like Ruban remain optimistic. He firmly believes that with titles like Rajinikanth’s ‘Padayappa’ and Kamal Haasan’s ‘Kuruthipunal’, re-releases could one day rival the excitement and attendance of new movies.
In conclusion, this initiative by Chennai theatres is more than a simple screening of old classics; it is a celebration of Tamil cinema’s rich history and an homage to the art of traditional film projection, offering a new generation a glimpse into the magic of yesteryears and promising a unique experience that digital projection simply cannot replicate.
