Cinemas bring back restored classics but with little reward

Restoration costs can range from ₹40-50 lakh to ₹1 crore, based on the length of the film and the quality of prints

- Lata Jha

Interest in film restoration is gaining momentum, but its commercial impact remains uncertain. In recent months, a number of re-releases, from Guru Dutt's iconic films to Rekha's Umrao Jaan, have been screened in theatres.

These efforts, backed by government initiatives like the National Film Heritage Mission and executed by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the National Film Archive of India (NFAI), aim to preserve cinematic heritage and attempt to introduce it to new audiences.

In August, as part of Guru Dutt's centenary celebrations, Ultra Media & Entertainment Group presented a theatrical retrospective of his films, including Pyaasa, Aar Paar, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Mr. & Mrs. 55, and Baaz, restored and reintroduced for today's audiences across 250 cinemas. Earlier in the year, Sharmila Tagore's Aradhana and Satyajit Ray's Nayak were re-released. According to film trade experts, given the limited audience base for these films, box office earnings remained limited to ₹4-5 lakh.