With Gangs of Wasseypur and Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein hitting theatres again this week and Laila Majnu making waves earlier, it’s hard not to wonder what’s up with this trend!
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed people getting excited about the re-releases of some films as if a blockbuster is about to drop. And why wouldn’t they be? These are cult classics returning to the big screen, even if only for a short time. But it’s not just Gangs of Wasseypur and Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein creating a stir. Earlier, Laila Majnu made headlines for raking in more at the box office during its re-release than initially and it even outperformed some of this year’s new releases! So, what’s behind this sudden craze of re-releasing old movies in theatres?
This isn’t a new trend. It’s often done to celebrate a film’s anniversary or to honour a legendary actor’s era, typically focusing on movies from the 50s, 70s, or 90s. For instance, in October 2022, Amitabh Bachchan’s birthday was marked by a film festival with “Bachchan Back to the Beginning,” which was a massive hit among audiences. Surprisingly, even more recent hits like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Jab We Met, and Rockstar have seen fans flocking back to theatres. But why? One theory that could explain this is - reigning in the nostalgia!
It is not unknown that this younger generation runs heavily on nostaliga! They have a deep emotional connection to the movies they grew up watching. Every time a cult film hits a milestone, social media explodes with tributes. Now that they’re older and making decisions, they want to experience those beloved films in theatres—films they might have been too young to appreciate fully at the time. That’s why re-releasing a movie like Tamasha generates so much excitement. Industry insiders are catching on to this nostalgia-driven demand and are capitalizing on it. Remember how Gadar: Ek Prem Katha was re-released alongside Gadar 2 last year? It was a brilliant marketing move that paid off big time. Even Prime Video’s Jubilee created a buzz with a festival of 40s and 50s films, giving younger audiences a taste of cinematic history on the big screen.
This year, films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, DDLJ, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, and others have found their way back to theatres, squeezing into the schedule alongside new releases and once again drawing crowds. But why is this trend more noticeable now? One reason could be the underwhelming performance of new films at the box office. These old favourites act as reliable crowd-pullers, helping to keep business booming. While re-releases existed pre-pandemic, the trend has grown significantly since then. It’s partly due to a shift in audience behaviour—many people now prefer streaming content from the comfort of their homes over going to the theatre. But when a classic film reappears on the big screen, it offers a comforting sense of familiarity, drawing people out of their homes to experience the magic of cinema as it was meant to be seen. Plus, it gives films like Laila Majnu (re-released due to public demand) or a restored version of Manthan a chance to be appreciated on the big screen.
In Tamil and Telugu cinema, re-releases are more star-driven, as recent videos show fans of Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi dancing in theatres to a hit song from his 2002 blockbuster Indra. In Tamil Nadu, Vijay’s Ghilli played to packed halls in April. Meanwhile, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has two films—Devadoothan (a previously unsuccessful eerie film now running with packed cinemas) and Manichithrathazhu (an enormous success among re-releases in southern India).
Whether it's nostalgia or a business strategy that drives this trend, one thing is clear: audiences love it! And why wouldn’t they? After all, nothing beats the experience of watching a classic film on the 70mm big screen where cinema truly comes to life, no?
What do you think of this re-release of old films? Tell us in the comments below!
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