After 35 years, one of Malayalam cinema’s most celebrated gangster dramas is set to roar back onto the big screen. Jomon’s 1990 classic Samrajyam, starring megastar Mammootty as the iconic underworld don Alexander, has been fully restored in 4K with Dolby Atmos and will re-release in theatres this September 2025.

The producers confirmed the news via Facebook, unveiling a striking poster along with the words, "He conquered once; he’ll conquer again. This September! Alexander returns. Megastar Mammookka in #Samrajyam 4K DOLBY ATMOS, releasing this September…!!"

A pan-South sensation

Though Samrajyam was a blockbuster in Kerala, its impact went far beyond the state’s borders. The film enjoyed a remarkable run in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and especially Andhra Pradesh.

In an interview with OTT Play, scriptwriter Shibu Chakravarthy recalled that the film actually ran longer in Andhra than in Kerala, cementing Mammootty’s superstar image in Telugu cinema.

“After Samrajyam’s release, Mammookka was on par with Telugu superstars,” he revealed, adding that producers frequently flew him to Hyderabad for talks, which marks the film as a true success.

Shibu Chakravarthy also shed light on the creative foundations of the cult hit’s screenplay. While Jomon’s vision set the stage, the writer wove in inspiration from the Mahabharata, particularly the tale of Kunti and Karna. He further acknowledged Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Parinda(1989) as a major influence, adapting its raw underworld aesthetic into a Malayalam backdrop.