Actor Mohanlal has opened up about his iconic movie 'Devadoothan', directed by veteran filmmaker Sibi Malayil and released in theatres in 2000. Despite not achieving commercial success initially, the film eventually gained cult status, with critics and fans alike praising its plot, cinematography, and music.

On Tuesday, Mohanlal and other stars gathered to launch the 4K trailer of this cult classic. During the event, Mohanlal shared his deep personal connection with 'Devadoothan,' calling it one of his favourite films as an actor.

Directed by Sibi Malayil with a screenplay by Raghunath Paleri, the film offered a unique filmmaking style coupled with superhit songs to Malayalam cinema upon its initial release in 2000. 

Produced by Siyad Koker under Koker's Cinema, 'Devadoothan' melded multi-talented craftsmanship with a backdrop reminiscent of Hollywood, featuring music by Vidyasagar and cinematography by Santosh Thundiyil. 

Despite its innovative approach, 'Devadoothan' failed to resonate with audiences of its time and went largely unnoticed. Now, after more than two decades, the film is set for a re-release, much to the delight of its fans. 

"This film carries a poignant message encapsulated in its tagline, 'Someone has something to say to someone,'" Mohanlal remarked, reflecting on the film's key plot. He also paid tribute to the director, Sibi Malayil, with whom he  had previously worked in 'Sadayam' and 'Dasharatham.' 

The actor reminisced about the challenges of preserving the film over the years, noting the rarity of maintaining film prints in pristine condition amid the passage of time.

"This is a movie shot on actual film. The first question I asked was how did it survive without any damage after all these years. Many old labs no longer exist, and film rolls can deteriorate over time. This film was fortunate. It's now set for re-release. The tagline of 'Devadoothan' is that someone has something to say to someone. Now I realize that we have something to say to you," the veteran actor said. 

"Jayaprada, Jayalakshmi, and Murali, who were integral parts of the film, are remembered on this occasion. When reflecting on why 'Devadoothan' didn't perform well at the box office back then, I wouldn't say that the film was ahead of its time. Perhaps its message resonated differently back then, or it faced stiff competition from other releases. Many deserving films often face similar challenges. 'Devadoothan' stands out in every aspect, from its cinematography to its music."