Thiruvananthapuram: Indian cinema icon Mohanlal was moved to tears during the special 4K preview show of his legendary masterpiece Kireedam. Addressing fans and the media immediately after the screening, the veteran actor became visibly choked with emotion as he reflected on the devastating loss of the extraordinary co-stars who once breathed life into the film.

Kireedam (1989), written by the late Lohithadas and directed by Sibi Malayil, remains a crown jewel in Malayalam cinema history, with Mohanlal’s portrayal of Sethumadhavan widely regarded as one of his finest performances.

Expressing his immense gratitude to director Sibi Malayil, who guided him to his first National Film Award Special Mention for this very film, Mohanlal reminisced about their historic collaboration.
 

"This is a very rare moment in my life," Mohanlal said, his voice heavy with emotion. "In my 48-year acting career, Kireedam stands out as one of the most definitive milestones. It brought me my first National Award recognition. Thank you, Sibi. My second National Award winning performance (Bharatham) was also in a film directed by Sibi."

Behind the tears: A journey 37 years back in time

Watching the newly restored version pulled the actor into an overwhelming wave of nostalgia and grief. The screen became a poignant gallery of ghosts—phenomenal actors who have since passed away.

"It brings a strange mix of joy and profound sadness," Mohanlal shared. "Seeing so many familiar faces on screen instantly transported me 37 years back in time. So many of them have left us. I turned to Sibi and asked him—we just don't have those incredible people with us anymore to make a film like this, do we? That realisation brings immense grief," he said.

He further reflected on the sheer grit it took to create a masterpiece with limited resources decades ago.

"It is a deeply emotional film. It was made 37 years ago with very basic facilities. If we made it today, it would be entirely different. To create a film of this magnitude within the constraints of that era is a monumental achievement. Watching Kireedam will always make one incredibly emotional. This happens only to a select few films, but perhaps, to this film more than any other. I remember and thank everyone who worked behind the scenes."

A masterpiece restored, a galaxy remembered

Thirty-seven years after its initial release, Kireedam is poised to conquer the big screen once again this Friday. The timeless classic is being re-released worldwide in stunning 4K resolution with immersive Dolby Atmos sound.

Presented by Seven Arts International Limited in association with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the film was originally produced by N Krishnakumar (Kireedam Unni) and Dinesh Panicker under the Kripa Films banner.

The re-release serves as a bittersweet tribute to an irreplaceable galaxy of departed legends who co-starred in the film, including Thilakan, Mamukkoya, Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Murali, Cochin Haneefa, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Philomina, Sreenath, Mohanraj (the iconic Keerikkadan Jose), Kundara Johny and Kanakalatha.

The film also features stellar performances from living legends and veterans like Jagathy Sreekumar, Jagadish, Parvathy and Maniyanpilla Raju, beautifully captured by cinematographer S Kumar, edited by L Bhoominathan, and set to the hauntingly beautiful melodies composed by Johnson with lyrics by Kaithapram.