Mohanlal has never hidden his affection for Kireedam, the 1989 drama that shaped his career and left a mark on Malayalam cinema. Now, more than three decades later, the film is back in the spotlight with a world premiere of its 4K restoration at the 56th International Film Festival of India in Goa. The actor shared his excitement on social media, calling the moment an honour and a deeply emotional milestone.

A Legendary Film Finds New Light

He revealed that the film was restored from a 35mm release print preserved by the National Film Archive of India. The original camera negative had deteriorated over time, which makes the survival of this print all the more important. Mohanlal thanked the NFDC and NFAI team and highlighted how gratifying it is to see the film revived under the National Film Heritage Mission. He also noted that cinematographer S Kumar personally supervised the final grading, ensuring the restored version stays true to the film’s visual soul.

For fans who grew up watching Kireedam on VHS tapes and scratchy television reruns, the idea of seeing its emotional churn in crisp 4K is nothing short of a full circle moment.

Delighted to share the world premiere of the 4K restoration of Kireedam (1989), presented as part of the Special Screenings at the 56th IFFI, Goa. The film has been meticulously restored by NFDC – National Film Archive of India from a 35mm release print, thankfully preserved by…

— Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) November 26, 2025

A Story That Has Lost None of Its Power

Directed by Sibi Malayil and written by A K Lohithadas, Kireedam is remembered not for spectacle but for its simple and devastating human core. Mohanlal plays Sethumadhavan, a young man who dreams of joining the police force, only to watch his life twist into tragedy after one fateful confrontation. His performance is often cited as one of the finest in Malayalam cinema, a controlled portrayal of a man crushed by fate and circumstance. The role earned him a Special Jury Mention at the National Film Awards and remains a reference point for actors studying restrained emotional craft.

The film’s influence grew with time. It inspired remakes in several languages and continues to be discussed in conversations about the best Malayalam films ever made. Critics still praise its grounded writing and its heartbreaking final stretch, both of which shaped a generation of filmmakers who admired its honesty. The restoration now gives new audiences a chance to experience the film the way it was meant to be seen on the big screen.

Also Read: 36 Years of Kireedam: Why This Mohanlal Film Still Matters

A Festival Spotlight on India’s Cinematic Past

The return of Kireedam is part of the Indian Panorama Special Package at IFFI 2025, which features eighteen restored classics. These restorations cut across Hindi, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, and Telugu cinema and honour the legacy of some of the country’s greatest storytellers. This year’s programme carries even deeper meaning as it celebrates one hundred and twenty five years of V Shantaram and marks centenary tributes to legendary names such as Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, Bhupen Hazarika, P Bhanumati, Salil Choudhury, and K Vaikunt.

Film enthusiasts attending the festival will notice the growing emphasis on film preservation in India. The restored lineup at IFFI reflects the larger push by the National Film Heritage Mission to protect and revive classics that risk being lost to time. With each restoration, the gap between past and present narrows. Films once limited to aging prints and memories now have a chance to thrive before a new generation.

In this context, Kireedam stands as both a tribute and a reminder. It celebrates the power of performance-driven storytelling and underlines why preserving cinema matters. As Mohanlal said, watching the classic return to the screen is an honour. For audiences, it is a gift.

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As the world prepares to travel back to 1980s Hawkins, Indiana, the trip after the long break almost feels nostalgic. After its 2016 release, Stranger Things became a global phenomenon blowing up to become a symbol of the 80s pop culture charm. 

The long-standing supernatural dread comes back tomorrow to tie all the loose ends in a full circle. The first four episodes are set to drop, followed by Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve releases to keep fans hooked to the upside down this holiday season. 

This Matt and Ross Duffer show began as a small town mystery. What started with a game of Dungeons and Dragons has gone on to become one of the most influential and revolutionary shows of the small screen. This blockbuster has seen it all. From chaotic showdowns in the mall to government secrets imploding lives, this epic has come right down to turning the face of reality ‘upside-down’ for the residents of Hawkins. 

Hawkins began as a perfect picture of a true American land completed with football and fourth of July. But hidden behind the face of perception were the horrors which residents had chosen to ignore. 

A Department of Energy lab stands tall at the edge of the town where children with psychic abilities, including Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), were held and experimented on. An experiment gone wrong unleashed the gateway to the Upside Down, and with it, creatures like the Mind Flayer and Demogorgons. As a result, Eleven remains the central point of the entire fight over the seasons. 

It all started when Will (Noah Schnapp) disappears in the first season which leads to his friends Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) and Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin) setting out to look for him. This first reveals the existence of the Upside Down and all the other subsequent secrets of Hawkins. They were joined by stepsiblings Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) and Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery) in the second season.

These kids are accompanied by Joyce Wheeler (Winona Ryder), Will’s mom and Jim Hopper (David Harbour), the town Sheriff who go on to develop a strong chemistry. This gang of adults is later joined by Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman), an eccentric who adds more chaos to the mix. 

The heart of the show lies in the young heroes Mike, Lucas, Dustin and Will. ‘The Party’ has survived so much over the last four seasons together, with only a short break last season when Mike and Will were in California. In Hawkins, Lucas has to choose between becoming a part of the ‘popular basketball team’ clique or staying true to his ‘geek’ friends. Lucas’ sister Erica joins the troop during this period and becomes a rather important part of the circuit. 

Despite the brief divide in the group, they come together to save Max after she was captured by Vecna. Max has been battling with grief post her brother Billy’s death in the mall showdown in season 3.

 
Joining them are the older siblings and high schoolers of Hawkins. This older group has protected and helped the kids across a series of events. This includes Will’s brother Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) and Mike Wheeler’s sister Nancy (Natalie Dyer). They are joined by Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), who started as the town’s very own playboy but matured into everyone’s favourite babysitter.  Joining them in season 3 was Robin (Maya Hawke), Steve’s new friend, who goes on to become a vital part of the crew. Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn), a D&D-loving metalhead who perished battling the Upside Down, was introduced in Season 4. He, loses his life, in a battle. 

 
The greatest villain of the show finally takes the spotlight in season 4. In a nod to Dungeons and Dragons, the villain is referred to as Vecna. Vecna was once Henry Creel, the first child to be subjected to the evil Dr. Brenner’s ruthless experiments. Known in the lab as ‘One’, his chilling backstory comes to life as he slowly unveils the depth of his darkness. Fuelled by his difficult childhood, he intends to use his powers to unleash terror, starting with those who wronged him. 

Eleven learns of his true nature, once the adult Henry Creel tries to befriend her for his own benefit. Once this understanding dawns upon her, she uses her powers to banish him to the Upside Down. There, twisted by the alternate realm’s energy, he reinvented himself as a vengeful ruler hungry for annihilation. It soon becomes clear that Vecna had been behind it all. This includes the Mind Flayer and a psychic hold over Will, which lasts as a scar of his abduction.

By the end of Season 4, Eleven believed she had finally ended Vecna’s reign, delivering what looked like a fatal strike. But saving her friends came with consequences. Her desperate attempt to pull Max back from death tore open the boundaries between worlds even further. In doing so, she unknowingly breathed new life into Vecna’s soul.

This ordeal sets the stage for a climactic final battle that now threatens to swallow Hawkins whole. 

So get ready to see the conclusion to this epic saga starting tomorrow as we go back to Hawkins. One last time. 

Also Read: Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 Trailer Explained: Eleven’s Return, Demogorgons & Steve’s Big Move

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on Wednesday announced a special $40 billion budget for arms purchases, including to build an air defense system with high-level detection and interception capabilities called Taiwan Dome.