The National Film Development Corporation–National Film Archive of India (NFDC–NFAI) has completed a 4K restoration of the 1989 Malayalam cinema classic "Kireedam" with Dolby Atmos sound. The restored film will be released in theatres across India and overseas on July 10, 2026, presented by NFDC in association with Seven Arts International Ltd. and distributed by Hyzin Global Ventures.
The restoration was necessary because the original camera negative had deteriorated and become unusable. NFDC–NFAI utilized a 35mm release print that had been preserved in their archives for over 30 years as the source material for the digital restoration. The restoration process included high-resolution scanning, digital image restoration, and color grading supervised by the film's original cinematographer S. Kumar and director Siby Malayil. The theatrical version was completed by Prasad Corporation in association with Hy Studioz, with Boney Assanar serving as Creative Visionary Head.
Directed by Siby Malayil and written by A. K. Lohithadas, the film stars Mohanlal as Sethumadhavan and Thilakan as Head Constable Achuthan Nair. The restoration was conducted under the National Film Heritage Mission, reflecting the government's commitment to preserving India's cinematic heritage. The restored film had its world premiere at the 55th International Film Festival of India, where it received an enthusiastic response from audiences and filmmakers.
NFDC Managing Director Prakash Magdum emphasized that the film's return to audiences was only possible because of the archival preservation of the release print. Director Siby Malayil expressed hope that both longtime admirers and new audiences would enjoy the restored version on the big screen. This project advances the Government of India's vision of preserving, restoring, and promoting the country's rich audiovisual heritage through scientific preservation, digitization, and restoration efforts.