#10 - Reels from the Past: The Resurgence of Re-Releases

and why is it good and bad

To make a film is easy; to make a good film is War. To make a very good film is a Miracle.

-Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Hi folks,

In today's issue, we discuss the resurgence of a popular trend in Tamil cinema and feature a recent piece by one of my Twitter friends on Venkat Prabhu's modern cinema, along with some recommendations.

Reels from the past:

Movie re-releases are not a new phenomenon in the Tamil film industry. Smaller towns used to have dedicated theaters for re-released movies. Although such theaters are not profitable, they cater to people who enjoy watching their favorite movies on the big screen again.

When I was an instructor in a small town in Kerala, I had the opportunity to visit one such theater, which we fondly called Tentukottai. They only released old movies, be it Tamil or Malayalam, and the ticket prices were cheaper. Watching these movies was a trip down memory lane, and it was an enjoyable experience.

The current trend of re-releasing old movies such as Vaaranam Aayiram, Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya, Paiyaa, and Ghilli is a way for the younger generation to experience the magic of these movies on the big screen. This trend started with the remastered version of Karnan, followed by Shivaji remastered to 3D, and now many other movies following suit.

While this trend is good for keeping the audience engaged, I believe that theater owners should also consider releasing small-budget films that haven’t seen the light of day or have been sold to OTTs for peanuts. For example, Byri, one of the films that got released this year, didn’t get much attention when it was released in theaters, but it is getting rave reviews now after its OTT release. Theaters could bring back such movies and promote them on social media.

As a movie lover, I would like to know which movies people would like to watch in theaters. You can choose only five movies, and I will feature the responses in the next issue along with the names of the respondents. Here are my top five picks:

1. Andha Naal (Tamil)

2. Kaadhalikka Neramillai (Tamil)

3. Satya (Hindi)

4. Siva (Telugu)

5. 2001: A Space Odyssey (English)

I believe that by promoting small-budget films and re-releasing old movies, theater owners can keep the audiences engaged and provide a diverse range of movie experiences to movie lovers.

Find of the Week:

One of my Twitter friends, beef_parotttaa, has been writing excellent opinion pieces on cinema, exploring themes from both old and new movies. I came across one of their pieces last week, and I think you should read it too. It highlighted several films and even gave me a new perspective on Venkat Prabhu.

For mediums like films, that are 3 hours long and overwhelmingly visual and loud, creating a comforting one is actually quite a task. But what makes a film comforting? I’d say a theme that’s light hearted like romance, friendship or comedy; which we’ve no dearth of in Tamil cinema. But the real question is, do they withstand the test of time? Take SMS (Siva Manasula Sakthi) or Vaaranam Aayiram for example, it is the DEFINITION of a comfort film for many, including me but rewatching it now has drawn my attention to a bunch of problematic scenes.

I don’t mean to say the film is problematic. You can’t expect current ideals of political correctness from a film that released in the 2000s. What I mean to say is that the film didn’t age well; which is quite common for comedy and romance because what can be considered humour, what can be discharged as dark humour and what is beyond admission depends on the then political climate. But this is where Venkat Prabhu comes as an anomaly: crafting films that are not only as comforting as a blanket but also unproblematic for generations to enjoy!

Movie Recommendations:

Watching light-hearted movies can be a great way to take a break from reality and bring a smile to our faces. In this week's edition, I would like to recommend some of my favorite light-hearted movies. If you don't mind watching movies in different languages, this might be for you.

1. Sky High (2005) - Directed by Mike Mitchell, this teenage Superhero movie is super fun. When the son of two Superhero parents struggles to find his power and balance both his School and personal life. A super fun watch, streaming on Disney+Hotstar.

2. Crazy Awesome Teachers (2020) - This movie tells the story of a teacher who is initially reluctant to teach but eventually develops a love for it. Along the way, the teacher tries to recover stolen money and also finds love. Despite the story and setting being relatable, the movie is unique in its own way. Currently, streaming on Netflix.

3. Too Handsome to Handle (2019) - There is another Indonesian movie in the list that you might enjoy watching. This movie might remind you of a K-Drama, but it is a fun and humorous one. The story revolves around a young and handsome boy who has a significant impact on others. However, he isolates himself from everyone. Eventually, he is forced to attend high school and falls in love with a girl who is not affected by his charm. The movie is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

That’s all from me for this week and I hope you like this week’s issue and do share your comments and feedback. See you next week.