Sivaji Ganesan epic to hit big screen again

 

Five decades after its release, Sivaji Ganesan's magnum opus Karnan is set to wow audiences all over again. This time aided by technology.

Karnan has become the first Tamil film, and the third in the country, to be digitally re-touched.
Mughal-e-Azam (Hindi) and Mayabazar (Telugu) are the first two.

The digitally enhanced version of Karnan is expected to hit the screens in about two weeks. Trailer release has been slated for February 21.

"Karnan is a movie I grew up with. I wanted the present generation to inculcate its values. That is the basic idea in re-releasing the film," said Shanthi Chokkalingam of Divya Films.

The digital enhancement has taken about three years. Technicians used digital intermediate technology and converted it to scope format to suit theatres of today. DTS 5.1 surround technology has been employed to improve sound quality of the film.

That the year is centenary of Karnan director B.R. Panthulu is nothing but "providential coincidence".

"We hope to re-release the film worldwide and in at least 50 theatres in the state," said Shanthi.

For younger-generation Sivaji fans such as Madhuvanthi Arun, the re-release is a rare opportunity. "I have watched it umpteen times, but always regretted the fact that I could not watch my all-time favourite Karnan on bigger screen in all its grandeur. I think this is fantastic," she said.