Thenmavin Kombathu, Priyadarshan's 1994 Malayalam classic starring Mohanlal, Shobana and Nedumudi Venu, will return to theatres worldwide on October 8, 2026 in a restored Super 4K version with a new Dolby Atmos sound mix.
The re-release marks 32 years since the film first hit cinemas, and it comes with the personal endorsement of its biggest star — Mohanlal himself has called it his favourite collaboration with director Priyadarshan.
Mohanlal's favourite
In a video shared by the film's distributors ahead of the re-release, Mohanlal said: "Of all the films that I had done with Priyan, Thenmavin Kombathu is my favourite." He described the film as returning "after a long gap of 32 years" and praised its "stunning visuals, memorable songs and several hilarious moments."
The restoration
The restoration went back to the film's original 35mm negative, which was first digitised through a 4K scan and then enhanced to Super 4K while retaining the visual character of the original. The re-release also features a new Dolby Atmos mix covering the music, comic moments and ambient sounds, designed to make the theatrical experience more immersive. The restoration has been undertaken by Matinee Now and E4 Entertainment. The film was produced by N. Gopalakrishnan under the Prasidhi Creations and Surya Cine Arts banners.
A decorated original
Thenmavin Kombathu won two National Film Awards — Best Cinematography for K.V. Anand and Best Production Design for Sabu Cyril — along with five Kerala State Film Awards, and it was a massive commercial success on its original release.
Sources:
- NDTV: Thenmavin Kombathu To Re-Release In Theatres On October 8, Mohanlal Calls It His Favourite Priyadarshan Film
- Mathrubhumi: Thenmavin Kombathu 4K Re-Release: Release Date And More
The re-release marks 32 years since the film first hit cinemas, and it comes with the personal endorsement of its biggest star — Mohanlal himself has called it his favourite collaboration with director Priyadarshan.
Mohanlal's favourite
In a video shared by the film's distributors ahead of the re-release, Mohanlal said: "Of all the films that I had done with Priyan, Thenmavin Kombathu is my favourite." He described the film as returning "after a long gap of 32 years" and praised its "stunning visuals, memorable songs and several hilarious moments."
The restoration
The restoration went back to the film's original 35mm negative, which was first digitised through a 4K scan and then enhanced to Super 4K while retaining the visual character of the original. The re-release also features a new Dolby Atmos mix covering the music, comic moments and ambient sounds, designed to make the theatrical experience more immersive. The restoration has been undertaken by Matinee Now and E4 Entertainment. The film was produced by N. Gopalakrishnan under the Prasidhi Creations and Surya Cine Arts banners.
A decorated original
Thenmavin Kombathu won two National Film Awards — Best Cinematography for K.V. Anand and Best Production Design for Sabu Cyril — along with five Kerala State Film Awards, and it was a massive commercial success on its original release.
Sources:
- NDTV: Thenmavin Kombathu To Re-Release In Theatres On October 8, Mohanlal Calls It His Favourite Priyadarshan Film
- Mathrubhumi: Thenmavin Kombathu 4K Re-Release: Release Date And More
