From sticky negatives to stunning 4K, Nagarjuna reveals how ‘Shiva’ was rebuilt, a timeless cult classic returns

Actor Nagarjuna proudly unveiled the remastered version of the revived film ‘Shiva’ at a special screening held at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. Speaking after the special screening, Nagarjuna Akkineni said on stage that he was amazed by the new 4K visuals and Dolby Atmos sound echoing in the theater. This is no ordinary restoration… and 'Shiva' has been given new life, Nagarjuna shared proudly. He also noted that there is no better endeavor than to revive this film, which has become a cult favorite in the minds of fans.

'Shiva' restoration journey

The production house's technical team explained in detail the complexities behind this remastering effort. The restoration project began several years before 2019. But by then, the film's negatives had been severely damaged. CTO CV Rao said that the original negatives had become ‘sticky’ and were unrollable. 4K scanning was possible after they were brought into a rollable state through ultrasonic cleaning. But since the scanned footage was full of “scratches, dust, and torn frames,” it took 8–10 months to clean each frame individually.

Lost audio recovered after an extensive search across theatres

An even bigger shock came when the crew inspected the sound section. Two reels were completely damaged and unusable. Since the audio quality available on YouTube was not suitable for the cinema, a ‘major’ effort was launched to find the original prints. The production house's distribution team, after contacting old exhibitors in the Telugu states and finding more than 20 theaters, only got two reels. Those reels were the main source that brought back to life the lost sound of 'Shiva'.

A timeless cult classic returns

Released in 1989, 'Shiva' became a cult classic in its own right due to its typical violent scenes, socio-college political backdrops, and stylish treatment. The film, which was selected in the Indian Panorama section of the 13th IFFI in 1990, became a work fondly remembered by a wide audience. Nagarjuna's words, "It has now grown back in a remastered form," were recorded at the festival as a wonderful moment where technology and memories merged.

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