“Yes, we have seen re-releases in recent years — Devadoothan, Spadikam, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Manichitrathazhu. They too created buzz. But only true entertainers — those with action, comedy, dance, and mass appeal — can recreate this kind of ‘mass’ magic.”

Aby John Mathew, a marketing professional and cinephile, says nostalgia alone doesn’t guarantee the success of a re-release. “Chotta Mumbai is still fresh, be it the humour or the songs. Even after over a decade, it has proved to pique the interest of different generations,” he adds.

“CID Moosa, Yodha, Raavanaprabhu, Chathikkatha Chandhu, Chandralekha… these are some of the films that rush to mind while thinking of re-releases. This trend is welcome. The enthusiasm around these films shows there’s still demand for high-energy entertainers. From an audience perspective, this is also a form of cultural restoration. Most prints of old films are in poor condition. If classics like Kilukkam are remastered and re-released, we will be preserving a good cinema output.”

For journalist and film buff Amritha A Raj, the biggest takeaway from the re-release was the shift in theatre celebrations.

“Earlier, it was just about young men having a blast. But now, women, including elderly ones, and families can be seen dancing in front of the screen,” she smiles.

The euphoria around Chotta Mumbai hasn’t just swayed fans. It has pleasantly surprised theatre owners as well. Vipin Thulaseedharan, manager of AriesPlex SL Cinemas in Thiruvananthapuram, notes that the re-release of Chotta Mumbai has also attracted an audience that never had the chance to watch it in theatres the first time.

“So as we expected, the crowd largely ranges from teenagers to those in their 40s,” he says.