Kamal Haasan's 'Indian' to re-release in June ahead of sequel
Kamal Haasan's fans, rejoice! On Sunday, producer AM Rathnam, under Mega Surya Productions, announced the re-release of the 1996 blockbuster Indian, also known as Bharateeyudu in Telugu, on social media. The film, directed by Shankar Shanmugam and starring Haasan, is scheduled to hit theaters worldwide on June 7 in Tamil and Telugu. This exciting move precedes the release of the much-anticipated sequel Indian 2, set for July 12.
A chance to revisit the iconic story
The re-release of Indian offers fans a chance to revisit the iconic vigilante story before the sequel's debut. The film features Manisha Koirala in the co-lead role and includes compositions by AR Rahman. This trend of re-releasing old blockbusters has gained popularity in Tamil Nadu—with Indian being the latest addition. Per the announcement, the re-release trailer will be out on Monday.
Take a look at the announcement post
Plotline: 'Indian' is a riveting political thriller
The original film Indian, a gripping political thriller, catapulted director Shanmugam into prominence in the Indian film industry. It features Haasan in dual roles: a righteous vigilante and a corrupt bureaucrat. The narrative revolves around the fight against corruption and injustice, elevated by intense action sequences and thought-provoking dialogues. Despite being available for streaming on Aha Tamil and OTTplay Premium, its re-release is expected to draw audiences to cinemas.
'Indian 2' overcomes production hurdles, set for release
Despite facing several production obstacles, including a tragic on-set accident in February 2020 that claimed three crew members' lives and a fallout between director Shanmugam and Lyca Productions, Indian 2 is well on track for release, finally. Filming resumed in 2022 with Red Giant Movies joining as a new producer. Reports suggest that Shankar also managed to shoot Indian 3 during this second phase of production.
What to expect from 'Indian 2'?
In the sequel, Haasan returns as Senapathy—an aging freedom fighter turned vigilante battling corruption, alongside Siddharth, SJ Suryah, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, and Gulshan Grover, among others. Anirudh Ravichander leads the music, with Ravi Varman and R. Rathnavelu as cinematographers. The film, reportedly spanning over six hours, has been split into two parts, with the "second" chapter, Indian 3, slated for a 2025 release.
