Mani Ratnam's Geethanjali Set for 4K Digital Re-Release on August 28

Director Mani Ratnam's 1989 romantic classic Geethanjali is set to return to theatres in a digitally restored 4K format in both Telugu and Tamil on August 28, 2026. The film, which originally starred Nagarjuna Akkineni and Girija, was also released in Tamil Nadu under the dubbed title Idhayathai Thirudathey.

Speaking over the phone from Chennai, master cinematographer PC Sreeram recalled his experiences working on the project and confirmed that he personally reviewed the quality of the recent digital restoration carried out by Prasad Corp, including the colour grading. Sreeram noted that the restored version preserves the original colours, textures, and contrasts of the 1989 release.

The film marked the fourth collaboration between Mani Ratnam and Sreeram, following Mouna Ragam, Nayakan, and Agni Natchathiram. The storyline centres on Prakash, a college graduate diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, and Geethanjali, a woman living with a terminal heart condition, exploring their relationship and zest for life despite their terminal illnesses.

Sreeram shared that the production was completed within 60 days during the winter months, primarily across real locations in Ooty. The visual aesthetic relied heavily on natural and artificial mist, as well as dry ice for interior shots, to capture the mood of the narrative. In contrast to the mist-covered landscapes of Ooty, the song sequence 'O Priya Priya' was filmed across the desert terrain of Rajasthan.

The film features a musical score and soundtrack composed by Ilaiyaraaja, which Sreeram described as the narrative backbone of the movie, noting that the lullaby track 'O paapa laali' was filmed in three to four days. Following Geethanjali, Ratnam and Sreeram went on to collaborate on several other films, including Thiruda Thiruda, Alaipayuthey, and O Kadhal Kanmani.