Mohanlal’s 2005 romantic drama Chandrolsavam is returning to Malayalam theatres in a newly restored 4K version, giving audiences another opportunity to revisit one of the actor’s more understated performances on the big screen.
The re-release brings back a film that has steadily grown in reputation over the two decades since its original release, evolving from a box-office disappointment into a cult favourite among Mohanlal’s fans.
Written and directed by Ranjith, Chandrolsavam follows Chirakkal Sreehari, played by Mohanlal, a man who returns to his native village after a self-imposed six-year exile in Paris. During his time away, Sreehari also served a year in prison for a crime he did not commit. Back home, he must confront old misunderstandings, unresolved relationships and the people he left behind, including his childhood love, Indulekha, played by Meena.
The story unfolds with a quieter and more reflective tone than many of Ranjith and Mohanlal’s more commercially driven collaborations, focusing on themes of redemption, reconciliation and lost time.
The supporting cast includes Ranjith, Cochin Haneefa, V.K. Sreeraman, Santhosh, Jagadish and Khushboo, who makes a cameo appearance. Veteran musician V. Dakshinamoorthy also appears as Sreehari’s guru. The film’s music was composed by Vidyasagar, whose soundtrack — particularly the song “Aararum Kaanathe” — has remained popular years after the film’s theatrical run.
When Chandrolsavam was originally released on April 14, 2005, it underperformed at the box office and received a mixed critical response. Reviews at the time noted that Ranjith had adopted a softer, more philosophical approach than audiences had come to expect from him, moving away from the overtly commercial and larger-than-life narratives associated with some of his earlier work.
Some critics felt that Mohanlal’s performance was held back by the material, while others praised Meena for taking on a more grounded and restrained character than some of her previous glamorous roles.
In the years since, however, Chandrolsavam has undergone a notable reappraisal. Despite its shaky theatrical debut, the film has developed a dedicated following, particularly for its portrayal of rural nostalgia and quiet emotional depth. Repeated television broadcasts and its later availability on streaming platforms have introduced the film to newer generations, while retrospective discussions have increasingly described it as an underrated entry in the Mohanlal-Ranjith collaboration.
The re-release also comes amid a broader trend of Malayalam classics returning to Kerala theatres in restored formats. Mohanlal’s Chotta Mumbai received a similar 4K re-release in 2025, drawing packed houses and enthusiastic reactions from fans nearly two decades after its original theatrical run.
Chandrolsavam also occupies a distinct place in Ranjith and Mohanlal’s long creative association. Their collaboration stretches back to Ranjith’s screenwriting work on films such as Devasuram and Aaraam Thampuran, both regarded among Mohanlal’s iconic roles.
After making his directorial debut with Ravanaprabhu in 2001, Ranjith went on to direct Mohanlal in Chandrolsavam and later Rock N’ Roll. The latter was a box-office failure and reportedly contributed to a falling-out between the two, before they reunited for 2012’s Spirit, which became one of their most successful collaborations.
Seen within that larger creative history, Chandrolsavam represents a quieter chapter in the filmmaker-actor partnership — a film made between two very different stages of their long association.
With restored visuals and a story that has gained appreciation over time, Chandrolsavam’s return to theatres offers audiences a fresh opportunity to experience a film that, despite its difficult initial run, has gradually become one of the more cherished titles in Mohanlal’s expansive filmography.
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