4K version of Nagarjuna's classic 'Shiva' screened at IFFI Goa, actor reveals how the team pulled the new impossible task despite sticky reels and ruined negatives

Nagarjuna at IFFI Goa

Telugu superstar Nagarjuna and his team revealed how Ram Gopal Varma's cult classic 'Shiva' was brought back to life with stunning 4K visuals and Dolby Atmos sound.

The technical team at Annapurna Studios relied on patience and persistance when they took on the formidable task of remastering Nagarjuna’s iconic 'Shiva' for a grand theatrical comeback in a premium, cutting-edge format.

At the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, Nagarjuna joined a special session to give a break down of how the game-changing debut underwent a near-impossible transformation, which finally hit the big screens earlier this month after a seven-year odyssey led by CV Rao, Chief Technology Officer at Annapurna Studios.

The remastered version of "Shiva" is stunning. I see so many films coming to life with this. I was talking to Ramesh Sippy sir and told him that I'd love to hear the sound of the coin in "Sholay" in a new way. Since this is the 50th year of Annapurna Studio, we thought what better film to do this than "Siva", which remains a cult classic, said Nagarjuna at IFFI, where the new version of the film was screened.

The team began planning the restoration even before 2019, fully aware of the mountain ahead.

The technical team at Annapurna Studios said that they realized that the negatives were deteriorating rapidly and with labs shutting down