Kamal Haasan's Indian re-release sparks festival-like celebrations. See videos

Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan's iconic movie Indian was re-released amid much fanfare on Friday. Producer AM Rathnam gave the film a huge release across the country, especially in South India. The film has been released in its original Tamil version, along with its Telugu-dubbed version, Bharateeyudu.

Fans gave Indian a grand welcome in cinemas, celebrating and creating a festival-like environment. Videos of audiences enjoying the film in theatres have surfaced online.

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The producers have brought the film back to theatres after 28 years to capitalize on the growing anticipation for the sequel. Director Shankar has written and directed Indian 2, with Kamal reprising his iconic role as Indian thatha.

Indian, first released in 1996, revolves around an elderly man's war on corruption. Kamal's character, Senapathy, is a freedom fighter who fought British forces using violence. He is forced to take up arms once again when his life is shattered by the growing menace of bribery. He instills fear in government officials who seek bribes to perform their duties by killing them without mercy. The film was a smash hit back then, solidifying Shankar's reputation across the Indian film industry.

ALSO READ: Shankar teases Indian 2: Kamal Haasan's performance will 'set the screen on fire'

The trend of re-releases in Tamil Nadu has gained significant traction, and Rathnam has benefited from it recently. His 20-year-old production, Ghilli, was re-released globally to a resounding response. The film, starring Thalapathy Vijay and Trisha in the lead roles, became a box office sensation, becoming the highest-grossing movie in India's history of re-releases.

Indian 2 is set to hit the screens on July 12 worldwide. The original film ends with Indian thatha promising to come back when corruption goes out of control in the country.

Bankrolled by Lyca Productions, Indian 2 also stars Siddharth, S. J. Suryah, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Bobby Simha, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Gulshan Grover, and Samuthirakani.

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