Are We Out of Stories? Why Old Films Are Back & Bigger Than Ever

Hello readers,

I'm pretty sure you have gone to the theatre at least once to watch an old film in the last year.

I have done it myself.

Bollywood isn’t just releasing films anymore.

It’s re-releasing them.

And not in some “let’s celebrate 20 years of this classic” kind of way.

We’re talking full-blown box office comeback arcs.

In the past few months, films like Sanam Teri Kasam, Laila Majnu, and Tumbbad — all of which were either ignored, misunderstood, or under-marketed during their original runs — have returned to theatres and made serious money.

Let me break that down:

▶ Sanam Teri Kasam made ₹9 crore in 2016.

On re-release this year? ₹53 crore.

▶ Tumbbad made around ₹13.5 crore when it first dropped.

It re-released in 2024 and raked in ₹21.57 crore.

▶ Laila Majnu, once a quiet blip, is now a full-on Gen Z heartbreak anthem on reels and in theatres.

And it’s not just these films.

Piku, Masaan, Rockstar, Tamasha - all are getting theatrical re-runs.

Quietly. Softly. But they’re happening.

Analyzing the Trend

Several factors contribute to the success of these re-releases:

• Cult Following: Both films developed dedicated fan bases post their original releases, primarily through word-of-mouth and streaming platforms.​
  

• Strategic Timing: Re-releases were scheduled around periods like Valentine's Day, aligning with the romantic themes of the films and maximizing audience interest.​
  

• Limited Competition: Re-releases often face less competition, allowing them to capture a larger share of the box office.​
  

• Nostalgia Factor: Audiences often seek comfort in familiar stories, and re-releases tap into this sentiment effectively.

Is This a Good Thing for the Indian Cinema?

Honestly? I have mixed feelings.

On one hand — I love that these films are getting the love they deserved.

On the other — it makes me wonder…

Are we running out of new stories to tell?

Or maybe not “running out” but playing it safe?

Because if the most exciting thing in theatres right now is a 9-year-old film finally getting its flowers… something’s off, right?

We have to ask:

Where are the new films that will be re-released in 2035?

Are we making those today?

Re-releases Aren’t New, But This Moment Is

Re-releases aren’t some hot new thing.

DDLJ has been playing every day at Maratha Mandir since before memes were a thing.

Every once in a while, a Sholay or a Dil Chahta Hai would make a comeback.

But that was legacy cinema. Icon territory.

What’s different now is that non-legacy films — the ones that failed, the ones we slept on — are getting a second shot because audiences willed it into existence.

That’s not just a box office trend.

That’s a cultural shift.

What Does This Mean For the Future of Indian Cinema?

Re-releases will keep rising, especially for emotionally resonant, well-shot, medium-budget films with cult followings.

Theatres might carve out a space for “curated classics” not just Marvel and masala.

And for filmmakers? This might be a lesson: just because your film flops at first doesn’t mean it’s over.

Sometimes, your best audience isn’t in theatres on Day 1.

Sometimes, they’re on Instagram five years later, waiting for you to come back.

See you next week,

Vipul Agrawal

Leeds1888

P.S. If there’s a film you’d kill to see re-released on the big screen, reply to this. Let’s crowdsource our own dream theatre weekend.