New Delhi, February 28 "In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones", the 1989 cult classic film directed by Pradip Kishen and written by noted writer Arundhati Roy, is set to have a theatrical release on March 13, the Film Heritage Foundation has announced.
The National Award-winning film has been meticulously restored in 4K by the Film Heritage Foundation, ensuring that contemporary audiences can experience the film in its finest possible quality on the big screen, a press release said.
The restored version, which was recently screened at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival under its Classics segment, will be released in 14 cities and 19 cinemas.
To commemorate the occasion, Kishen, along with members of the cast and crew, will present special screenings alongside Film Heritage Foundation Director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur on March 13 at Inox, Nariman Point in Mumbai, and on March 14 at PVR Plaza CP in Delhi.
"If not for the Film Heritage Foundation and Shivendra Singh Dungarpur's years of dedicated effort and love for the film, and if not for Pradip's carefully preserved materials, 'In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones' would not have had the opportunity to be shown to the public before being archived," Roy said in a statement.
"In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones" was partly inspired by Roy's experiences studying at the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi. The Booker Prize-winning author had written the screenplay and also played a major role in the TV movie, which was directed by her then-husband Kishen.
This was the first screenplay by Roy, who also worked with Kishen on his first film, the 1985 colonial-period drama “Massey Sahib”. The duo later collaborated on “Electric Moon” in 1992, with Roy again writing the screenplay and Kishen directing.
Besides Roy, “In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones” also featured Arjun Raina and Roshan Seth in lead roles. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and acclaimed actor Manoj Bajpayee, who were both struggling in the Delhi theatre scene at the time, appeared in small but significant roles.
Dungarpur said, "It was not just a restoration, but a resurrection of a film that had disappeared."
"It reaffirmed our foundation's commitment not just to preserve and restore films, but to ensure that they reach the public. I am sure that audiences around India will enjoy this glimpse of campus life from the 1970s, as did the international audience in Berlin. Given the buzz the film has already created around the world, I know that ‘Annie’ is going to have a wonderful second life – playing in cinemas and festivals in India and around the world."
Kishen added, "I retired from filmmaking in 1994 because none of the 3 films I had made had been distributed and exhibited, and I didn't think I would be able to find the money to make more films. So it's a dream come true that a small film I made in 1988, which was shown just once late at night on Doordarshan, has been beautifully restored by the Film Heritage Foundation and premiered in the Classics Section of the Berlinale."
"What's even more gratifying for me is that this film is now going to be released in cinemas across India. I'm hugely impressed by the work that the Film Heritage Foundation is doing, not just in conserving Indian cinema, but also in restoring films that might otherwise have been forgotten."
In addition, limited copies of Penguin Books' new edition of the original screenplay of "In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones", written by Roy, will be available for purchase at the special screenings. These copies will be signed by the director, cast and crew, offering audiences a rare collectible that celebrates the film's enduring legacy.
