The restored version of Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala-starrer ‘1942: A Love Story’, which returned to Indian theatres on August 21, will now be screened only at select cinema halls due to technical limitations, the makers said on Monday.
The romantic drama has undergone an 8K restoration and features Dolby 5.1 surround sound. However, the makers said several cinemas are not technically equipped to project the restoration in the quality for which it was prepared.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films, in a post on its official social media handle, said the decision was taken to ensure audiences receive the intended big-screen experience rather than compromise on quality.
The production house said the restoration was undertaken over more than two years. More than 300 hours were spent specifically on remastering the film’s iconic soundtracks, while the overall restoration involved more than 150 people and over 9,000 human hours of work.
The makers said the restoration was designed to be future-proof, allowing audiences to revisit the film in high quality as cinema technology evolves. However, they found that some theatres currently lack the technical capability required to project the restored version as intended.
The film will therefore continue its theatrical run exclusively at handpicked cinemas that meet the required technical standards. The production house has also released a list of theatres where the restored version will be screened.
Originally released in 1994, ‘1942: A Love Story’ stars Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala in the lead roles and is known for its music and romantic storyline.