Sticky reels, ruined negatives, torn frames: How the near-impossible restoration Nagarjuna’s classic Siva was achieved
When the first scene of Ram Gopal Varma’s Siva, restored in 4K, hit the screens, it felt as if someone had transported the Nagarjuna and RGV classic into the modern day. The restoration, complete with renewed audio and video, was done for the film’s grand theatrical re-release this year. But it wasn’t an easy task, as the team behind it revealed in a masterclass at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. Nagarjuna in a still from the 4K restored version of Siva. The film was restored in 4K by Annapurna Studios, the production house that originally released the film back in 1989. Ram Gopal Varma’s directorial debut was brought back to life by CV Rao, Chief Technology Officer at the studio. At IFFI 2025, Nagarjuna and Rao took the stage to talk about the ‘near-impossible’ seven-year journey the film took. C.V Rao & Akkineni Nagarjuna at the Masterclass at the 56th IFFI. Nagarjuna and CV Rao talk about Siva restoration Speaking at IFFI, where the new version of the film was …









