Muzaffar Ali’s cinematic masterpiece ‘Umrao Jaan’, starring Rekha in a career-defining role, is all set to grace the silver screen once again, this time in stunning 4K resolution.

The restored version will begin screening in select PVR INOX cinemas across the country from June 27, reigniting the magic of the 1981 classic for a new generation of moviegoers.

As reported by PTI, the iconic film has been restored by the NFDC-NFAI (National Film Development Corporation – National Film Archive of India) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s National Film Heritage Mission.

The restoration process, which spanned almost a year, was undertaken in close collaboration with Ali himself. “Due to the fragile nature of celluloid, we restored the film using a 35mm release print preserved at NFAI for decades,” shared Prakash Magdum, MD, NFDC. “Muzaffar Ali personally supervised the colour grading of the 4K version, ensuring the restored film retains its original texture and soul.”

To celebrate the re-release, the filmmaker will also unveil a limited-edition coffee table book offering a rare glimpse behind the scenes of ‘Umrao Jaan’. Featuring never-before-seen photographs, intricate costume sketches, calligraphy, poetry, and intimate anecdotes, the book serves as both a collector’s item and a tribute to the film’s enduring artistic vision.

Reflecting on the journey, Muzaffar Ali said, “Umrao Jaan was not just a film, it was a journey into the soul of a lost culture, a forgotten tehzeeb. Through her pain, poetry, and grace, we tried to resurrect the elegance of an era where love and longing spoke in verse. I had actors who brought a lot of heft to their characters, and then there was Rekha, who lived Umrao Jaan and truly immortalised it. I am thrilled that the film is back on the big screen for a whole new generation to discover a time and culture that’s very much a part of our being.”

Rekha, who won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role, said, “ ‘Umrao Jaan’ is not just a film I acted in—she lives within me, breathes through me, even now. At the time, none of us could have imagined the timelessness of the film, the way it would gently etch itself into the soul of Indian cinema. To see it return to the big screen is like watching an old love letter being opened by a new generation. My heart is full.”

First released in 1981, ‘Umrao Jaan’ is a lyrical exploration of love, longing and loss, set against the backdrop of 19th-century Lucknow. Rekha’s performance as the courtesan-poetess remains one of the most iconic portrayals in Indian film history.