The Punch of Shiva documentary: Chiranjeevi, Prabhas, Rajamouli on RGV classic
As Telugu cinema’s landmark film ‘Shiva’ is all set to have its lavish 4K Dolby Atmos re-release on 14th November 2025, the makers have unveiled a special documentary titled ‘The Punch of Shiva’.
As Telugu cinema’s iconic classic ‘Shiva’ is set for a lavish 4K Dolby Atmos re-release on November 14, 2025, the makers have launched a special documentary titled ‘The Punch of Shiva’, celebrating the film that forever changed the language and approach of Indian filmmaking. The documentary features some of India’s most respected actors and directors, each reflecting on how Ram Gopal Varma’s directorial debut left an indelible mark on their careers and the industry at large.
The team shared the video on
Here is the post:
The documentary features an extraordinary line-up – from stalwarts like Chiranjeevi, Mani Ratnam, SS Rajamouli and Ashutosh Gowariker to modern icons like Prabhas, Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun, Jr NTR, Sandeep Reddy Vanga, Nag Ashwin and Kiccha Sudeep. Each of them remembers not only watching ‘Shiva’ but also feeling it as a cinematic shock that redefined rebellion, genre and sound for an entire generation.
Chiranjeevi expresses the film’s historical importance in one sentence: “Like AD and BC, Telugu cinema is before ‘Siva’ and after ‘Siva’. It is a very iconic film.” His reference to the famous bicycle-chain fight scene, now part of pop culture memory, shows how RGV’s visual grammar became a cinematic language in its own right.
Prabhas recalled his first experience with the film as a child, saying: “When I was in fifth grade my father took me to watch the film. The smoke comes with the title, and I used to say – ‘What a film this is!'” The astonishment in his voice reflects what an entire generation of audiences felt watching Nagarjuna’s intense portrayal of anger and rebellion.
Mahesh Babu recalled how the film became an obsession: “I saw it for the first time when I was 13, and after the first viewing I couldn’t forget it. I watched it again two days later and watched it again and again. I must have watched it more than ten times.” His words underline the repetition value of ‘Shiva’ – a quality that few films retain over the decades.
Allu Arjun put the film’s legacy in perspective: “It’s been 36 years since ‘Siva’, and this one film changed the entire direction of Telugu cinema.”
Actor-director Kiccha Sudeep said that the film’s memorability defines its greatness: “If you remember the film scene by scene, frame by frame, you know you have seen a great film.”
The director, who grew up admiring the film, also shared how it influenced his art. SS Rajamouli admitted, “I checked how many build-up shots there were in ‘Shiva’ and literally recreated it to shoot in my student film.” For Rajamouli, RGV’s film was not just an influence but a template for cinematic rhythms.
Nag Ashwin described his first viewing experience as transformative: “When I saw the film for the first time, I felt I had never seen anything like it before.”
Here is the video:
Sandeep Reddy Vanga, known for his intense characters, said that the film had “extreme impact”. He told that “The presentation of the hero, the introduction sequence is something unique about cinema. No matter how many new films come, the newness that ‘Shiva’ has given, cannot be given by any other film.”
Ashutosh Gowariker, known for his elaborate and emotional filmmaking, described ‘Shiv’ in broad terms: “It’s not a film; it’s a jolt in my stomach. There’s something electric about it.” Mani Ratnam’s words expressed the awe still held by many for Varma’s debut film: “It’s amazing for a first-time director to have such a command over so many aspects of the craft.”
Junior NTR’s reflection placed the film in a generational context: “Sometimes, a film breaks routine, breaks boundaries, and becomes a trendsetter. These films come once in a generation. ‘Shiva’ is one such film. To this day, if we look back, we can proudly say that a generation of cinema was started with this film.”
Nani added to that sentiment, saying, “‘Siva’ is not just the name of a Telugu film – it is the name of a generational change in Telugu cinema.”
Here is the trailer:
Directed by Ram Gopal Varma and starring Nagarjuna Akkineni, Amala Akkineni, Raghuvaran and Tanikella Bharani, ‘Siva’ broke every conventional rule when it released in 1989. With Ilaiyaraaja’s pulsating score, handheld camera movements and raw sound design, it marked the birth of a new cinematic realism that inspired countless filmmakers across India.
Now, the 4K Dolby Atmos re-release aims to bring that same revolutionary energy to a new generation of viewers. The restoration, accompanied by music engineered using Artificial Intelligence, promises an experience that retains the intensity of the original while enhancing the technical brilliance.
