An interview with Farhan AkhtarQuote:
Dil Chahta Hai is getting digitalized. What's the difference between the original and the digital version of Dil Chahta Hai?
The original version was a straight transfer of the negative to make a DVD, where as the latest thing is that we have recently done a high definition transfer, by which we have cleaned the entire print on a Digital Intermediate (DI). So, now, the resultant picture is a lot cleaner without any marks, scratches or dust. We have also redone the picture, remastered the sound as per today's available technology. So, it's just a fresher picture and sound.
So, does that mean that all the films from the Excel stable will be digital?
Subsequently, after Dil Chahta Hai, Don, Lakshya and Honeymoon Travels were on digital process. We could not do Dil Chahta Hai on a digital, coz' this technology was not available then.
Whose idea was it to revive this film through digital prints?
All the negatives have a certain shelf life. So, when the negative is kept in the lab, even under the best of conditions, there will be a certain effect of aging on the negative. So, the best way to preserve your film in its best form is to be able to do it digitally. And since Dil Chahta Hai is a very precious film for all of us, we thought of doing it the digital way, coz' if we ever need the film even 50 -75 years down the line,
we will have the film then, with high standards.
The digitalized version is getting released in Germany.
As of now, it's being released only in the German language in Germany. And when the re-release of Dil Chahta Hai DVD happens overseas as well as in India, we will be releasing the high-definition version of the same.