Arundhati Roy’s 1989 Cult Film ‘In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones’ Restored for Berlinale 2026 Premiere and Indian Theatrical Release

The 1989 television film ‘In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones,’ written by Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy and directed by Pradip Krishen, is being restored and revived nearly four decades after its single broadcast on Doordarshan. Set in late-1980s Delhi at the School of Planning and Architecture, the film follows a group of final-year architecture students, centering on the eccentric Anand ‘Annie’ Grover, who faces repeated failures and harbors quirky ideas like planting trees fertilized by train waste. It features a young Shah Rukh Khan in his screen debut, with Roy appearing as the bold Radha. The film captures the irreverent, satirical essence of campus life, blending English with Hindi slang, mocking bureaucracy, authority figures, and institutional rigidity while portraying youthful idealism, debates on architecture and society, and carefree defiance. It won two National Awards but faded into obscurity, gaining cult status through bootlegs among students and cinephiles for its authentic depiction of English-speaking Indian youth on the eve of economic liberalization. The Film Heritage Foundation led the meticulous 4K restoration, addressing faded colors and audio issues, after discovering old materials. A restored version will premiere in the Berlinale Classics section at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival, followed by low-priced theatrical releases in India in March to reach younger audiences. Experts note its enduring relevance, as themes of hierarchy, institutional frustration, and subtle rebellion against conformity remain pertinent in contemporary India, delivered through a light, celebratory tone rather than overt anger.