Director Regrets 'Rudraksh' Editing Changes

Filmmaker Mani Shankar looks back at his 2004 spiritual-action saga, Rudraksh, as it marks 22 years since its release. Shankar admits that altering the film's original edit against his judgment was a significant mistake that impacted its commercial performance. He views Rudraksh as an ambitious project that was ahead of its time, attempting to redefine Hindi cinema with a modest budget of ₹5 crore.

The film is recognized as a precursor to modern scriptural historical fantasy films, featuring advanced concepts like fantasy worlds and levitating characters. Despite not achieving box office success, Rudraksh's visual fabric left a lasting impression, inspiring a new genre of surreal CG-based filmmaking in India. Shankar believes that while the film failed commercially, it succeeded as a filmmaker's sincere attempt to push cinematic boundaries.