Then, a low rumble. The shelves of tapes shook. The security feed flickered. And for a split second, Vinod saw a reflection in the glass cabinet behind his father: not one reflection, but ten. Ten different faces. A bald scientist. A South Indian spy. A furious Brahmin. A cowherd. A Japanese geisha. A Muslim traveler. A Sikh rockstar. A former US president. A little girl. And a giant, shadowy figure with too many arms.

Sixteen years after its release, Dasavatharam still commands respect. Here is why the demand for a high-quality version remains high: