Inherited a peetal piece, or rediscovered one behind the pressure cooker? Dull does not mean done. Revival follows four steps.
Wash first. Warm water, mild soap, soft sponge, inside the lining and out. Years of cupboard dust leave with one proper wash. Dry fully.
Assess the lining in daylight. This is the decision point. Grey and mottled: fine, cook away. Pale bare metal across most of the base: the piece needs a re-tin before regular service, and until then it serves as decoration.
Polish the outside only if you want brightness. Tamarind-and-ash or a gentle commercial polish brings shine back; skipping it costs nothing functionally. Never polish the lining.
Rehome it properly. Open shelf, dry spot, daily reach rather than buried depth. Pieces go dull in cupboards and stay well on counters.
That is the whole resurrection. Peetal's tolerance for neglect is one of its quiet virtues; the metal waits years without complaint and returns to service after an hour of attention.
Dull peetal vessel on a counter with washing cloth and lemon beside it, window light behind.