The film Sholay was first screened in Indian cinemas about fifty years ago.
This film is still one of the most famous films in Indian cinema.
The complete 1975 version of this film, directed by Ramesh Sippy, was recently screened at the Cinema Ritrovato Film Festival in Bologna, Italy, showing all the scenes that had been removed from previous screenings due to censorship.
Sholay was inspired by classic Western and Samurai films. This 204-minute film is a story of the battle between good and evil, starring actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, and Amjad Khan in the unforgettable role of Gabbar Singh.
When the film was first screened, it remained on screen for five consecutive years at the Minerva Cinema in Mumbai.
The film was a cultural phenomenon in India, and its dialogues were used in wedding ceremonies and political speeches. Dharmendra, who plays the role of a small-time crook opposite Amitabh in the film, recently said: “Sholay is the eighth wonder of the world.” Amitabh Bachchan also said: “Acting in this film was an unforgettable experience for me, although at that time I didn’t know that this film would have a historical role in Indian cinema.”
