After five decades, one of India’s most beloved films, Sholay, is making a grand comeback – and this time, it’s even more powerful. The restored version of the 1975 classic will premiere at the Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna, Italy, with a version that includes the original ending and never-seen-before scenes.
🎬 A Timeless Tale, Now Fully Restored
Directed by Ramesh Sippy, Sholay was released in 1975 and went on to become a landmark in Indian cinema. The newly restored cut, running over three hours long, has been painstakingly rebuilt to reflect the director’s original vision – including the controversial ending that was removed due to censorship.
For the first time, viewers will see Gabbar Singh, the infamous bandit played by Amjad Khan, meet a grim end at the hands of Thakur Baldev Singh (Sanjeev Kumar), as was originally intended.
🌟 Star Power That Still Shines
The film features some of Bollywood’s biggest legends –
👉 Amitabh Bachchan as Jai
👉 Dharmendra as Veeru
👉 Hema Malini as Basanti
👉 Jaya Bhaduri as Radha
👉 Sanjeev Kumar as Thakur
👉 Amjad Khan as Gabbar Singh
The story follows Jai and Veeru, two small-time crooks hired by a retired police officer to bring down a feared bandit. Set in the fictional village of Ramgarh, it’s a powerful mix of action, drama, friendship, and justice – a film that still connects with generations.
📽️ How the Film Was Saved
The journey to restore Sholay wasn’t easy. The original 70mm prints were damaged beyond repair. But in 2022, Shehzad Sippy, son of the director, contacted the Film Heritage Foundation in Mumbai. A miracle happened when they discovered original 35mm negatives sitting untouched in a warehouse.
Even more footage was found in the UK, and with help from the British Film Institute and Italy’s L’Immagine Ritrovata, the team brought Sholay back to life in stunning detail.
🗣️ From Box Office Flop to Cultural Icon
Believe it or not, Sholay didn’t impress critics at first. It was called too long, too violent, and even “confused.” But within weeks, something changed. Word spread. Audiences returned again and again. Soon, theatres were packed, and dialogues from the film were being quoted across the country.
🎧 Records of RD Burman’s music and the film’s dialogues sold in huge numbers.
🗣️ Lines like “Kitne aadmi the?” and “Basanti, in kutton ke samne mat nachna” became legendary.
The movie ended up running for over five years at Mumbai’s Minerva theatre – a feat that’s nearly impossible to match.
đź’¬ Why It Still Matters
Sholay isn’t just a film. It’s part of India’s cultural DNA. It’s been spoofed in ads, quoted in speeches, and passed down across generations.
Reflecting on its legacy, Amitabh Bachchan said it best:
“It’s about the victory of good over evil—and poetic justice in three hours. You and I may never get that in real life.”
🎉 The Comeback Starts in Italy
The restored version’s premiere at one of Europe’s most prestigious film festivals marks a major moment in Indian cinema history. With international interest growing, we might soon see Sholay re-released in theatres and on global streaming platforms.
As film distributor Shyam Shroff once said:
“Like the British Empire, the sun never sets on Sholay.”
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