The Return of a Classic: Bollywood’s “Sholay” Gets a Refresh

Pop the popcorn and dust off your old Bollywood movie posters because the golden blockbuster, "Sholay," is making a comeback in a big way! For the first time ever, fans will experience the full, uncut, and restored version of the film at the Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Italy on June 27. Get ready to relive or discover for the first time, the breathtaking open-air screening that will take place in Piazza Maggiore, in Bologna.

Masterfully penned by the writing wonder-duo Salim-Javed, "Sholay" is a delightful cocktail of action, thriller, revenge drama and yes, chuckles and tears too, all harmoniously blended with R.D. Burman’s breathtaking soundtrack. Inspiration for the film comes from dusty classics of the wild-west and samurai genre, like Sergio Leone’s “Once Upon a Time in the West,” Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai,” and John Sturges’ “The Magnificent Seven.”

Witness anew the remarkable journey of ex-police officer Thakur Baldev Singh. He recruits quite the pair, the mesmerizing Veeru and thoughtful Jai, two unlikely rogues, for an epic mission to capture feared village bully, Gabbar Singh. It's a star-studded affair starring Bollywood icons like Sanjeev Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, and the spellbinding performance of Amjad Khan as Gabbar Singh.

This laborious and meticulous restoration has been a dedicated three-year-long collaboration between Film Heritage Foundation and Sippy Films Pvt. Ltd. "Sholay," previously known for its impressive five-year run at Mumbai’s Minerva cinema, is back in the form its creators originally intended. The recognition it's garnered as the greatest Indian film, as rated by the British Film Institute in 2002, or labelled “Film of the Millennium” by BBC India in 1999, only proves why this movie deserves to be brought back to the spotlight.

Amitabh Bachchan, one of the film's leading stars, fondly reflects, “Some things in life remain permanently etched in your mind. ‘Sholay’ is one such film.” The film wasn’t an immediate hit but its fortune quickly turned, dominating the Indian box office for 19 years post-release. It has since become a part of Indian pop culture, its unforgettable dialogues are still memorized and quoted today.

The restoration process was no easy task. The original camera negative was significantly deteriorated, requiring the specialists to work primarily with interpositives from London and Mumbai. Their hard work bore fruit when a crucial find in London included the original ending and two deleted scenes for the first time.

Shehzad Sippy of Sippy Films said about the project, “It’s been a labour of love to resurrect the film and this is a tribute to the vision and the legacy of my grandfather G.P. Sippy.” The technical process of bringing it back to life was quite an adventure involving veteran cinematographer Kamlakar Rao's expertise and materials from both Mumbai and London.

The premiere of the refreshed version of "Sholay" at the Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival is bound to be a cinematic feast eagerly awaited by enthusiasts from all across the globe. This festival has carved a niche for itself, known for showcasing restored classics and the vibrant Italian locale only adds to the charm.

So, mark your calendars and prepare to experience the first 70mm film of India's cinema history with "Boston-quality" sound, all set to make a groundbreaking return. It's a sight-and-sound masterpiece that, as Dharmendra puts it is, the “8th wonder of the world,” ready to be discovered by a whole new generation.