Will Big B and Dharmendra's ‘Sholay’ Have Its World Premiere of Restored Cut in Italy?

Mumbai, June 23 (NationPress) The iconic Bollywood film “Sholay”, featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra, is set to receive a grand homage on its 50th anniversary, with its fully restored, uncut version making its world debut at Italy’s Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival on June 27.

“Some experiences in life remain permanently imprinted in your memory. ‘Sholay’ is one such film,” Bachchan remarked, as reported by variety.com.

“Filming this movie was an unforgettable journey, but back then, I had no inkling it would become a pivotal moment for Indian cinema. The transformation from being labeled a failure to achieving record-breaking box office success was an emotional rollercoaster for all involved.”

Dharmendra expressed that ‘Sholay’ is akin to the eighth wonder of the world.

“I am ecstatic to learn about the restoration, and I believe it will resonate with audiences just as it did 50 years ago. Who could forget the brilliant dialogues by Salim-Javed and the direction by Ramesh Sippy? Countless scenes have become legendary in Indian cinema, turning every character into a star. However, the true hero was the coin,” Dharmendra noted.

He explained: “Many are unaware that I was offered the roles of Gabbar and Thakur, but I felt a strong connection to Veeru, as he mirrors my personality. The filming was incredibly enjoyable.”

“Some of my favorite moments were the water tank scene, the temple scene, and others, but the death of Jai is the most impactful scene that remains vivid in my memory.”

The 1975 film directed by Ramesh Sippy will be screened on the festival’s expansive open-air screen in Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore, allowing audiences to witness the original ending along with previously deleted scenes that were omitted from the widely released theatrical version, as reported by variety.com.

Written by the esteemed duo Salim-Javed, “Sholay” narrates the tale of former police officer Thakur Baldev Singh, who recruits two small-time rogues, Veeru and Jai, to capture the infamous dacoit Gabbar Singh, who terrorizes the village of Ramgarh.

The narrative intricately weaves together action, thriller, revenge, comedy, romance, and tragedy, all complemented by R.D. Burman’s musical score. The film features Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, and Amjad Khan.

The restoration, a three-year project between Film Heritage Foundation and Sippy Films Pvt. Ltd., revives the multi-starrer to its intended form. The film was recognized as the greatest Indian film ever made in a 2002 British Film Institute poll and was dubbed “Film of the Millennium” by BBC India in 1999.

“After three years of hard work, we have successfully located the original ending and some deleted scenes that the world will experience for the first time at this grand premiere,” stated producer Shehzad Sippy of Sippy Films.

“This project has been a labor of love to resurrect the film, serving as a tribute to the vision and legacy of my grandfather G.P. Sippy.”

The technical restoration was intricate, utilizing materials from both Mumbai warehouses and London’s Iron Mountain facility, with consultations from veteran cinematographer Kamlakar Rao, who had worked on the original film, to ensure the proper 2.2:1 aspect ratio for the 70mm format.