- By Sidhi Agarwall
- Mon, 23 Jun 2025 02:32 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Sholay, a 1975 Bollywood cult classic movie, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra in lead roles, is set to return to the big screen with a unique presentation. For its 50th anniversary, the timeless classic will premiere globally on June 27 at Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival. This marks a joint project between Film Heritage Foundation and Sippy Films Pvt. Ltd., aiming to present Sholay in its original, uncut form, just as it was initially intended.
Sholay will be screened at Piazza Maggiore, an open-air venue which is renowned for showcasing film classics. The restored version of the movie includes the original ending where Thakur kills Gabbar Singh, a scene removed from the initial theatrical release by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The special screening will also feature previously unreleased deleted scenes. Meanwhile, Il Cinema Ritrovato is scheduled to take place in Bologna, Italy, from June 21 to 29.
Amitabh Bachchan, who played the character of Jai, according to a report in SCREEN stated, “At the time I had no idea that it would be a watershed for Indian cinema. Its dramatic change in fortunes from being declared an unsuccessful venture, to its record-breaking box office run was an emotional rollercoaster for all of us… I hope that even 50 years later, the film will capture the imagination of new audiences across the world."
On the other hand, Dharmendra, who played the character Veeru, outlined Sholay as ‘the eighth wonder of the world’. The 89-year-old reportedly said, “I am thrilled to hear that the film is being restored, and I am sure it will have the same success as it had 50 years ago. Who can forget the dialogues of Salim-Javed and the direction of Ramesh Sippy? So many scenes have gone down in the history of Indian cinema, and every character became a star. But the real hero was the coin… My favourite scenes were the tanki scene, the scene in the temple, and so many others, but the most powerful scene I feel was the death of Jai, which is still etched in my mind."
About Sholay Movie
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Helmed by the legendary duo Salim-Javed, Sholay is a masterful blend of action, thriller, revenge drama, comedy and tragedy. The movie’s iconic music is scored by R D Burman, and it also featured Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bachchan and Hema Malini, among others, in supporting roles. The 1975 film drew inspiration from Western classics including Sergio Leone’s ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’, Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Seven Samurai’, and John Sturges’ ‘The Magnificent Seven’.