Highlights
The restored Sholay will now make its Australian debut, offering viewers a chance to experience the film as originally envisioned by director Ramesh Sippy.
Mumbai, Sep 24: The iconic Bollywood classic Sholay, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra, is set to captivate audiences once again as its restored 4K version will be screened at the Indian Film Festival of Sydney (IFFS), running from October 9 to 11.
Following its world premiere earlier this month at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the restored Sholay will now make its Australian debut, offering viewers a chance to experience the film as originally envisioned by director Ramesh Sippy.
The restoration, led by the Film Heritage Foundation in collaboration with Sippy Films, was a painstaking process spanning several years. It involved locating a rare colour reversal print in London and recovering original camera negatives and long-lost deleted scenes from a warehouse in Mumbai. Most notably, the restored version includes the film’s original ending, where Thakur avenges his family by killing the notorious dacoit Gabbar Singh—a sequence previously altered in the theatrical release.
Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange expressed her pride in presenting the film:
“Presenting the restored Sholay in Sydney is a moment of immense pride for us. This isn’t just the revival of a classic, it’s the revival of a piece of our collective cultural history,” she said. “The fact that audiences will now experience the film with the original ending makes it even more significant, as it honours Ramesh Sippy’s first vision in its entirety.”
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Directed by Ramesh Sippy, Sholay tells the story of Veeru and Jai, two small-time criminals hired by a retired police officer to capture the ruthless bandit Gabbar Singh. The film also stars Hema Malini and Jaya Bhaduri as Basanti and Radha, the love interests of the protagonists. Shot in the rugged terrain of Ramanagara, Karnataka, the production spanned over two and a half years beginning in October 1973.
Upon its initial release, Sholay faced lukewarm reviews and modest box office returns. However, strong word-of-mouth propelled it to legendary status, with the film running for over five years at Mumbai’s Minerva Theatre and breaking records across India. It also found success abroad, particularly in the Soviet Union, and remains one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time when adjusted for inflation.
Often hailed as one of the greatest and most influential Indian films ever made, Sholay was re-released in 3D format in 2014 and continues to resonate with audiences across generations.
The screening at IFFS promises to be a highlight of the festival, celebrating not just cinematic excellence but the enduring legacy of Indian storytelling.
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