Page 36 - The Indian EYE 091925

The Indian Eye
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36 SEPTEMBER 19, 2024
SHOLAY, IN ALL ITS GLORY,

CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AT TIFF

RENU MEHTA
Toronto

eleased in 1975, Ramesh Sip-
py’s Sholay featured a stellar
Rcast including Dharmendra,
Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini,
Jaya Bhaduri, Sanjeev Kumar and
Amjad Khan as the dreaded Gabbar.
The film ran continuously in Indian
theatres for five years — a testament
to its immense popularity. Audiences
embraced it wholeheartedly, mem-
orizing and repeating familiar dia-
logues, singing along to its unforget-
table songs, and returning to watch it
again and again. Never did director
Ramesh Sippy imagine that the iconic
film he brought to Indian audiences
so many years earler would still be
celebrated and cheered five decades
later, this time, in Toronto.
The auditorium at Roy Thom-
son Hall echoed with anticipation,
affection, and applause on Septem-
ber 6, as beloved characters lit up the
big screen once again. Laughter and
cheers erupted as the audience re-
lived familiar scenes — “Kitne Aadmi
The?” and “Tumhara Naam Kya Hai,
Basanti?” — joyfully repeating the
legendary lines penned by the cele-
brated writing duo Salim-Javed.
“The film is a synthesis of every-
thing we love — the romance, the ac- (Left to right) Kiran Juneja, Ramesh Sippy, Bobby Deol and Shivendra Singh Dungarpur attend the premiere of “Sholay” during the 2025 Toronto
tion,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO of International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, Ontario (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
TIFF, as he introduced the film.
Director Ramesh Sippy, accom-
panied by his wife, was present for Mumbai’s film industry. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur from the The new restoration features
the special screening. “It doesn’t feel like 50 years have Foundation. “The tragedy of Indian two previously deleted scenes from
“Hello Toronto… 50 years of passed since Sholay was first released cinema is that we’ve lost so much of the original 1975 version, along with
TIFF and 50 years of Sholay. I can’t in 1975. It’s as if we watched it just our heritage. But miraculously, we the film’s original ending — in which
believe it, but here we are,” he said, yesterday,” said Deol, greeted by found the original sound reels in the Gabbar Singh is killed by Thakur,
visibly moved. “I’m so happy to be cheers, applause, and whistles. “It’s Sippy office. Every detail was intact, portrayed by actor Sanjeev Kumar,
here. I had a wonderful team — a so heartwarming to see you all gath- even the smallest sound effects like the using his spiked shoes. This ending
wonderful cast, brilliant writers, and ered here, watching the film as if for toss of the coin. The power of the orig- was altered in the 1975 release fol-
gifted music directors. Please ac- the first time. Papa would have loved inal soundtrack still resonates today.” lowing objections from the Film Cen-
cept my humble gratitude. I’m over- to be here, but he sends his love to The audio was restored from the sor Board.
whelmed to be here, and I hope you each and every one of you. Enjoy the original sound negative and magnet- “I’ve seen how audiences react-
enjoy the film all over again.” show!” ic soundtrack, preserved by the Film ed and loved the film, but to witness
Actor Bobby Deol also attend- The film was meticulously re- Heritage Foundation. the exact same reactions, at the exact
ed the event, representing his father stored in 4K in 2025 by the Film Her- “All the versions you’ve seen on same moments, 50 years later… it’s
Dharmendra, the beloved lead actor itage Foundation, in collaboration Amazon or elsewhere don’t feature beyond imagination. And for that, I
of Sholay and a towering figure in with Sippy Films. RD Burman’s original soundtrack. have audiences like you to thank,”
Indian cinema during his prime in “It was a real challenge,” shared This is the only version that does.” said Sippy.

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