Sholay (1975)

To me, this movie is perfection.

Absolutely the worst movie.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

This is an old rehash of the Western in an Indian setting. This film has something of a huge following in India and despite being more than 40 years old it still runs in many theaters of the country. The good points are that it looks good and the dialogues are snappy. Characters are good but you'd need an Indian mindset to appreciate the nuances. The main villain especially is well cast. But all said and done I don't think the film really holds up and at over 3hours long is quite a chore to sit through. Still, for those who wish to get started on the incredibly prolific Indian film Industry Sholay is a good start.

I completed the top 250 during the last couple of weeks, which meant that I had to see a lot of Indian movies. Though I did not become a fan of Bollywood cinema, there were a few good movies among them. Udaan is a very strong movie, and Sholay is also very enjoyable.Sholay borrows a lot from established movies, mainly westerns. The family murder scene was very similar to a scene in Once Upon a Time in the West. The action is technically not as good as Hollywood (the blood looks ridiculous), but it doesn't prevent me from enjoying the movie. It contains a few classic elements (like the coin with heads on both sides), that we've seen before, so it doesn't surprise anymore.The film makers changed to movie enough to Indian values and style, such that this wasn't an unnecessary remake of the classic westerns. I thought the two main characters were very likable, there war some plot twists I didn't see coming, and there were also some funny side characters (I liked the jailer a lot).

I watched this film probably more than 50 times since I bought DVD in early 2005. No-one can forget the story, dialogues and even the famous scenes after you watch the film once. Ramesh Sippy did really good job, all the actors and actresses are excellent.You probably know about the original scenes - Gabbar Death and Sachin as well, I still got these scenes on my DVD. I remember when I watched it on video in early 1988 and again in 1996, it has English and arabic subtitles,the ending scene which Gabbar got arrest. Interesting, no-one know and never seen that one scene is still missing, when Basanti went to see Jai & Veeru and talked about their friendship, approx 1 mins. I remember some lines, Hema said 'You two seem very close friends', Dharamendra said 'We became very close friend when we were child and we never separate since then', this scene is not available on DVD or streaming online except the old video if it's still out there.Buy DVD right now and watch it, you won't be disappointed. Enjoy.

Film Review:Movie 'Sholay' -after the many decades.Indian film-history made a record,while the movie 'Sholay' became Bellwood's most successful,product. The year exactly 1980,it has been permitted to release in 'Minerva Theatre'.Undoughtably it had carried in Matinée on public demand. Director Ramesh Sippy and the Producer G.P Sippy had their great challenge to make this cinema absolutely Unix. The rich drama narrates the holistic Indian cultures and it's greater part of history. That type condition and the ritualistic situations.The movie had released on 15th August 1975. Absolutely Unix but there is a myth behind the story cultures. The characters are here- Veeru,Jai,Gabbar,the Thakur,Basanti,Radha,Soorma Bhopali and Sambha. Total entertainment is nothing but a folklore,Deshi Bharatiya cinema,with budding romance between Hema Malini and Dharmendra,and Amitabh-Jaya tragedy.The whole drama narrates over some Indian Popular Culture. Critique might argue that 'Mother India',or 'Mughle-Azam' were better films,but the truth is movie 'Sholay' can rival in the scale and longevity. There was an auto rickshaw in Patna,named Dhanno-one rear-horse. Basanti was perfect rider cum car-driver,who would bear this rick saw from one place to another. She was always smiley onto her face. Very bright- quarreling type lady. She could compromise everything for other,even her dearest Veeru(her boy-friend),whom she loved. The two boys-Veeru and Jai planned to come in a place of Thakur's meeting for a request. Amitabh was cast as 'Jai',who had been the character with a big-draw.Similarly Sanjeev-the one and only Bellwood old hero artist,had played here the eminent role of Thakur,absolutely 'khandani ad mi'once he was a reputed police officer.Thakur Baldev Singh became the police officer and had identified the great deco-it- Gabbar Singh,the legend was so against Khaki uniforms,that he was captured and desperately protested that he wasn't a policeman. Salim Javed described desperately Gabbar and Sambha,who were grew in a stature. Gabbar lived in a place,somewhere in Uttarpradesh. Writter tried to show the income of Gabbar Singh,approx 5000 per day but his arrogant behavior,probably ordered a boast for him. Sambha and Gabbar's echo,were then integrated into a screen play. The colorful scenario integrated the happening between Ram and Ravan. Because the ultimately Gabbar was the villain,may be he was unattached from Thakur. It is questionable why Thakur tried to kill Gabbar,without any protections,and finally Thakur Baldev Singh was almost defeated by the villain and had considered to sell his two hands to Gabbar. Gabbar's language was so powerful-'Ye Haath Hame De De Thakur'. The violence disturbed Thakur,but the no matter that ending life is the matter of success for Ram,and overthrow to Ravan. There was a controversy between Gabbar's and Thakur's family,and the movie'Sholay'enterprises the complicated scenes,establishing the family disappearance. The scene was Thakur Baldev Singh came,and on the scene after Gabbar,and his boys,had slaughtered his family and retreated. It underlined the tragedy the sense of doom. The songs were relevant,there were many schedules and involved hundreds dances. The dance-'Mehebuba'-made a total perfections of entertainment. It was the habit of Gabbar,what he really enjoyed. There were also dance of Hema Malini,who was the good performer,and kept her words to Gabbar. It was the spirit of male anthem,which would enable the cast and crew to use different kinds of camera angles. Mainly Basanti was dancing to save Veeru's life.Sambha attempt to gun at Veeru after Gabbar's orders to Basanti –She danced and- Gabbar-well said- 'Jab Tera pa-on challenge,sans challenge;jab Tera pa-on rule to ye Banduk challenge'. Basanti's struggled refer the dancing moment under the scorching heat,and sun had to look real to be effective. In the climax sequence,Gabbar holds Basanti's arm and menacingly delivers the lines: "Dekho Chhamiya,wo mat karo,nahi to ye gory Hali Na-Saree bad-an Se utaar dungi." Ramesh was confirmed about Hema's personality, She trusted him. She admitted her feelings to Dharmendra. Once they planned to marry.There were some other scenes amidst the whole cine-perfections,sometimes the response was simply,but the actions were created the bunch of very brave personality of Jai,who was able to perform alone. It was Jai's mentality,who turned over his mind from Veeru and Basanti's mind. Radha was failed to protect but Jai was not obliged to maintain her words. Real bullets' added in Jai's faith and in the climax,Jai had rescued by Veeru and Basanti,after holding their hands,had shown his respect to the couple. Blessed them,it took the scene silence.Movie 'Sholay',turns over some Hollywood Western. Director Ramesh had depicted just like pioneer,to the wild-west for just a reason. The whole narrative translate the absolute continuity of South Indian classical cultures,with obeying some ritualistic,even orthodox pattern. There had sweet courage's,and adore of every members,had big reasons,deep sorrow,and 'Sholay's' magic has come from there. This is there story.A publicity blitz announced the coming of 'Sholay'. The demand for ticket was so high,that in some theater managed,just put there publicity on the hook. Finally there was a big publicity,people had started queuing up outside the theaters at the night,and when the time had come. Whatever the biggest challenge of the director and the producer,both were actively placed the film,in a completely narrative way. No doubt the whole cine-narrative is the defining history of Indian cultures,and that time scenario,what happened on the British era. There had slight socio background amidst the cine-cultures always. Special credits for the entire team-mate.The End.