Indian 1975 classic ‘Sholay’ gets world premiere at Bologna festival
Sholay, the iconic Bollywood film, is set to make a grand return in celebration of its 50th anniversary. A fully restored, uncut version of the 1975 classic will have its world premiere at Italy’s Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival on June 27.
This special screening will take place at the festival’s open-air venue in Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore, offering audiences a chance to see the original ending and deleted scenes that were missing from the widely released version.
Directed by Ramesh Sippy and written by the celebrated duo Salim-Javed, Sholay has long been regarded as a masterpiece blending action, drama, comedy, tragedy, and thriller elements, all brought to life by R.D. Burman’s unforgettable musical score.
Inspired by cinematic legends like Sergio Leone, Akira Kurosawa, and John Sturges, the story follows ex-police officer Thakur Baldev Singh, who recruits two petty criminals, Veeru and Jai, to capture the fearsome bandit Gabbar Singh.
The film features a star-studded cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, and Amjad Khan as the villainous Gabbar.
The restoration was no small feat. It took three years and a collaboration between Film Heritage Foundation and Sippy Films Pvt. Ltd.
The original negative was damaged, so the team relied on interpositives and a rare color reversal intermediate found in London that included the original ending and two lost scenes.
Shehzad Sippy, producer at Sippy Films, shared, “It has taken us three years, but we were able to find the original ending and some deleted scenes that the world will see for the first time at the grand premiere. It’s been a labour of love to resurrect the film and this is a tribute to the vision and the legacy of my grandfather G.P. Sippy.”
Reflecting on the film’s legacy, Amitabh Bachchan said, “Some things in life remain permanently etched in your mind. Sholay is one such film.”
Dharmendra added, “Sholay is the 8th wonder of the world. 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.”
The screening at Il Cinema Ritrovato promises to be a memorable event, celebrating a landmark in Indian cinema history and the tireless work of those dedicated to preserving it for future generations.