Fans of classic Bollywood are in for a treat. The restored version of the iconic film “Sholay,” starring Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra, will screen at the Indian Film Festival of Sydney (IFFS) this October. The festival kicks off from October 9 to 11, highlighting the best of Indian cinema over three exciting days.
This sparkling 4K restoration of “Sholay” just had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) earlier this month. Now, it’s heading Down Under for Sydney audiences to enjoy.
The Film Heritage Foundation teamed up with Sippy Films to bring “Sholay” back to life. They tracked down a rare color reversal print in London and dug up original camera negatives plus long-lost deleted scenes from a Mumbai warehouse. It took years of careful work to make this happen.
What makes this version special? It includes the original ending that director Ramesh Sippy always wanted—where Thakur gets his revenge by taking down the villainous Gabbar Singh.
Festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange shared her excitement in a statement: “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 added, “The fact that audiences will now experience the film with the original ending makes it even more significant, as it honors Ramesh Sippy’s first vision in its entirety. To showcase this landmark restoration at IFFS, alongside timeless and new stories, truly captures our festival’s spirit of celebrating Indian cinema in all its forms.”
For those new to “Sholay,” the 1975 blockbuster follows two small-time crooks, Veeru (Dharmendra) and Jai (Amitabh Bachchan), who get hired by a former police officer to hunt down the brutal bandit Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan). Hema Malini plays the lively Basanti, Veeru’s love interest, while Jaya Bachchan shines as the quiet Radha, Jai’s partner. The movie filmed in the rugged hills of Ramanagara, Karnataka, over two and a half years starting in October 1973.
When “Sholay” first hit theaters, critics panned it, and it started slow at the box office. But word-of-mouth turned it into a massive hit. It shattered records with non-stop screenings and ran for over five years at Mumbai’s Minerva Theatre. The film even conquered overseas markets, especially in the Soviet Union, becoming India’s highest-grossing movie at the time. It held that spot until “Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!” came along. Today, adjusted for inflation, “Sholay” still ranks among the top-grossing Indian films ever.
Many call “Sholay” one of the greatest and most influential Bollywood movies of all time. Its dialogues, action, and songs have inspired generations. In 2014, the film returned to theaters in a 3D version, thrilling fans all over again.
If you’re a “Sholay” lover or just curious about this Bollywood legend, the IFFS screening promises a fresh look at why it remains a cultural powerhouse.
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