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Tomorrow's re-release of `Sholay' is a chance to experience the thrill of the story `jisme tragedy hai, emotions hai... '
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THERE is one movie that has defined our cultural conscience, it simply has to be Sholay. Like filmmaker Ramgopal Varma, who counts Sholay his all-time favourite movie, says, "The film is truly universal. While none of us have lived in ravines with the threat of dacoits, the film appeals to everyone irrespective of gender or age."
Actor/writer Rajesh Khattar sounds a dampener when he says, "The present generation would not relate to Sholay like those of us who grew up on the film."
Playwright Nadir Khan is proof of that not having seen Sholay ever! Sholay's domination of the pop culture scene is there for all to see - from the hysterically funny spoofs on telly to the full-length movie, Ramgarh ke SholayGabbar ki asli pasand, the tagline for biscuits marked the debut of a filmi character into the world of advertising.
There is enough trivia about the film to keep every Sholay junkie supremely pleased. It was India's first 70 mm film with stereophonic sound. Released on August 15, 1975, in Minerva theatre in Mumbai, low attendance figures almost prompted the film to be pulled out. However, word of mouth prevailed and the film ran to packed houses for years - there was even a bus stop renamed the Sholay stop!
Danny Denzongpa was the original choice for Gabbar but as he was shooting Feroz Khan's Dharmatma in Afghanistan he could not do the film.Shatrughan Sinha was to play Jai, Dharamendra wanted to play the Thakur and writers Salim-Javed approached Manmohan Desai to direct.
Now of course we cannot imagine anyone apart from the Big B playing Jai and garam Dharam talking of "Budhi chakki peesing," Sanjeev Kumar as Thakur, Amjad Khan as Gabbar and of course Ramesh Sippy realising his celluloid dream.
The good news is the film has been re-released, all remastered and spanking new. After Mughal-E-Azam's Technicolor run, now we can have the joy of watching Jai and Veeru take on Gabbar. !
MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER
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