Sholay (1975)

Such a frustrating disappointment

Some things I liked some I did not.

A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

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).

+ Direction: This was Ramesh Sippy's first out-and-out action attempt. Every scene has been set-up with a lot of thought and it shows. The character treatment is one thing that is also quite unique about Sippy's direction.+ The duo of Amitabh and Dharmendra: Where do I start? Amitabh Bacchan plays the straight-faced ex-con. Dharmendra plays the quirky, playful, hopeless romantic. Both characters are poles apart in terms of their personalities, yet so close. So much that they would kill for each other.+ Gabbar Singh: Any good action/thriller would be incomplete without a good antagonist. Amjad Khan as Gabbar Singh is more than just good in Sholay. Khan plays a dacoit who is feared by the local villagers and is unrelenting in everything he does. Brutal, unforgiving, selfish, savage, barbaric, bloodthirsty, and vengeful. He encompasses all these adjectives and some more.+ Action: Sholay has some of the most iconic action sequences that excelled in every aspect. Technically sound and so well-executed.+ Performances: Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini and Jaya Bhaduri top the list in this department. Kumar plays the hapless but vengeful Thakur Baldev Singh who is out to do whatever is necessary to get his revenge from Gabbar Singh. Hema Malini plays the local horse-cart driver who lends some much needed comic relief with her never-ending barrage of words. Jaya Bhaduri plays the mellow and unassuming widow to Thakur's late son.+ Music: Every song compliments that particular moment in the film's timeline in which it features. That said, each one of them is a gem. Essentially 70's RD Burman in every sense.Length: It's 188 minutes long. That's a little over 3 hours and that's long even by Hindi film standards. That said, there's not a single moment in the film where you feel the enormity of the length.Sholay can be termed as the first Westerner-inspired action classic, custom made for Bollywood. In essence, Sholay is a true blue revenge-action film. A film that gained cult status over these years. It shall always be the film that inspired many to at least try and make a film that can rule the hearts of millions.Every scene is a gem. Be it Jai and Veeru's first tonga ride with Basanti, Gabbar's reprimand when his cronies return empty-handed from the village, the Holi massacre and the subsequent scene with Thakur and Gabbar, the train shootout, or the climax. The list is just endless to be honest.Yours truly is guilty of having watched this gem many times over. There's no keeping count anymore. And one can't be blamed for it. It's a film that keeps calling you back.

When SHOLAY was started,little did people know it would be such a blockbuster,in fact the first month had so low attendance that it was about to removed from theatres but then things changed. The film may not have a really original story, in fact it seems the film was loosely styled after Akira Kurosawa's 1954 film Seven Samurai, and drew heavily from the conventions of Westerns, especially Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns such as Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), and John Sturges' film The Magnificent Seven (1960). Sholay was also influenced by the westerns of Sam Peckinpah, such as The Wild Bunch (1969) and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973); and by George Roy Hill's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). A scene depicting an attempted train robbery was inspired by a similar scene in North West Frontier (1959) and a scene showing the massacre of Thakur's family has been compared with the massacre of the McBain family in Once Upon a Time in the West, Some plot elements were borrowed from the Indian films Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971) and Khote Sikkay (1973) Strangely it became such a cult film that many films were inspired from it, like Joshilay,China Gate and the recent disaster Elaan(2005). The film is very entertaining, Salim-Javed did a great job with the film. The first half is more on establishing characters, but there are several brilliant scenes like Amitabh and Dharam introduction when they stop robbers from looting a train, their scenes with Sanjeev Kumar,Dharam scenes with Hema, Gabbar's Introduction, The Interval point. The film is a bit lengthy though as in those days. The second half focuses more on Amitabh and Dharam seeking revenge and we also have comedy and romance and the last finale though prolonged is superb,Amitabh's death is simply superb, while Dharam fighting with Amjad and then Sanjeev fighting with Amjad is superb. In fact the end was changed after Censors rejected the end thinking it will affect people's minds seeing a cop killing a goon(In the original end it was supposed to have Sanjeev kill Amjad) and it was changed to the cops arriving, Even Sachin's death scene was cut off.Direction by Ramesh Sippy is too good Music by RD Burman is superb, be it YEH DOSTI sung by Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey which is the anthem of friendship songs, Holi Ke Din, Mehbooba all superb songs. The film is one of the 70mm films of Bollywood The recent 3D Version though gimmicky but was well done, especially considering making a 3D film of a 70s film. The film also was one of the first films to use stereo for recordingAmongst actors Sanjeev Kumar is simply terrific as Thakur, those days he was known as a comic actor more but this film silenced and surprised people,Though he was young he portrayed Thakur superbly Dharmendra is simply superb as Veeru, he is superb in comedy and dramatic scenes, in his inimitable style Amitabh Bachchan signed the film before Zanjeer hence he plays second fiddle but does a superb job as the silent Jai. Hema Malini is hilarious as Basanti and became famous Jaya Pradha plays the silent widower superbly though in one scene of her flashback she is shown full of life and is superb there too, just like her other films like MILI,GUDDI she displays her fun side in that scene superbly. Amjad Khan in his debut though he did small roles before is simply outstanding, evoking terror and hatred though his length of the role was small, People remember SHOLAY for Gabbar more then any character Satyen Kapoo,Macmohan are all good, In fact even minor characters like Viju Khote who played Kaalia were remembered, rest are good

I don't know from where to start. Sholay is a perfect blending of all spices and makes it a delicious curry which you want to have again and again. It has Emotion , Drama , Romance , Action, and what not , you name it and this movie has it. Though a little lengthy, but one won't mind as it never ceases to entertain at any point of time. I don't reckon a single movie where every character becomes legend irrespective of their screen presence.This movie works on concept of 3E's which is Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment and makes it an epic. I am short of adjectives for this movie. Mesmerising at its best, flawless , perfect etc. etc.If you haven't watched it , do yourself a favor and add it your bucket list. I am sure you will regret it for not having it watched earlier.