An all time classic this is a story of Thakur Baldev Singh (Sanjeev Kumar) as a valiant police officer who captures the dreaded dacoit Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan in his debut and most memorable role) bringing him to book. Gabbar however soon escapes from prison and avenges his arrest by murdering Thakur's family and renders Thakur helpless.
Dharmendra (left) and Amitabh Bachchan in the English-zamaane ki jailor's (Asrani) prison!
Thus Thakur Baldev Singh had to do the unthinkable as "kaam aisa hai ke main aise aadme ko zaroorat hai" (job is such that I need these men).
He hires two petty thieves Veeru and Jai (Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan) with the intention of bringing Gabbar to him for justice.
Along the way we meet tangewali Basanti (Hema Malini) together with Dhanno, Soorma Bhopali (Jagdeep), the Angrezon ke zamane ke jailor (Asrani) an Thakur's widowed daughter in law (Jaya Bhaduri).
Jagdeep (Soorma Bhopali) - "Gabbar Singh tho Jail mein hai!" - this pic is not from Sholay
Asrani - without his Hitler-mustache.
Hema Malini and Amjad Khan during the latter part of Sholay.
Here is Amjad Khan in the famous "Kitne Aadme the... kya samajkar aaye?" scene with his goons, after they came back empty handed after Jai and Veeru sent them packing
Director Ramesh Sippy had created a masterpiece and gave to the Hindi Film Indistry something that would create characters that still remain etched in the Indian movie-goers mind. Recently at the 50th Filmfare Awards in 2005, the film was voted Best Film in 50 years of Filmfare Awards. It had not got an award from Filmfare previously in the 30 years since its release. The movie was released in late January 1975. It remained on the circuit for 5 years at a cinema in Mumbai, then known as Bombay. It has been sinced surpassed by Yash Chopra's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, which has played a record 500 weeks (at 13 May 2005) at the Maratha Mandir in Mumbai.
DVD Cover
This film was superbly shot with breathtaking action sequences including a train robbery never bettered in Hindi movies. Sholay is regarded as the first mega blockbuster. The outdoor scenes, especially the train sequences were short some 50 km (30 odd miles) from Bangalore.
The dialogues of this film gained immense popularity and are used in T.V. commercials and even 30 years after the film release, whenever a child cries at night... the mother says hush my child or Gabbar Singh will come!
More to follow soon!
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