The grand Bollywood spectacle makes a comeback on the silver screen after half a century away.

Sholay, one of the most iconic Hindi films, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a spectacular return. The fully restored version, featuring the original ending and deleted scenes, will premiere at the Il Cinema Ritrovato festival in Bologna, Italy. Initially met with harsh reviews and a rocky box office start, Sholay went on to become a cultural phenomenon, playing continuously at Mumbai’s Minerva Theatre for five years and later named the greatest Indian film by the British Film Institute. The cast, led by Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, and Hema Malini, portrayed a tale of good against evil with cinematic inspiration from Western and samurai classics. Despite initial mixed reactions, word of mouth turned audiences in its favour, with characters like Gabbar Singh, played by Amjad Khan, becoming cultural icons. The restoration process involved finding original 35mm camera and sound negatives and additional reels stored in the UK, supported by the British Film Institute and Italy’s premier film restoration facility. Sholay’s resilience and universal theme of good triumphing over evil continue to resonate with audiences worldwide, making it a timeless classic.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg8m9z5vv8o