Celebrating 50 Years of India’s Cinematic Masterpiece on June 27, 2025
Table of Contents
Sholay Reborn
As Sholay, the iconic Bollywood epic, approaches its 50th anniversary on August 15, 2025, it is set to reignite global audiences with the world premiere of its fully restored, uncut version at the prestigious Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna, Italy. Scheduled for June 27, 2025, at the open-air Piazza Maggiore, this screening marks a historic moment, showcasing the 1975 classic in its original director’s cut, complete with the original ending and previously deleted scenes. A three-year collaboration between Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) and Sippy Films Pvt. Ltd., this restoration celebrates Sholay’s enduring legacy as a cornerstone of Indian cinema.
A Timeless Epic: The Legacy of Sholay
Directed by Ramesh Sippy and written by the legendary duo Salim-Javed (Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar), Sholay (translating to “Embers”) is a genre-defining “curry western” that blends action, thriller, revenge drama, comedy, romance, and tragedy. Set in the fictional village of Ramgarh, the film follows former police officer Thakur Baldev Singh (Sanjeev Kumar), who hires two small-time crooks, Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) and Veeru (Dharmendra), to capture the ruthless dacoit Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan). The ensemble cast, including Hema Malini as the spirited Basanti and Jaya Bhaduri as the stoic Radha, delivers performances that have become etched in Indian pop culture.
Shot over two and a half years in the rocky terrain of Ramanagara, Karnataka (later dubbed “Sippy Nagar”), Sholay was India’s first 70mm film with stereophonic sound, featuring R.D. Burman’s iconic score. Despite a slow start at the box office, it became Bollywood’s highest-grossing film for 19 years, running uninterrupted for five years at Mumbai’s Minerva Theatre. Its dialogues, like “Kitne aadmi the?” and “Yeh haath mujhe de de Thakur,” and characters, especially Gabbar Singh, are cultural touchstones, inspiring commercials, films, and even Britannia Biscuit ads.
The Restoration Journey: A Labor of Love
The restoration of Sholay is a testament to the dedication of Film Heritage Foundation and Sippy Films. Initiated in 2022 when Shehzad Sippy approached FHF to preserve the film’s deteriorating elements, the project spanned three years. The original 35mm camera and sound negatives, found unlabeled in a Mumbai warehouse, were too damaged for direct use. The team relied on interpositives, color reversal intermediates from Mumbai and London, and consulted cinematographer Kamlakar Rao to recreate the 2.2:1 aspect ratio and 5.1 sound mix. The restored version includes the original ending—where Thakur kills Gabbar, altered in the theatrical release due to Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) mandates—and never-before-seen deleted scenes.
Shehzad Sippy, representing Sippy Films, described the restoration as a deeply personal journey: “Sholay is the cornerstone of our family heritage, and I am so proud that Sippy Films has been able to do a world-class restoration with the Film Heritage Foundation. It has taken us three years, but we were able to find the original ending and some deleted scenes that the world will see for the first time at the grand premiere at the Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna.”
Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director of FHF, shared a nostalgic reflection: “My first memory of Sholay dates back to when I was six years old, and I remember lamenting because my mother refused to allow me to watch it. I would never have imagined that 50 years later, I would have the opportunity to work on the restoration of the film—often described as the greatest Indian film ever made—with Shehzad Sippy.”
Stars Reflect on Sholay’s Enduring Magic
The film’s stars, Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra, expressed profound pride in Sholay’s revival. Bachchan, who played the brooding Jai, recalled the “unforgettable experience” of shooting: “Some things in life remain permanently etched in your mind. Sholay is one such film. At the time, I had no idea it would be a watershed for Indian cinema. Its dramatic change in fortunes from being declared an unsuccessful venture to its record-breaking box office run was an emotional rollercoaster for all of us.” He lauded FHF’s restoration, hoping it captures new audiences globally.
Dharmendra, the jovial Veeru, called Sholay “the eighth wonder of the world,” humorously noting, “The real hero was the coin.” He revealed being offered the roles of Gabbar or Thakur but chose Veeru for its alignment with his personality: “I had so much fun on the shoot. My favorite scenes were the tanki scene, the temple scene, and so many others, but the most powerful was Jai’s death, which is still etched in my mind.”
Instagram Post by Film Heritage Foundation
The following is the complete content of the Instagram post by @filmheritagefoundation (post ID: DLO5X_pyMOH), announcing the premiere and celebrating Sholay’s legacy:
“SHOLAY” – RESTORED BY FILM HERITAGE FOUNDATION TO HAVE ITS WORLD PREMIERE AT IL CINEMA RITROVATO FESTIVAL, BOLOGNA ON 27TH JUNE, 2025!
In a grand celebration of 50 years of “Sholay” (1975), the most iconic film in the history of Indian cinema, restored by Film Heritage Foundation in association with Sippy Films Pvt. Ltd., will have its world premiere at the prestigious Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna on June 27, 2025. Planned as a marquee event befitting the legendary status of the film, the 70 mm film will make its debut on a gigantic open-air screen in the magnificent medieval Piazza Maggiore in front of an audience of thousands.
Scripted by the famed writer duo Salim-Javed, the film, described as a curry western, is a landmark of Indian cinema that is a mosaic of genres: action-thriller, revenge drama, comedy, and tragedy set to music, song, and dance composed by R.D. Burman. The film tells the story of Thakur Baldev Singh who recruits small-time crooks, Veeru and Jai, to capture the dreaded dacoit Gabbar Singh, who is terrorizing Ramgarh.
“My first memory of ‘Sholay’ goes back to when I was six years old, and I remember weeping because my mother refused to allow me to watch it. I would never have imagined that 50 years later, I would have the opportunity to work on the restoration of the film – often described as the greatest Indian film ever made – with Shehzad Sippy of Sippy Films,” said Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director, Film Heritage Foundation.
“Some things in life remain permanently etched in your mind. ‘Sholay’ is one such film,” said Amitabh Bachchan, who played Jai. “Shooting was an unforgettable experience, but at the time I had no idea that it would be a watershed for Indian cinema. It’s wonderful that the Film Heritage Foundation has restored ‘Sholay’ and that they have managed to locate and include the original ending as well as some deleted scenes in the restoration.”
Dharmendra, who played Veeru, said, “‘Sholay’ is the 8th wonder of the world. I am thrilled to hear that the film is being restored and I am sure it will have the same success as it had 50 years ago. Who can forget the dialogues of Salim-Javed and the direction of Ramesh Sippy? The real hero was the coin.”
“Sholay is the cornerstone of our family heritage, and I am so proud that Sippy Films has been able to do a world-class restoration with Film Heritage Foundation. It has taken us three years, but we were able to find the original ending and some deleted scenes that the world will see for the first time,” said Shehzad Sippy.
#Sholay #IlCinemaRitrovato #FilmHeritageFoundation #SippyFilms #RameshSippy #SalimJaved #AmitabhBachchan #Dharmendra #HemaMalini #SanjeevKumar #JayaBachchan #AmjadKhan #RDBurman #FilmRestoration #IndianCinema #Bollywood #CinemaHistory
Cultural Impact and Behind-the-Scenes Insights
Sholay’s influence transcends cinema, shaping Indian pop culture. Its characters, from Jai and Veeru’s bromance to Gabbar’s menacing villainy, are iconic. Amjad Khan, initially considered for his “weak” voice, crafted Gabbar by studying Chambal dacoits, wearing a khaki uniform from Chor Bazaar to embody a “Mexico-Uttar Pradesh” bandit. The film’s production faced challenges, including real bullets in the climax (nearly injuring Bachchan) and a 20-day shoot for Radha’s lamp-extinguishing scene to capture the “magic hour.”
Casting anecdotes reveal Sholay’s competitive allure. Dharmendra lobbied for Veeru to pair with Hema Malini, whom he was wooing, rejecting Gabbar and Thakur roles. Sanjeev Kumar, keen on Gabbar, settled for Thakur, while Dilip Kumar regretted declining it. Amitabh Bachchan, not yet a superstar, fought for Jai, recommended by Salim Khan.
The Il Cinema Ritrovato Premiere
The June 27, 2025, premiere at Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore, a venue known for hosting cinematic classics, is a fitting tribute. The 70mm restored print, projected on a massive open-air screen, will showcase Sholay’s grandeur, from Dwarka Divecha’s cinematography to Burman’s score. The inclusion of the original ending, where Thakur’s vengeance culminates in Gabbar’s death, restores Ramesh Sippy’s vision, altered in 1975 due to CBFC objections to extrajudicial violence.
Upcoming Projects: Sholay’s Continued Influence
The restoration premiere is part of Sholay’s 50th-anniversary celebrations, with potential screenings planned globally. Posts on X indicate excitement, with users like @SiddhantAdlakha praising FHF’s meticulous work. The Film Heritage Foundation is also exploring educational initiatives, such as workshops on film preservation, inspired by Sholay’s restoration. Sippy Films may re-release the uncut version in Indian theaters post-Bologna, though no official confirmation exists as of June 23, 2025.
A Cinematic Resurrection
Sholay’s restored uncut premiere at Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival is more than a screening—it’s a celebration of Indian cinema’s global impact. As Amitabh Bachchan hopes, this restoration will captivate new audiences, while Dharmendra’s coin remains the “real hero.” From Ramgarh to Bologna, Sholay’s embers continue to burn brightly, reaffirming its status as, in Dharmendra’s words, “the eighth wonder of the world.”
Are you excited for Sholay’s restored premiere? Share your favorite Sholay moment in the comments!
