As a devoted
movie lover, my most desirable dream came true this week with Ramesh Sippy’s magnum
opus SHOLAY getting re-released in 3D after 38 years of its very first release.
I was, until, one of those few unlucky who hadn’t experienced this all-time
blockbuster and the biggest entertainer in Indian Cinema on big screen. So first
and foremost, no matter how many times you have seen it before, no matter how
religiously you have learnt all its juicy dialogues by heart…you should rush to
the nearest cinema to relive this enormously engaging film bollywood has ever
produced. History repeats itself but not so often. So be a part of it!
Despite
taking inspiration largely from Sergio Leone’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST [‘68]
for the ‘mouth-organ’ themed background score & sound designing for family-massacre
sequence, George Marshall directed segment in HOW THE WEST WAS WON [‘62] for
the train-robbery part and John Sturges’ THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN [‘60] for the
plot, Bollywood’s tribute to ‘spaghetti western’ cinema SHOLAY finds its root
very much in our ‘desi’ soil and there exists the formula of its never-ending success.
Hats off
to the writer-duo Salim-Javed for giving us characters that never lose their
magical charm, colloquial quirky dialogues that never get out-of-the fashion
and a drama that keeps us engaged and entertained all the way through its perfect
and balanced mix of emotions. Who would not react in chuckles when Jai asks wisely,
“tumhara naam kya hai, basanti”! How could you not feel the rage of vengeance in
Veeru when he calls for the final encounter with, “Gabbar Singh! Main aa reha
hoon”! Try to hold yourself from
laughing when, modeled mockingly on Hitler, Jailer instructs his orderlies, “aadhe
idhar jao, aadhe udhar jao…baki mere saath aao”! Have you ever seen a villain
as cold-blooded & brutal as Gabbar who shoots his own sidekicks soon after
making them burst into laughing only to prove a point that, “jo darr gaya,
samjho marr gaya”? And my most favorite that has social significance also, is
the unsaid inherent romance between Jai & Radha. Does your heart not bleed
when Radha expresses. “laal, peele, neele, hare, socho toh rangon ke bina
zindgi kaisi berang lagegi” cut to the while-clad Radha forced to live a
colorless life of a widow.
Apart from
Hema Malini playing the chatty tanga-girl Basanti, Sanjeev Kumar as the intensely
gritty Thakur Saab and Jaya Bhaduri’s compassionate Radha, this is probably one
of those rare films where every single actor cast has come out with an
unforgettable presence on screen and definitely a remarkable work of his/her
career. Dancing Queen Helen in the sensuous ‘mehbooba o mehbooba’ dance number,
Jagdeep in a 2-scene role as ‘Soorma Bhopali’, A K Hangal as Imam saab in the heart-aching
‘itna sannata kyun hai bhai’ act, Leela Mishra as Mausi and everyone else.
SHOLAY
was also a trendsetter in many senses. The era of 70’s in Bollywood with formula
action entertainers that finds its base in violent vengeance seeking gangster-dacoit
movies, was unquestionably lead by SHOLAY. Dharmendra’s foray into ‘kutte-kameene,
main tera khoon pi jaaoonga’ mode took a giant leap after the very same.
Amitabh dying in the end became a profit-formula & a sure-shot success-mantra
for many Bollywood producers and last but not least, the emersion of 70-mm
stereophonic sound technology for a king-size ground-breaking entertainment. Who
all have experienced it before on screen can vouch for that.
The new
form of SHOLAY in 3D has only improved and enhanced the experience. There are
added 3D effect-gimmicks also that will make you satisfied with the glasses. The
background score and songs are brilliantly been reworked in an enhancing Dolby
digital atmosphere. CG effects keep the freshness in the visuals alive and
intact but these aren’t and shouldn’t be the criteria to judge the film. Watch it
for the status it has achieved through all these years and still doesn’t smell
rot and old-fashioned. Classic in other words! This one is a visual heritage in
cinema you should pass on to the next generation. Take your kids & family
as I say, “History repeats itself but not so often”. Be a part of it! [5/5]
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