Review of Sholay (1975) by Akshay K — 11 Feb 2012

Sholay.

Directed by a Sindhi Ramesh Sippy, this wonderful Hindi film is remake of Seven Samurai, The Magnificent Seven and Once Upon A Time In The West.

IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED SHOLAY, YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED SEVEN SAMURAI, THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, and ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST.

I have watched this movie around 100 times, since I was 8 years old. I love performance of Amjad Khan as Gabbar Singh (in my own list I consider Gabbar Singh to be #1 Best Villain from Indian Cinema). Biggest cast from Indian Cinema, India's legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan as Jay, Dharmendar as Veeru, late Sanjeeve Kumar as Thakur Baldev Singh and late Amjad Khan as notorious outlaw Gabbar Singh. Entire cast involved gives what is to be noted as their careers' only best performances. Memorable dialogues as well as scenes follow in this most-cherished film.

Thankur a former Police officer, who once captured notorious outlaw Gabbar Singh, was threatened by Gabbar to be punished for capturing him. Gabbar Singh breaks out of prison, and massacres Thakur's family along with a young kid, Thankur in rage goes to take revenge from Gabbar, and gets traped himself. Gabbar cuts off Thankur's hands, as Thakur had gripped Gabbar in his arms while capturing him, saying 'These are not hands but hands made of steel'. Some years later, Thakur recalls two petty thieves, who are close friends named Jai and Veeru played by legendary actors of India 'Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra'. Thakur hires them to help him capture Gabbar Singh. First the two decline offer, as Gabbar is most notorious outlaw, but ultimately agree to help the town, which is frequently robbed of grains and flour by outlaw gang of Gabbar every now and then.

I happen to remember each and every frame of this classic film, directed by Sindhi-Indian director Ramesh Sippy. Under BBC's poll at the near of Millennium, this film was voted #1 Film of Last Century from India.