Sholay Specials: The 2015 Zee Classic Sholay TV Ad

As much as Sholay repeatedly, untiringly features in popular Indian media till date, the Zee Classic TV channel ad was still a surprise. Energy tonic, vitamin capsule and magically revitalizing tea came to my mind during the initial snatches. Anything to do with Sholay seemed least likely. You may read about the channel's ad campaign here.

Sholay: Black & White Stills III

Yet Another SHOLAY Poster

Another SHOLAY Poster

Sholay Dialogue Baazi: Khota sikka toh...

 

In contrast to Sergio Leone's westerns, Sholay was all about power-packed dialogues with some little silent moments stitched in.    

  

There is enough warning of a particular coin in the opening scenes of Sholay. Post the opening credits, the jailor and Ramlal arrive at Thakur's abode, there is no grand background music here, effective as blank white paper for the dialogues to stamp their authority. A deceptive quietness persists, an apt precursor to the train robbery scene.

The jailer has arrived in Ramgadh in response to Thakur's (now obsolete mode of communication) telegram. He is shown photographs of two crooks (The audience never sees the photographs, nice touch) and on Thakur's query tells him that they are scoundrels and never up to any good. Yet, Thakur needs him to find the men. The jailer wonders why? The following dialogues sum it up.

Jailor:

KHOTA SIKKA TOH DONO TARAF SE KHOTA HOTA HAI.

Thakur: 

SIKKE AUR INSAAN MEIN SHAYAD YAHI FARAK HAI...

Our lesson, bhakt jano!: A person is not like a bad coin. Hate the sin, not the sinner! Amen!

More Sholay Stills: The train robbery scene

Sholay Dialogue Baazi: Loha Garam Hai...

Carpe Diem as they say, seize the day, do away with procrastination! LOHA GARAM HAI,MAAR DO HATODA...

(For full size poster - click HERE)

Sholay Dialogue Baazi: Shayad Khatron Se...

Whatever you do, do it with passion and ensure that you have your daily dose of adventure, as Thakur says:  
SHAYAD KHATRON SE KHELNE KA SHAUKH HAI MUJHE...

Sholay 3D Poster ii

Sholay 3D: The 'Thakur' Poster

Sholay in Posters Again

Sholay 3D Poster i

While the Sholay 3D release date is still a mystery, the poster is finally out! The latest rumours are that the film will release on Amitabh Bachchan's 71st birthday - October 11, 2013. Nothing is confirmed as yet.

Sholay Stills: Yeh Haath...

It is a moment that defines the entire film - that Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan) makes his choice - he lets Thakur (Sanjeev Kumar) live. Not before maiming him for life though. 

Gabbar Singh seems like any other endearing Hindi film villain until this point, but when we see the pair of swords swishing the air in sheer brutality, we know he has to be destroyed. That in some way justice has to be served.Unlike the Thakur family execution which is without any villainous dialogue, here Gabbar is at his sadistic height, hatefully playful when he screams "Yeh haath hum ka dede Thakur!" ("Give us thy arms, Thakur!). 

Thakur's character is brought to the fore in the matter of seconds. He is a man of honour, and in his loss and rage, ready to be killed by Gabbar Singh. But as would any of us be horrified, he bellows, "Nahi" ("No!"). Take my life, but certainly not my arms - it is an intense scene of audience connect, we would said so too - "Not my arms." 

Sanjeev Kumar matches up to the brilliant debutant Amjad Khan with a natural vibrancy, watch his eyes in those final moments of barbarism. Unforgettable.

The act also makes it plausible in the story for Gabbar Singh to not think the unthinkable - that in a boomerang of events, his arms would be crushed by an armless Thakur wearing nail-poking shoes. That Thakur would be asking him, "Yeh haath hum ko dede!" 

We don't blame Gabbar. High on confidence, savageness and cruelty, Gabbar didn't invest on a pack of spies to loom the Thakur household and inform him, "Well, Ramlal is making him some new shoes, beware!" But then, it was GP Sippy who was financing the film, and he was certainly not a dacoit. 

Sholay Stills: The Thakur's Shoe...

It is a scene that lasts hardly a second in the censored version of Sholay. Pity for that, for how easily you can miss what the director and the cinematographer do with it. The dark sky is menacing, it is also a take on the day when Gabbar executed Thakur's (Sanjeev Kumar) family. Then there is the nail-stuck shoe and the expression on Thakur's face. 

Calm and composed all through his dealings with Jai and Veeru, rarely showing his wrath, he now bursts open all his accumulated hate. It is also a scene that brings revenge to the fore, and its blind rage of consequences. Also, since this is the censored version, it becomes all the more unbelievable that Thakur Baldev Singh repents and gives up Gabbar in the name of law and order. It is a sane, sombre end, but doesn't go with Thakur's character at all...

Sholay: The Original Cut (Part II)

The most famous Sholay scene that most of you have not yet seen has to unanimously be: The killing of Gabbar Singh. For those who came in late, the censored Sholay saw Thakur pressing his nail sole shoes on Gabbar's arms even as the villain pleads for mercy. The police then inexplicably arrive. That is not how it ended though. In the uncut, 'ready for censor viewing' Sholay, Thakur gets his revenge and Gabbar Singh doesn't make it alive to the end credits.

Why change the ending? 

Sholay was incidentally set for release during the time of the emergency. In such volatile times the ruling government found it improper than an Indian citizen is depicted as defying the law. Therefore, Ramesh Sippy was forced to shoot the milder version with the law arriving to restrain Thakur. Now, how good is the original version? 

Original Cut 

Well, the police do not arrive at the scene at all. Thakur and Gabbar face each another at Gabbar's deserted den. What follows has its bits of credibility and incredulity - more of the latter. The scenes of Thakur somersaulting in the air to kick the hell out of Gabbar needed a sub plot - like he trained in the 36th Chamber of the Shaolin Temple for it or something. Also, Gabbar's death is a gruesome convenience rather than cinematic. The only saving grace is Veeru reappearing with a shawl, and Thakur breaking down in tears - thus depicting the hollow consequence of revenge. 

Die-hard Sholay fan stumbles upon 'ORIGINAL SHOLAY'!!

He has seen it. He has got it on DVD. He is the 'chosen one'.

How many of us have heard of the original version of Sholay where Thakur kills Gabbar?

Everybody.

How many of us have seen it?

Nobody...until my friend Veersen Savant alias Spiral Smoke, presently working in Dubai as a sub-editor bought a DVD of this original version. A native of Kolhapur, this die-hard Sholay fan was astounded to say the least.

Here is his reaction: 
"First I was shocked...I never thought I would find the original of this gem of a film in a heap of "on discount" CD's in a mall...I had no idea it was the uncut version...and while watching the film...I realised there is something new...I thought I may have not noticed these scenes earlier...my mind was playing games...but when the climax arrived...but the police didn't...then it dawned on me it was the original uncut version..."

My friend Veeru also informs us of other extended scenes, including the one of Gabbar killing Ahmed. I can't wait to see this version, how can you take it so calmly, dear readers....anybody in Dubai who can pilfer it from Veeru?...before he wraps it in a chain and keeps the DVD in an unbreakable safe, and guards it day and night...I can make an offer you can't refuse...anybody...please...