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!

Sholay Dialogue Baazi: Gabbar ke taap se...

 

Gabbar Singh and gang arrive to disrupt Ramgarh's holi celebrations, right at the end of the song, right on cue - Holi ke din dil khil jaate hai. Jai is cornered, Veeru is coaxed out of hiding and Gabbar is understandably exulted. Seizing the moment he reinforces the psychological hold of fear he has over the hapless denizens of Ramgadh. Gabbar pretty much stamps his authority on the situation, creating the illusion of dependency and inevitability. He proclaims in dreaded tongue, even as most villagers cower behind closed doors and windows:

GABBAR KE TAAP SE TUMHE EK HI AADMI BACHA SAKTA HAI, EK HI AADMI...KHUD GABBAR!

 

(There is only one man who can save you from Gabbar's heat, only one man...Gabbar himself!)  

As for fans, here is our lesson: 

Unwittingly, Gabbar meant that nobody can help us, but ourselves...A lesson in self-reliance. Thank you Gabbar, you missed the Teacher's Day function by the way... 

Sholay Dialogue Baazi: Tera Kya Hoga, Kalia?

A bullet away from death, it is a really a bad day on the job for Kalia. It doesn't get any better when the boss wants to fire him, literally. Gabbar sadistically asks as a parting nod: 
TERA KYA HOGA KALIA?

Sholay Dialogue Baazi: Kitne Aadmi The?

 

It is Gabbar's iconic entry scene, and unlike other Hindi films, much is implied. Kalia and fellow dacoits return without any loot from Ramgadh. Word spreads around and we assume that Samba has passed the message on to the boss.  

Our outrageous theory 
Gabbar considers, "How many people did Thakur hire after all? Can I hire them too? Do they cost much? Will they ask for a 40% hike on previous net salary? Should I put up a counter ad on naukri.com and bid higher than Thakur? After all, Veeru and Jai work only for money (So he has heard). Then Gabbar does his walk and utters:
 

KITNE AADMI THE?

DO SARDAR...

HMMM...WOH DO THE, AUR TUM TEEN, PHIR BHI LAUT AAYE, KHALI HAATH...KYA SOCH KE AAYE THE,SARDAR KHUSH HOGA, SHABASHI DEGA KYUN...

SUVAR KE BACHON!!!

(OINK, OINK, OINK?!)

Sholay Dialogue Baazi: Kab hai holi? Kab?!

Don't worry Basanti, Gabbar will crash the party only after we finish lip-syncing the whole song!

Gabbar Singh was human too, he too wanted to play holi. All guns and no mischief made him a dull dacoit. That Ramgadh residents didn't allow him to do so, also contributed to his bitterness, or so we fantasize. 

Anyway, post killing three men with six bullets (three fatal, three wasted), Gabbar is seething with insult and he bellows out to his stunned gang: KAB HAI HOLI?KAB?!

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 Dialogue Baazi: Jo Darr Gaya...

When fear threatens to vanquish you, keep aside your mountain dew for a moment and heed Gabbar Singh's advice: JO DARR GAYA...SAMJHO MAR GAYA!