Sholay

Thakur Baldev Singh (Sanjeev Kumar), once a senior police officer, hires two small-time crooks, Veeru (Dharmendra) and Jaidev (Amitabh Bachchan) to bring the dreaded dacoit Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan) to him alive. Gabbar had been caught by the Thakur and sent to jail. He escaped soon after and had gunned down the Thakur's entire family barring the youngest daughter-in-law, Radha, who was away at the temple. In a violent rage, the Thakur rode unarmed to the ravines where Gabbar Singh reigned to confront him. Thinking humiliation a better revenge than death, the bandit hacked off the Thakur's arms. In the village, Veeru falls in love with the garrulous but winsome Basanti (Hema Malini), while the more serious Jaidev feels drawn to Radha. When Veeru goes late to a tryst with Basanti, he discovers she has been kidnapped by Gabbar's men. Walking into a trap, he is saved by Jaidev, who gives him cover to get Basanti away. Fatally wounded, Jaidev pretends he is mildly hurt, and sends Veeru away with Basanti. He manages to blow up a bridge and kill most of the bandits before he dies. Veeru comes back and corners Gabbar in the ravines, and is about to kill him when the Thakur arrives on the scene. He insists on fighting Gabbar alone, and hits out at Gabbar with his hobnailed shoes. Gabbar's life is saved only when the police arrive and remind the Thakur that he cannot take the law in his own hands. Veeru decides to leave Ramgarh, but in the empty compartment of the train he finds Basanti waiting for him.

The Film Sholay became a legend, and by far the most successful film of its time, which ran for five consecutive years in a theater in Bombay. Often described as India's best known "curry" western, Sholay was 'patterned' on American spaghetti westerns but the addition of romance, comedy, and songs gave it the ambiance that one expects of a Hindi film.

Kitne Aadmi Thei every Indian film fan knows this dialog by heart. Sholay was released in 1975, also the year I was born in, coincidence, perhaps. The film became the longest running Indian film in the theaters, a record that stood for over 25 years until it was broken recently by another classic "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" (holds the current record 500 Weeks and still going - as on May 07, 2005).

Sholay was written by the great Duo of Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan know as Salim-Javed. The duo also gave us films like Don, Shakti, Shaan, Zanjeer, Seeta Aur Geeta and Deewar. The film was directed by Ramesh Sippy and had music of legendary R.D. Burman. Sholay gave us a Character called "Gabbar Singh" played by Amjad Khan, who made his debut with this film. The character of Gabbar Singh is so creative that many film makers have tried to imitate him for their films.

Sholay did for Indian Cinema what Casablanca did for Hollywood. It became an instant classic and broke all the rules of film making and characterization, while preserving the values of Indian cinema.

Sholay just won the Filmfare Award (2005) for being the Best Film in the last 50 years of Indian Cinema. Sadly, when Sholay was first released in 1975 it didn't win any major Filmfare awards. But when you think about all the great films that were released in that year, its easy to see how it may have been over looked. 1975 may have been the best year for Hindi films with the likes of Deewar, Chupke Chupke, Hera Pheri, Khel Khel Mein, Julie, Mausam, Ponga Pandit, Rafoo Chakkar, Uljhan, Dharmatma, Do Jasoos, Faraar, Geet Gaata Chal, Chhoti Si Baat, Aandhi and Milli - all releasing along with Sholay.

Sholay had the biggest star cast of its time with the likes of Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri, Sanjeev Kumar, Sachin, A.K. Hangal, Leela Mishra, Satyen Kappu, Mac Mohan, Jagdeep, Asrani, Helen, Jalal Agha, Iftekhar, Keshto Mukherjee and of course Amjad Khan. The Greatest Cast Ever Assembled for the Greatest Story Ever Told!