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Ramesh Sippy Produced - Sholay 1975

When Sholay was released in 1975, he broke records at the box office, and even today, if you adjust for inflation, it is the big box-office employee of all time. This is the film that launched Amitabh Bachchan's career into orbit and made him a superstar. And when I talk to friends in South Asia and colleagues about Indian films, they inevitably bring Sholay, as in: Have you seen it yet? You have to see. It is a big one. You have seen Sholay, right? Well, I had not until now. After all the hype, I must say that I finally feel a little disappointed to discover that this is nothing more than a remake of The Magnificent Seven (1960, USA) with a couple of musical numbers thrown stupid in.


India heroes are the most difficult things, though, so only need two: Veeru (Dharmendra) and Jai (Amitabh Bachchan), a pair of Crooks little heart of gold. Thakur Baldev Singh (Sanjeev Kumar), a retired police officer, remembers them from his days in force, when they came to his aid during the RAID Bandit, even if they were his prisoners. Decides only men are to his village to help him capture the bandit Gabba Singh (Amjad Khan) - live - to avenge the murder of his family.

Sholay Jai spend too much time with our heroes and VEERU before being taken to the village - born of a system to collect its own reward money and end up in a prison run by a comic character of Hitler. Well, was supposed to be funny anyway, but if you are the comedy of Mel Brooks and Hitler do not mix.

When they finally reach the village, who spend much time hanging around, waiting for the bandits to display. VEERU begins an affair with a very talkative girl (Hema Malini) who manages the only means of transportation between the village and the station, while Jai went to see a romantic contest between him and the widow communicative (Jaya Bhaduri). Both novels are electric, probably because the two were partners in real life.

Sholay is wonderful moments - moments so you begin to forget you are watching the same film that featured a comic figure of Hitler in the past. Thakur is a big "reveal", which ends the first half of the film and lead the break. And there are a lot of shootouts, chases on horseback, and impossible to leave.

Both are charming and charismatic son as hell, and it is easy to see why the film was so successful for Amitabh Bachchan: He is quiet and brooding guy, do not open, guys Face. Of course, the romantic lead in a film is great, but let's face it, who steals the picture? The Han Solo Luke Skywalker on almost every time.

Although much of the film is a tired cliche, a cast makes the job quite well. But what really sells the film that the film is technically a period of time that I saw - well directed, well cared for, good music. The incidental music to help give a little 'Sholay spaghetti western feel (Sholay is what they call "curry" western). Sholay is nothing particularly original, but it is good and worth seeing, if there is anything else you have an answer next time someone asks you - and they are: as you saw Sholay again?

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