Mumbai (Maharashtra), June 23: Bollywood’s legendary film Sholay will mark its 50th anniversary with a world premiere of its fully restored and uncut version at the prestigious Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna, Italy, on June 27. This screening will be held at the iconic Piazza Maggiore, renowned for hosting grand cinematic events.
Released in 1975, Sholay became an iconic piece of Indian cinema, celebrated for its gripping storyline, unforgettable characters, and epic action sequences. Directed by Ramesh Sippy, the film starred Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, and Amjad Khan, and grew to become a cultural milestone in Indian film history.
This restoration project, led by the Film Heritage Foundation in partnership with Sippy Films Pvt. Ltd., took nearly three years. For the first time, the restored film will include its original ending and deleted scenes that were previously missing from public theatrical releases.
In a press release, Amitabh Bachchan reflected on the journey of the film:
“Shooting for Sholay was unforgettable, but none of us expected it would become a watershed moment for Indian cinema… I’m thrilled the Film Heritage Foundation restored the film with its original ending. Even 50 years later, I hope it captivates new audiences worldwide.”
Dharmendra, recalling his role, said:
“Sholay is the 8th wonder of the world. Every character became a star… I chose to play Veeru because he’s just like me. The tanki scene, the temple scene, Jai’s death — they are all still so vivid. This restoration is a gift to fans old and new.”
The restoration process sourced rare archival materials from Mumbai and London, with expert assistance from Italian labs and the British Film Institute. The final version is formatted in 2.2:1 aspect ratio with fully restored visuals and sound, providing a cinematic experience faithful to its original vision.
This anniversary screening is expected to be a landmark global tribute to one of India’s most celebrated films.