By
RUBY ZAIDI
Sholay is a Dacoit Western (sometimes called a “Curry Western”), combining the conventions of Indian dacoit films with that of Spaghetti Westerns along with elements of Samurai cinema. Sholay is also a defining example of the masala film, which mixes several genres in one work.
The credit for superb direction had gone to Ramesh Sippy but did you know that only 60 percent of the movie was directed by Ramesh Sippy?
Then who directed the rest 40 percent?
Ramesh Sippy came on Sholay set only to direct Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, recalls Sachin: ‘Amjad Khan and I handled the second unit’.
We never knew the truth that Sachin Pilgaonkar had revealed.
Is there another movie that has influenced and impacted the cultural and cinematic landscape of India like Sholay (1975) did? It’s doubtful. Directed by Ramesh Sippy, this action-adventure film, which combines elements from Spaghetti Westerns, heist movies, and samurai cinema, wasn’t just a blockbuster; it defined entertainment and exemplified masala cinema, a typical Bollywood film. Penned by the iconic Salim–Javed (Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar) duo.
Sholay boasted a star-studded cast comprising Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan and Amjad Khan among others.
Though a great deal has already been discussed and written about the movie, Sholay seems to be a treasure trove that continues to reveal intriguing details even today, 49 years after its initial theatrical release. Recently, actor-director Sachin Pilgaonkar took a trip down memory lane and recalled working on the film as an assistant director. He revealed that Ramesh Sippy would come to the set only to direct heavyweights like Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, and Sanjeev Kumar.
Ramesh Sippy came on Sholay set only to direct Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, recalls Sachin: Amjad Khan and I handled the second unit
Sachin Pilgaonkar said that the train robbery scene along with many others filmed along the Bombay–Poona railway route near Panvel, was shot without Ramesh Sippy.
It’s an amazing fact that many iconic scenes were Directed by Amjad Khan and Sachin Pilgaonkar. Sholay’s Ghost directors were these two actors. Sachin was a teenager at that time but he along with Amjad Khan made great contributions to Sholay.
One of the reasons for ‘Sholay’s everlasting appeal is its rich tapestry of characters, each etched into the collective memory of Indian cinema. Amitabh Bachchan (Jai) and Dharmendra (Veeru), with their true camaraderie and iconic banter, Gabbar’s persona and his style of speaking even normal sentences seem like dialogues, like Kitne aadmi the?
Wo dou thhe aur tum teen, phir bhi wapas aa gaye ?Dhikkar hai! Iski saza milegi, Kitni goli hai iske andar ? Kab hai Holi? Tera kya hoga Kaliya ? Aur ab Goli kha, Kitna inaam rakkhe hai Sarkar humper ? and so many more… These were simple one-liner conversations and not dialogues, but the way Amjad Khan spoke them, they became iconic, and they have left an indelible mark on the audience.
