To celebrate its 50th anniversary, a restored and uncut version of the iconic Bollywood film Sholay had its world premiere in Italy at the Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna on June 27. The open-air screening saw hundreds of people enjoying the film on a truly magnificent evening.
Sholay Returns To The Big Screen For Its 50th Anniversary
“Kitne aadmi the?”, probably the first line that comes to mind when we think of Sholay. Directed by Ramesh Sippy and released on 15 August 1975, this iconic Bollywood film just celebrated its 50th anniversary in style, in Italy! Its fully restored version, complete with all the uncut scenes, was screened on a big screen for the first time at the Piazza Maggiore at Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna in an open-air setting.
The evening echoed with its iconic dialogues and songs, drawing hundreds of people. The steps around the square and even the floor in front of the screen were packed when the film began to play.
The Film Heritage Foundation, which played a crucial role in the restoration project, collaborated with Sippy Films to bring this vision to life. The foundation shared images on their official Instagram account, with a caption that read, “It was a magnificent evening in Bologna yesterday to watch the restored Sholay (1975, Ramesh Sippy) play out for the first time on a giant screen in the Piazza Maggiore in front of an audience that filled the seats, the steps around the square and even the floor as they watched one of India’s most iconic films come back to life 50 years after it was released.”
The Film Heritage Foundation is a non-profit organisation. It works to preserve and protect India’s cinematic legacy.
Also Read: 5 Shooting Locations Of Iconic Sholay That All Fans Must Visit At Least Once
Crowd Cheers For The Classic
Not just Indians, but people from across the world were seen enjoying the film in the pictures posted. The scenes held everyone’s attention. Cheers and applause filled the square, as per the post shared by the NGO on Instagram.
Many followers expressed their excitement about the screening of their favourite film. One user commented, “A magnificent film with a magnificent restoration gets a packed house and still relives the magic and euphoria seen 50 years ago. FHF breathes life into a film for future generations. Long live Sholay!” while another added, “everyone’s looking so happy, and that’s the purpose of Sholay. You can literally see that happiness in everyone’s reaction stills.”
Also Read: If You’re A True Fan Of Sholay Then You Must Visit The Sholay Themed BBQ Bike
The celebratory event which brought Sholay back to cinemas after 50 years, was nothing short of iconic. Just imagine watching the iconic scenes from Thakur’s village, Ramgarh, light up a giant screen once again!
Cover Image Courtesy: @filmheritagefoundation/ Instagram
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