TIt is a landmark film being the first ever 7o m.m film.made in India.Adapting a Western film theme to Indian Conditions is a remarkable achievement and the gun -weilding action scenes remind One of the Sergi Leone Spaghetti Westerns like 'A Few Dollars More".The Cinematography is classical.
What demarcates this film from an average one is the classical direction. The way scenes showing the Thakur's arms being amputated by Gabbar,the Thakur's grandson being shot by Gabbar and Ahmed ,the village boy being tortured to death are effectively cut reveal this aspect.The way Gabbbar Singh is introduced is classical where he is shown walking on the rocks revealing only his legs .However there are contradictory aspects in the film's script like a Thakur defending the lives of the village peasants(Traditionally Thakurs were landlords who terrorised the peasants)and 2 urban based gangsters wishing to settle down in a village.
Sholay falls marginally short of a classic like Mughal -E-Azam.It does not relate to Social reality as films like "Mother India'or Do Bhiga Zameen' nor has the philosophical depth of films like 'Pyaasa' or 'Mera Naam Joker'.
That does not deny that it is the best film of it's type ever made in India and it's impact on the Indian psyche has been unparalleled in the history of Indian Cinema.The acting of Amjad Khan and Sanjeev Kumar are displays of true genius.
There is also a moral aspect to the film unlike the Italian Spaggheti westerns of the 1960's.
By Harsh Thakor
What demarcates this film from an average one is the classical direction. The way scenes showing the Thakur's arms being amputated by Gabbar,the Thakur's grandson being shot by Gabbar and Ahmed ,the village boy being tortured to death are effectively cut reveal this aspect.The way Gabbbar Singh is introduced is classical where he is shown walking on the rocks revealing only his legs .However there are contradictory aspects in the film's script like a Thakur defending the lives of the village peasants(Traditionally Thakurs were landlords who terrorised the peasants)and 2 urban based gangsters wishing to settle down in a village.
Sholay falls marginally short of a classic like Mughal -E-Azam.It does not relate to Social reality as films like "Mother India'or Do Bhiga Zameen' nor has the philosophical depth of films like 'Pyaasa' or 'Mera Naam Joker'.
That does not deny that it is the best film of it's type ever made in India and it's impact on the Indian psyche has been unparalleled in the history of Indian Cinema.The acting of Amjad Khan and Sanjeev Kumar are displays of true genius.
There is also a moral aspect to the film unlike the Italian Spaggheti westerns of the 1960's.
By Harsh Thakor