Sholay Restored, Premieres in Italy With Original Ending

The iconic Bollywood film 'Sholay' will mark its 50th anniversary with the world premiere of its fully restored, uncut version at the Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna, Italy, on June 27, 2024. This edition features the film's original ending, in which Gabbar Singh is killed by Thakur, and deleted scenes previously omitted due to censorship. Restoration efforts by Film Heritage Foundation and Sippy Films Pvt. Ltd. spanned three years and utilized rare interpositives and color reversal intermediates, reinstating the film’s authentic 2.2:1 aspect ratio and original sound mix. Stars Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra praised the film’s longstanding cultural influence, calling it a 'watershed for Indian cinema' and the '8th wonder of the world.' Written by Salim-Javed and directed by Ramesh Sippy, 'Sholay' is acclaimed for its genre-blending style and inspirations from global cinema masters. The event is expected to draw a worldwide audience and reaffirm 'Sholay’s' status as a cinematic milestone.