50 Years Of Sholay: From flop to a mega hit, how Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan starrer beat the odds

Sholay celebrates 50 years

When Sholay released on August 15, 1975, the expectations from the Ramesh Sippy directorial were sky-high. Starring an ensemble cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, and a then not so popular Amjad Khan, the action drama was touted as India's biggest and most expensive film at the time.

But what followed on its opening weekend was far from spectacular. Early reviews were scathing, critics found the film too long, and the audience turnout wasn’t as enthusiastic as expected. Trade experts whispered the unthinkable - Bollywood’s magnum opus might be a massive flop.

But what turned the tide was something no marketing budget can buy. It was the word of mouth. Audiences who did venture into theatres were mesmerised by the film’s storytelling, characters, and cinematography. Slowly but surely, viewers started returning for repeat screenings. The film, which was expected to vanish quietly, began showing signs of life.

By its fourth week, Sholay had transformed from a struggling release into a box office juggernaut. Theatres that had reduced its shows were now increasing them. Sholay became a sensation thanks to Minerva Theatre, which screened the movie continuously for more than five years. It changed the definition of cinematic success and went on to become the highest-grossing Indian film of all time.

The emotional arc between Jai and Veeru, the tragic story of Radha, and the menacing Gabbar Singh the film had something to takeaway for all. The experience was enhanced by Salim-Javed's dialogue, Burman's music, and the groundbreaking use of 70mm film and stereophonic sound.

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Even the alleged shortcomings were used as talking points. Pop culture adopted Gabbar Singh's haunting laugh and lines like "Kitne aadmi the?" and "Jo darr gaya, samjho marr gaya." Once deemed over-the-top by critics, it became iconic. After his first casting was questioned, Amjad Khan became one of the most iconic villains in Hindi film industry.

50 years on, Sholay’s journey from flop to phenomenon only goes on to show the unpredictable magic of cinema.