Ode to enduring legacy of iconic Hindi film Sholay

LAST week, the iconic Hindi film Sholay (embers or flames in English) completed 50 years since its release in 1975. The film was re-released in India to mark the landmark event which led to renewed interest among younger audiences. The Indian Cultural Association in collaboration with the Swami Vivekananda Control Centre in Colombo also organised a special screening of the film in Colombo to mark the event.

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Sholay is to Bollywood cinema what Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is to Hollywood but with all the masala of a Hindi film that makes for a roller-coaster of emotions and entertainment. It's a story of revenge and love, comedy and tragedy, saucy and sweet - the perfect recipe for a blockbuster.

Released on 15 August 1975, initially Sholay received a lukewarm response, but later audiences warmed up to the film and it ran uninterrupted for five years. Sholay remains one of the most frequently quoted and watched Indian films ever till today. The legendary script writing duo Salim-Javed penned the memorable lines which most Indians can quote off the cuff even today.