ramu confirms sholay for august!

Nothing can stop Sholay: RGV

By: Subhash K Jha
June 12, 2006

Ram Gopal Varma is absolutely determined to go ahead with the shooting of Sholay. “I don’t see why people are so keen to stop Sholay. Is it a kind of national mission?”

Ramu is adamant. “Sholay will happen this August, regardless of who’s in or who’s out of the cast. And I’ll finish the film in November.That’s my final word on the subject. People can say and feel what they like. Ajay Devgan is very much on, for Veeru’s role. I’ve heard rumours that he’s out of the film. But he isn’t.

I can’t stop working and keep refuting the rumours. I’ve got Mohit Ahlawat and Ajay as Jai and Veeru. But let me state once and for all, with the exception of Mr Bachchan as Gabbar Singh, no member in the cast is indispensable. It’s a Gabbar-centric film. Every one is also important, but not pivotal.”

As Basanti, Ramu has neither Mallika Sherawat nor Kareena Kapoor in mind. “Where did Mallika come from? No, I don’t have Mallika or Kareena in mind. I’d have loved to cast Kareena as Basanti. But her personality is very different from the way I’ve imagined Basanti. You’ve to understand that my Sholay will be placed in a totally different setting.

The very fact that I’m signing the introverted Ajay Devgan to play the extroverted Dharmendra’s role proves how far apart the two Sholays are going to be in terms of characterisation. Doesn’t that prove that my take on it will be very different? I’ve never cared about the actor’s image. In any case, Sholay in 1975 has to be culturally and socio-economically very different from Sholay in 2006”

Sighs Ramu, “No matter what people say, making Sholay isn’t self-indulgence for me. I want to make it from the bottom of my heart. I believe Javed Akhtar saab said Sholay has already been done to perfection and cannot be remade.

Well if it has been done to perfection then maybe I’ll make it imperfect. Javed saab also commented that Don can be remade because there’s room for improvement. Well…. let both of us (Farhan Akhtar and Ramu) come out with our remakes and see if Javed saab is right.

OK, as I really didn't (and don't) want to see Sholay re-made, I somewhat stopped following all news concerning Ram Gopal Varma's effort; thus, reading that Ajay Devgan is to play "Veeru," I loudly remark, what the hell? I thought it was going to be Saif Ali Khan, or someone else. I certainly must have been out of it for a while, as I hadn't a clue that Devgan was even to be part of this project. Honestly, I simply can't imagine him enacting to lively and spirited a part as Dharmendra's "Veeru"; maybe (maybe) he could pull of some semblance to Amitabh Bachchan's demeanor in his portrayal of "Jai," but I just don't see Ajay Devgan as being even minutely right for the character he's supposedly set to essay.

Oh...I just read Varma's remarks concerning Devgan. Well...I'm posting this anyway. So, there.

Really, I don't even get why Varma is so intent to declare that his film is a "re-make" of Sholay. If, indeed, it is to be so very "different," then one might not even be able to tell that the film is inspired by the 1975 Ramesh-Sippy classic. Many, many films have been made about people trying to take down a criminal. It's a typical "western," in an urban setting. "Bachchan is 'Gabbar'; Devgan is 'Jai'; etc." I'd just make the movie, and not interminably remind people that I'm offering my rendition of the classic film. Sometimes, it's wise to let people know that you're making a film that's been inspired by another; it can help divert the stones marked "plagiarism" that will be thrown at your face. At other time, however, when you film really doesn't resonate another, I feel you should just make your movie and shut the hell up about where you borrowed from. If the public likely won't see a distinct resemblance between the "old" and the "new," then why dwell on the fact that you got your idea from a certain place?

Well, I think that's my rant, for now. I guess I'll just wait to see how the film is, before I can comment any further...assuming I still have a spare "free ticket" lying around by that point (I just spent one of Fanaa... ).

I am sure ramu is not going to make a film so different that you will not be able to tell that it is a remake. he seems simply to be saying that he wants to re-imagine the film in his own style. this line pretty much says it all…



..unlike akhtar and son, he is not out to try to improve on the original, rather just give the film his own twist

good choice imo...



Ramu’s Sholay gets its Sambha


Subhash K Jha


The much-discussed midnight meeting between Manoj Bajpai and his erstwhile mentor Ram Gopal Varma came to a stalemate because apparently Manoj wanted to play Veeru (the part originally played by Amitabh Bachchan in Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay) rather than Sambha (the role of Gabbar Singh’s main side-kick, originally played by Mac Mohan).

Ramu smiles non-commitally when asked whether Bajpai demanded to play Veeru. “I wouldn’t like to comment on whether Mr Bajpai wanted to play Veeru or not. All I’ll say is, actors are meant to play characters. I’d never change my cast for any actor’s sake. Anyway I wouldn’t like to go into the details about our meeting. I feel it was a confidential private interface between two people. My final word on Mr Bajpai, I had decided not to work with Mr Bajpai. I gave it a chance. It didn’t work out. My decision to not work with Mr Bajpai is final. As I’ve said Mr Bachchan as Gabbar is the only casting in Sholay that’s indispensable. Manoj and I cannot see eye-to-eye, ever. I wish him all the best.”

The day after his meeting with Manoj, Ramu has signed the talented Sushant Singh for Sambha’s role in his Sholay. “When I met Sushant for Sambha’s role I suddenly realised how stupid I was to not think of him for the role. We’ve worked in Satya, Kaun and Jungle, but not afterwards. He’s immensely talented.”

Ramu intends to expand on the character since it was last seen in Ramesh Sippy’s film. “When Sambha was written I doubt that anyone thought it would acquire such popularity over the years in spite of the role being so small. In my Sholay, Sambha will have a lot more to do because my Sholay is re-located in Mumbai. Sambha will be Gabbar’s operative arm in Mumbai. I remember there were moments in Sholay where we got a glimpse of the bonding between Gabbar and Sambha. I intend to build on their friendship. There are so many aspects to Sholay that can be examined and expanded on.”

double post... my bad

Ahh yes. Sushant back to the RGV camp. To be quite honest, I always thought Sushant was one of Ramu's best 'prodigies' (yes, Rajpal Yadav is there on the list). Sure he had a very, very small role in Satya (I heard that after seeing Sushant's natural acting upon getting his face slashed, Ramu decided to make Satya more realistic) but he remained intact in films like Kaun, Jungle, and most recently Darna Mana Hai. I've been waiting to see him reunite with Ramu and hopefully, he'll do justice to Ramu's Sambha. Just my two cents. There's finally some good news about this story and I think we really needed it.

The original is screening this weekend at Walter Reade in NYC!!!

http://www.filmlinc.com/wrt/onsale/sholay.html

Ajy1, oh, my god: thank you so much. I hadn't checked the Lincoln Center Web site in a while... and look at where it got me! I'll definitely try to catch a show -- .

You're welcome Commando303. I almost got to see it a few years back at a screening here in NY where Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta presented it. Unfortunately since I'm not Indian and there were no subs, I had to leave. Glad I waited and didn't rent any of the crappy DVDs.

I just hope it's a good print, and some some set of shitty reels that have been collecting dust for the past few decades. I recall that Sholay was recently "re-mastered" for showings in India; if the job was done well, I hope that's the version that's shown.

Also, though I'm pretty sure that it'll be the "theatrical version" that will be shown, I think it might be cool if they used the "director's cut," instead.

I saw the Walter-Reade-Theater showing of Sholay, and I've walked away with mixed feelings. On the positive side, the film is every bit as sensational to-day, as it was when I first saw it as a child. Sholay is one of the somewhat few classics that has aged very, very well; the action, in particular, feels as sublimely done, and looks as grand, in 2006, as it did when the film was released, in 1975. If anything, the choreography is more amazing to-day, as we've witnessed that, in thirty-one years, close to nothing has matched the visuals and style of Ramesh Sippy's brilliant, classic work. The performances, the songs, the "memorable moments," — everything feels as genuine, inspiring, and plain enjoyable now as it must have sitting in a crowded movie theater in India a few decades ago. This said, I'm saddened to report that the Walter Reade Theater still suffers from some horrible audio problems: For about forty-five minutes, right during the middle of the movie, the sound cuts to about 60% its appropriate volume, and seems to come from only behind the screen. I'm the first one to deprecate the rush toward "HD-DVD" and "Blu-Ray" and "5,000-speaker digital surround sound," but I have to admit that a movie is an experience had through two senses: sight and hearing. If the audio isn't absorbing, isn't captivating, then half the movie is gone; and, with that half, goes about 75% of the total experience. I was actually yawning during "Mehbooba Mehbooba," and was willing to sneak out to go to the bathroom as "Holi Ke Din" began; and, well, that's just criminal. The print of the movie, itself, was also less than impressive. Sholay is a visual masterpiece; scene after scene presents the viewer with unparalleled imagery and beauty, and it's a shame that the copy that was shown was in rather poor shape. Honestly, having seen the Theater's showings last year of some of Amitabh Bachchan's films, I didn't expect that they'd go to any great lengths to acquire a better set of reels, but, nonethless, I was felt slightly disappointed by what I saw. Some scenes cut off much too abrubtly, others were marred by insurmountable scratches, and nothing ever looked quite to clean or crisp as one might have hoped it to. I'm pretty sure that the version shown was the "35mm," and not the original 70mm that was shot by Sippy. Additionally, a quibble not major to me, but understandably so to others, was the subtitling: in a word, it was terrible. "'Thakur saheb, aap is kaam ke liye in mujrimon ko kyon chaahatein hain?' 'Kyonki, loha lohay ko kaatta hai.'" English: "'Why?' 'They're iron.'" Trust me, I'm not exaggerating. This said, the subtitles for 2005's presentation of Amar Akbar Anthony were even worse: "Aisa to aadmi life mein do-ich baar bhaagta hai: yah to Olympic ka race ho, ya phir police ka case ho. Tum kisliye bhaagta hai, bhai?" English: "Easy there."

The version shown was, as expected, the "theatrical cut." I suppose the "Director's-Cut Ending" has simply never been shown in theaters this makes me all the more appreciative of Eros's decision to use it on their DVD.

All-in-all, I'm glad a shelled out the money to see Sholay on the (not-so-big) screen, but, my decision not to get too excited by anything the Walter Reade Theater screens, has been strengthened in resolve.

Like Commando303, I saw Sholay at the Walter Reade as well. However, I can't fault WR with the print problems, as I recently attended a Shaw Bros. retrospective there and the prints were in very good shape. They play pretty much what they can get and I have to blame Eros for this. As we all know, there was a remastered print floating around a few years back (this was the one I didn't get to see b/c there were no subs). It was in scope, 5.1, and looked excellent. Why on earth Eros wouldn't just get that print, subtitle it, and send it around remains a mystery to me. This version was in really bad shape and I could tell that a great majority of the dialogue wasn't even translated at all! I had never seen the film itself and was impressed by it (even though I felt it ran quite long). I guess I'm accustomed to Bwood films today that are much shorter in length (and play more based on the narrative rather than needing to fill up 3 hours plus). That said, there were quite a few "classic" sequences and there's no way I could fault any of it. Good film, just a shame that we don't have a better print for it.

Ajy1, if your first experience watching Sholay was at the Walter Reade Theater, and you don't speak English and thus had to rely on the subtitles to understand the goings-on, then I quite commend you for liking the film. Glancing down every now and then, I couldn't help but feel even slightly angry, that this was the way the movie was being represented to the people who spoke no Hindi, and may have been being introduced to Indian cinema. Things are lost in translation just about always, but the worse the subtitles, the worse the situation. In this case, it was remarkable that non-Hindi-speakers weren't walking out of the theater in frustration and disappointment at times. Sholay is a film known greatly for its dialogues, and I can imagine how much longer the movie can feel when, not only can you not enjoy the banter in its original language, but don't even get a half-way decent interpretation of it in your own. Nonetheless, I'm glad you liked the movie, and hope you, at some point, watch it again; I hear that the Carlotta-released DVD is, right now, the best available.

Thanks Commando303. I think it may have helped greatly that I was already a Bollywood convert. That said, I noticed a smattering of applause at the end of my screening, as well as some hearty laughter during a number of good moments. I think the audience was like 90% non-Indian as well. I'll definitely give it another shot when I get my hands on a solid DVD copy.

Inappropriate laughter — I think, unfortunately — has become (if hasn't always been) part of the old-movie-going experience. Sometimes, I actually find myself giggling, as well — "mob-mentality," I suppose. That said, I was glad that Jai and Veeru's friendship didn't get very many "that's gay" snickers. Also, much depends on the overall maturity of the audience in question; a few dumb-asses, though, can change the tone of the hall greatly.

I forgot to mention, the version that was shown included the "Asrani" jail scene.