Sholay 3D Hindi Movie

Feature Film | 2014 | Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Romantic, Thriller
Critics:
The makers deserve to be lauded only for gifting the fans a chance to watch their favourite drama on big screen. As for its 3D conversion, the attempt is highly gimmicky. This review is specific to the new 3D version, not the 1975 classic.
Jan 3, 2014 By Mansha Rastogi


How exactly can one review a film which is already synonymous with the term cult classic? What more does one write on a film that's already been written, dissected and spoken about in great lengths? What review do you put out for a film that's already been watched by millions over and over again?


Rarely come films that last a lifetime. It's been 39 years for the movie which released way back in 1975 and the fandom for it still retains the same fervour. Maybe then when you see somebody altering the techniques of the cult and re-releasing it, it just doesn't make sense.


Even when the film first released way back in the '70s, it created a stir by being one of the most expensive films of those times what with all the cinemascope of six-track stereophonic sound system. The movie which first opened to lukewarm response became a rage through word of mouth and ended up running in Mumbai's Minerva theater for as long as five years. It's no surprise for the film to break records even in it's re-release phase. So once again we have Sholay turning out to be the longest film to be made in 3D. But the question is does Sholay require the new age aides?


Answer is NO. The undying, unfading fervour for Sholay doesn't require the itsy-bitsy add ons for another watch. The film could well be re-released in its original format for fans to throng cinema halls once again in order to watch the magic unfurl on big screen. The reason I say this is strictly because the new age technology is nothing but a paltry and gimmicky stunt to encash the film. It's no fun when half of the 3D film can actually be watched without the requirement of the 3D specs or have gimmicky treatment in term of a bullet actually reaching till you or logs of wood thudding out of the screens. Sholay is not about such frivolities. Period.


The conversion and transformation only comes to fore in its sound system. From what was a six-track stereophonic sound system, Sholay 3D has been re-recorded in Dolby atmos 64 track stereo system and that's what actually elevates or hightens the cinema viewing experience. But that's technical jargon to the audience and wouldn't be that grave a concern.


To give credit where it's due, the makers deserve to be lauded purely for the thought of re-releasing the cult film and gifting the fans a chance to watch their favourite drama on big screen.


Mansha Rastogi

   

MOVIE REVIEWS