Sholay on the big screen is an exhilarating 3 hour 24 minute-movie event, with or without 3D glasses. It is wildly entertaining, unforgettable cinema, and I’m willing to bet that it’ll probably be the best film you’ll see in the theatres this year. Don’t miss it.

go see Sholay only because it’s an opportunity to see it again on the big screen, to see a young Amitabh and Dharmendra, and to introduce your kids to it. They might complain it’s a bit long, but the gimmick of 3D should help convince them to come along.

Has the film dated over the years? Not at all. Maybe a couple of scenes like Jaya Bhaduri’s flashback for instance could be trimmed but otherwise the whole 204 minutes of it is still a treasured gem. Right from the opening bars of R.D Burman’s memorable theme music to the end, this is one heck of trip.

While generally when epic and legendary movies are tampered with, they end up getting mauled and unrecognisable, Sholay in 3D format surprisingly works in its favour.

The characters are electric; the dialogue still packs a punch; and the songs are crackling. In 3D, the occasional projectile makes you involuntarily whoop and jump in your seat. However, Sholay’s running length, 3 hours and 18 minutes, is challenging in the 2010s.

…what makes Sholay truly special is that it gets better with every viewing. Many teens may have not watched the film at all but to most Indians, Sholay is a film that seems to grow in its appeal. The joy of watching the epic film on the big screen, then, is not so much in rediscovering it than in reliving the awesomeness all over again, till you are ready for another encore. And for that reason, the film’s re-release is a major cause for celebration.

Their endeavour of pouring an old wine in a new bottle really deserves kudos. Though the content of the film is the same, the newness in its presentation makes it a good watch.