Separate from all this, I also remember that initially Sholay (theatrical) did not run -- that version was "Sholay," it had comedy scenes, and it had Gabbar NOT dying, and it also had all those extended B4U sequences in Ali-Rana notes. Everything the same except the ending! When it did not run, the film crew thought that possibly the villain still alive after so many "good men" and Amitabh dying was not acceptable to the public. So they reshot the end! Yes... if my memory serves me right, I read that they reshot the end with Gabbar dying, but at the last moment, thought best not to use that scene at all (in theatres...).

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What Sholay version was shown theatrically in India when it was revived in the past few months??

I have not seen the new cinemascope release but if they had shown Gabbar dying in the end, it would definitely have made big news... but there was not any... so it is safe to assume that Gabbar does not die in the re-release. Plus, the re-release was done by someone who bought the rights of Sholay fro the Sippys... so he could not have changed anything. One other fact -- No one in India (meaning "common man" like me )seems to be aware that Gabbar dies in any version... I have met scores of people of all ages... none recall anything like that.


Did you get a chance to see the censor certificate again on your DVD? What does it say? Sholay or Sholay-Sanshodhit?

Plus, after the film failed to get a good opening, and then if the cast decided to wait a week and did not change the ending, and if the ending everyone saw was Gabbar being carried away by the police, then this contradicts the more popular opinion... How about inviting Ramesh Sippy to this thread

Censor Cert says SHOLAY Shanshodhit) in Hindi and SHOLAY (Revised) in English and is 2.35:1 AR. I'm sure this Cens Cert belongs to the 1975 original 70mm theatrical release (Couldn't read clearly whether CC has 35mm or 70mm written on it but it appears to be 70mm that's scribbled). It's 'revised' as original version where Gabbar dies was not passed by censors and hence producers submitted a revised version and hence the name SHOLAY (Shanshodhit).

I don't think Gabbar dying version has been pssed by Indian censors. Director's Cut is for outside India (No Censors).

...I started comparing MEA EROS and Shemaroo versions a few weeks back...

Gabbar dies in 'Sholay' Or at least does in the original 'Sholay' that Ramesh had shot, Salim-Javed had written. The Thakur kills Gabbar with his feet, wearing shoes that the servant Ramlal has fashioned with nails fitted in the soles. The armless Thakur first crushes Gabbar's arms. Then they stand face to face, two armless warriors, two equals. And then the Thakur pounds Gabbar to death as if he were a venomous snake;
he does not stop till the dacoit is a bloody mess under his shoes. Then he breaks down and cries.

The Shemaroo version is news! Is it available in India?

IMPORTANT Question for all those who have seen the 204-minute DVD.

Is this how Gabbar dies? The Thakur pounding him like a snake and not stopping until he's a bloody mess under his shoes?

The reason I ask is that a Malaysian VCD (full frame) that I have of Sholay - does show Gabbar dying, but not like this...

What actually is shown on my VCD is that Thakur gives a big kick on Gabbar's stomach, and Gabbar is pushed backwards towards a pole that has a protruding spike. This enters Gabbar's body as his back crashes against the pole and he then falls on the ground...

Guys, please let us know which ending is there on your extended DVD... Does any of you actually have Thakur killing Gabbar by pounding him to death under his feet?

Best MEA (Mughl-e-Azam) DVD is Shemaroo. Of course Shemaroo DVD is for Indian Market.

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When they thought that Sholay was rejected, they were thinking of changing it to happy ending by not letting AB die.

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50.Sholay

viewtopic.php?t=4496&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45

There was no reaction. On Friday, 15 August, the first day of 'Sholay's release, Ramesh drove from one theatre to another to assess the reaction of the audience. As on the premiere night, there was only silence.
Over the weekend, panic set in. The theatres were full but the reports were mixed. Pundits were now predicting disaster. No one told Ramesh that, but he could see it in their faces of all those he met.
Every one wore that peculiar expression of pity and awkwardness. They met him like he was a man in mourning.

The Sippys moved into damage-control mode. On the weekend, a hurried meeting was convened at Amitabh's house. G.P Sippy, Ramesh and Amitabh put their heads together to try and come up with solutions. Since there was no fear of piracy at the time, the release of the film in the major territories was being staggered. They could make substantial alterations before 'Sholay' hit the rest of the country.
One suggestion was re-shooting the end again. Amitabh, post'Zanjeer' and 'Deewar', was too big a star to die.
Jai was just a petty thief, he hadn't done anything to deserve death. Perhaps an ending in which the two couples walk into the sunset would salvage the film.

Salim-Javed were vehement that the film shouldn't be touched. Ramesh considered the suggestion for a new ending, but not for long. His head said he should do it but his heart wouldn't allow it. He went with his heart A happy end would compromise his film even further. It was important that the audience leave the theatre with a feeling that something had been left unfinished. That slight ache in the heart was part of the film's appeal. Not a frame would be touched. He would swim or sink with the film.

In EROS Director's Cut 204 min version, Gabbar dies the way NewDeep described. Trempling under spiked shoes is used to finish off Gabbar's hands/arms only. After that it's Head to Head hits and Sanjeev's flying tackles.

In EROS Director's Cut 204 min version, Gabbar dies the way NewDeep described. Trempling under spiked shoes is used to finish off Gabbar's hands/arms only. After that it's Head to Head hits and Sanjeev's flying tackles.