30 minutes agoAuthor: Umesh Kumar Upadhyay
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On August 15, the film Sholay completed 50 years. Director Ramesh Sippy’s multistarrer film is counted among the iconic films of the industry. Even today its characters and their dialogues are on the tongue of the people. On the completion of 50 years of the film, director Ramesh Sippy has a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar. He spoke about the secret of the film’s success, challenging things and shooting of train sequences etc. Major excerpts:
When and how did the idea of the film’s story come to mind and brain?
See, Salim-Javed had a one-two line idea. He has told the idea, then it seemed that the story should be put in the adventure, then we will find a basic thing and it will be an action film. We sat working on the story, then the rest of the characters emerged and became very good. We were happy, but at that time we did not know that even after 50 years it would be discussed and the dialogue would be repeated. Well, sat with Salim-Javed, then the matter became made. The story continued to move forward in a very natural manner and started writing Salim-Javed Saheb dialogues, then he also finished in 15 days.
Salim-Javed first wanted to name the film earlier. He later decided to name ‘Sholay’. The name was conjugated by Salim Khan.
Well, the shooting location was chosen Bangalore, while the background of the story is from Ramgarh village? How is this?
At that time I felt that many such films were made there. The area will look the same as the landscape and the event which was different. Meaning something else should be. Art Director MR Achrekar went to see the Bangalore location, then the rocky area from outside started interesting. After going inside, we climbed on the stones, then instead of the del etc., we looked in such a way that we will not get a better place than this. Saw the second area there, then it looked very accurate for the village. Going on the stone above, then it was decided that a house would be built here. All the places were closely monitored, then it felt that it should be shot here. Seeing the location, all things started coming in the mind. His positivity kept appearing that if we set here, everything will be fine.
How long did it take to make a full set?
See, it took a long time of four-five months, because the entire village, market, water tank, temple and mosque etc. were to be built. It takes time to do the right thing. My special Aziz Bhai supported the set, who was in charge of the setting. He sat there and set up Ada and built the whole set with about 500 workers. We started shooting, even then the work of making the set continued.
‘Sholay’ was the first film in the history of Indian cinema, which celebrated Silver Jubilee in more than 100 cinemas across the country.
This Aziz Bhai, A.R. Was an assistant to Kardar. Kardar used to meet him in the studio. We also gave our opinion while setting up the set together with Aziz Bhai and Achrekar. The first shot was to return the key to Amit ji, Jaya ji.
The train sequence was quite long. What was the time and challenge to film it?
It took seven weeks to shoot the train sequence. It was shot on the Panvel-Uran railway track. A lot of preparations had to be made for this. We hired a different train, because it wanted the coal engine. There was a little back and forth at the time of shooting, because at that time one train on the track used to come back from Panvel in the morning and the other train returned in the evening. When the railway train passed, we used to take our train on the side track. Even after passing back, we had to side. In this way, we had to side our train four times a day.
Along with the train, we had also taken motorman and 50-60 railway staff, because the train has to be prepared in advance for an incident and an event. During this time, 300 to 400 people used to shoot railway staff and our people. There was not so much fee of the train, but booked for seven weeks, then a large amount had to be deposited in advance. We got this deposit back after six months. Apart from the train freight, the people who came on the shoot from the railway had to make arrangements for food and drink.
Thakur Baldev Singh was actually named after Salim Khan’s father -in -law, which was used by Sanjeev Kapoor’s role in the film.
Today, there is a challenge about shooting, then what is that?
We made a full turn at the location. There was a rocky area on both sides, covered it and made a turn. He looked like a complete set. From there the train comes and collides, then all the people fly away. If there is no planning, then how to shoot. There is no readymade there. He has to create. This is a part of movie making that if it is like this, then how to do it! From here, Aziz Bhai was for action and some action stunts and cameraman were called from England. Those who came from outside used to speak English, while we used to talk to Hindi, Urdu. In such a situation, it was difficult, then 2-4 people were kept to convince them.
Looking back 50 years, what would have happened if you had to change one thing?
Why change When people liked one thing so much, it has become so good, then what would it change.
Is there any memorable thing to choose a star cast?
He told the story to the people we wanted, then they liked it. Everyone signed and work started.
What was the challenge about weather, location and star cast etc.
Every film keeps suffering in the weather. Sometimes clouds are needed, then sunlight comes out and sunlight, then clouds come out. But I was stubborn. I used to wanted clouds, then I used to wait till the cloud came. If the sun was wanted, then he used to wait till his arrival. The weather was not always supported.
Even after fifty years, people remember dialogues and scenes, what do they get the reason for this?
They were made with great love and love. Made well with Salim-Javed and everything became right. Every scene, every line got fit, which people liked. Special Gabbar i.e. our Amjad Saheb, his voice, the way he got his gesture, we got him finalized. Of course, the script was good and became good while doing something. Everyone became good and happy now. Then went on and the result is in front of everyone.
Gabbar Singh had only 9 scenes in the film and his uniform was purchased from Chor Bazaar in Mumbai.
How did the film ‘Sholay’ change your career and personal life?
I did not think of anything like this. Yes, people liked the film a lot. Wherever I used to go, there was praise. People used to repeat the dialogue and tell about the scene that it was very fun. Hearing the praise of the audience, it seemed that hard work had paid off. In this way, 50 years passed. Even today, I go to the party function, then there is definitely a talk of ‘Sholay’.
Share a special experience of working with the famous artists of that era?
See, Amjad Khan was new, so he had to mold a lot. His personality, his face, his beard and clothes were such that he suit him. Everyone had to work hard to bring everyone along, but everything was good. Amjad Khan always used to come on the set, but his work was not done for four months. But in those four months, everyone got mixed up. When his work started, Behind the camera also started working. Sachin Pilgaonkar also worked a little bit Behind the camera.