Sydney: Restored Version of ‘Sholay’ to Premiere at Indian Film Festival of Sydney
A newly restored version of Ramesh Sippy’s iconic film Sholay will take centre stage at the Indian Film Festival of Sydney (IFFS), organized by the team behind the globally acclaimed Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM).
The festival, running from October 9 to 11, will celebrate Indian cinema over three vibrant days, with Sholay as its centerpiece.
Recognized as one of Indian cinema’s most legendary films, Sholay has been meticulously restored in 4K by the Film Heritage Foundation in collaboration with Sippy Films. According to the organisers, the painstaking restoration involved locating a rare colour reversal print in London and recovering original camera negatives and long-lost deleted scenes from a warehouse in Mumbai. The result is a stunning visual and audio revival, bringing the film back to its original 70mm glory. Notably, the restored version showcases the original ending envisioned by director Ramesh Sippy, where Thakur exacts revenge on Gabbar Singh.
The Sydney screening follows the film’s world premiere earlier this month at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange shared her excitement, saying, “Sholay is more than a film—it is woven into the fabric of Indian storytelling, memory, and myth. Restoring its original ending after all these years brings back not just a different final scene, but the full vision of its creator. As we mark 50 years of Sholay, we celebrate the courage of cinema to challenge, endure, and be reborn in its truest form. We are thrilled that Sydney audiences will finally see the film as it was always meant to be seen.”
In addition to Sholay, the festival will showcase a curated selection of over 15 films across languages, genres, and formats, alongside filmmaker conversations, retrospectives, and panels highlighting the legacy and future of Indian cinema.
The Indian Film Festival of Sydney continues its mission to bridge cultures through storytelling, honouring cinematic heritage while championing contemporary voices.
