India, July 5 -- It's been 50 years since Sholay was released in 1975. Reflecting the undying popularity of the film, it is now ready for re-release, even adding edited out clippings and has already been enjoyed by a captive audience in Italy recently. Meanwhile movie-goers in India are eagerly waiting for its release in August. Shoma A. Chatterji goes down the memory lane with her own experience of watching it 'first day- first show'

The year Sholay, an action-driven movie laced with violence, was released almost simultaneously the mythological super hit Jai Santoshi Maa hit the screens across India. Being an avid cine-buff, it was de rigueur to catch a new movie in a theatre the first week of its release. I watched both and was amazed ...