India, June 29 -- Sholay," one of India's iconic films of all time, celebrated 50th anniversary in style with its fully restored and uncut version screened on June 27 at the prestigious Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna, Italy. This tribute was paid at the open-air Piazza Maggiore there.

The uncensored or uncut version shows Thakur, played by Sanjeev Kumar, killing Gabbar Singh in the climax. The climax had to be changed due to objections by the Censor Board.

Incidentally, the special screening in Italy came months after a special postal cover to honour Sholay was released in January. The stamp was unveiled by director Ramesh Sippy at an event organised in Mumbai by the Maharashtra Postal Circle.

Speaking at the event, Sippy said...