Celebrating 50 Years of 'Sholay': The Legacy Echoes in Ramanagara

New Delhi, Aug 15 (PTI) – Half a century has passed since "Sholay" made its iconic debut on the Indian silver screen, yet the rugged hills of Karnataka's Ramanagara district continue to echo with its enduring legacy. The fierce legacy of Gabbar Singh, the warm friendship between Jai and Veeru, and Basanti's lively conversations still seem to animate the landscape.

The timeless classic, which tells the story of two petty criminals hired by a retired policeman to apprehend the notorious dacoit Gabbar Singh, was released on August 15, 1975, marking a new era in Indian cinema.

Directed by Ramesh Sippy, with a compelling script by legendary writers Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, the film was lauded for its captivating narrative, potent dialogues, and unforgettable characters brought to life by stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, and Amjad Khan.

Ramadevara Betta, the rugged hills in Ramanagara which stood in for the fictional village of “Ramgarh,” has indelibly woven "Sholay" into its very fabric. The craggy vistas of Ramadevara Betta provided the perfect setting for Gabbar Singh’s notorious lair.

The site became the backdrop for some of Hindi cinema’s most memorable scenes, including the chilling moment when Gabbar ominously asks his henchmen, "Kitne aadmi the?”.

Filming kicked off in October 1973 and extended for nearly two-and-a-half years, during which an entire township sprung up to accommodate the production, alongside a road constructed to connect the Bangalore-Mysore highway to the set.

The extensive filming profoundly transformed the area. Locals reminisce about the nearly three-year-long cinematic invasion, with many of them even appearing as extras.

Boramma, who was merely seven years old during her appearance in "Sholay," recalls, “I still remember everything. The scene with Hema Malini and Dharmendra in the mango orchards was filmed here. There was the village on the other side. Originally a dense forest, they converted it into a thriving village scene for the film.”

"Ramadevara gained fame due to ‘Sholay’, and many more movies followed suit,” Boramma continues, now in her 50s. “The shoot spanned three years, roads were built for filming, and Gabbar Singh’s scenes were all done here.”

Another local, Bettayya, shares that his parents were part of the crew. “I was 15, and my parents worked on the sets. Though I don’t recall many details, I remember the good food we received and Dharmendra’s generosity of giving Rs 100 to the elderly. A narrow path was expanded into a proper road, which later became a tar road due to the efforts of the Forest Department.”

"Sholay" has imprinted Ramanagara on the map, with the local government capitalizing on this fame by turning these locations into popular tourist attractions, drawing visitors from across India.

Locals express immense pride in the film’s massive success and its sustained impact on Indian cinema. ”The legacy of 'Sholay’ brought recognition to Amitabh Bachchan and spotlighted our district, resonating even fifty years later,” one resident remarked.

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