New Delhi: When director Ramesh Sippy directed Sholay, little would he have imagined the immense popularity and the many spoofs that his blockbuster would inspire.
With director Ram Gopal Varma and soap queen Ekta Kapoor announcing their versions of the film, it’s the turn for a small-time producer from Madhya Pradesh’s Malwa region to do a “socially relevant” take on the film.
In Shalindra Sen’s Malwa Ke Sholay, an attempted comic take on the blockbuster, 'Gabbar' the dacoit falls in love with the female protagonist Basanti, who is forced to submit to his advances.
She is not accepted back into her family as the film tries to show that “Indian society from the epic age of Ramayan, has never accepted back women if they happen to spend one night away from home.”
The movie, Sen claims, addresses the social evil of the traditional ostracisation of women.
Gabbar feels guilty for "victimising" and decides to reform himself. Basanti’s beau in Sippy’s Sholay – Veeru – is shown to be in love with some other woman.
"The issue is serious but it has been given a comic treatment to make the story hilarious for people who are generally stressed and there is not a single scene of violence in it," Sen was quoted by PTI as saying.
Sen also claims that though the film was being compared with other remakes, it has a “completely different” story.
While Ekta’s remake stars Ravi Kissen as Gabbar and Varma's version makes superstar Amitabh Bachchan the dacoit, Sen claims their storylines remain same as Sippy’s.
"Big directors like Ekta Kapoor and Ram Gopal Verma are making Sholay but their version is like old wine in a new bottle. But ours is not a remake of the old film. We only have the same characters," Sen says.
Debutant Amol Shrikhande will essay the role of protagonist Gabbar and the other actors too are all beginners.
"I enjoyed thoroughly playing the character. It is so different from the original Gabbar. I promise even the audiences will like it," the actor was quoted by agency as saying.
Malwa Ke Sholay is being produced at a modest budget of Rs 18 lakh and will hit theatres across country after cricket World Cup gets over.
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