Sholay - A 3D Sequel

Fade in. The sequel begins.

After ruling Ramgarh for over sixty years, Thakur Balwant Singh is now complacent and arrogant. As it happens, decades of unchallenged power can be intoxicating.

Once prosperous, the people of Ramgarh are suffering as Thakur’s men are busy looting coal, spectrum and the aam villager. His haveli in Lutyens’ Ramgarh is only for sycophants who sing paeans in his praise. Dour and uncommunicative, Thakur does not speak. When he speaks, it is to defend the indefensible. His silence seems a better option.Those close to Thakur, seek refuge in belligerence. Moreover, an aging Thakur is not in touch with Ramgarh’s changing demography.
As a result, Thakur anoints Chote Thakur as the caretaker of Ramgarh. But the villagers have had enough of Thakur and his family.They laugh when Thakur says, "Thakur Ka Haath, Aam Admi Ke Saath." For they know that Thakur lost his hands after 2009.
There are scenes where Ramgarh-wallas ask in hushed tones, “Why is Chote Thakur so precisely the opposite of his predecessors?” The answer eludes everyone - including the reluctant Chote Thakur."

Meanwhile challenge comes in the form of Babbar from Gujarat. Far away from Ramgarh, in his small village, Babbar is the new face of governance. His name is synonymous with development, literacy and empowerment. When residents of Ramgarh come to know about Babbar’s management skills, they decide to invite him to Ramgarh.

Clearly the wheel had turned full circle. 

Realizing that chickens were coming home to roost, Thakur begins scaring his own people. “Be very very scared,” says one of the ex-environment lieutenants of Thakur. “Be very scared of this Mass Murderer, Tea Seller, Hitler…”
Unfazed by Thakur's criticism, Babbar decides to challenge Chote Thakur. Anticipating a bitter climax, he anoints Samba as the poll manager of UP.



In this cocktail of conflict, flashes of comic relief come from a handful of Soorma Bhopalis, the spokespersons of Thakur from Madhya Pradesh and Stephens.

As the reel rolls, the arrival of Babbar looks imminent. Thakur tries to please villagers and throws a few crumbs( gas cylinders, food security etc). But villagers refuse to be treated as beggars. When doles prove ineffective, Thakur begins his search for Jai and Veeru.

Guess what? He finds them in Ramgarh. One day, Thakur discovers Jai and Veeru riding their Wagon R in the by lanes of Ramgarh. Dressed in a muffler and sandals, angry young Jai is a rebel with a cause. When he speaks you sense his honesty and integrity. Nothing else matters. His sidekick, Veeru, is a poet known for his poetic prowess.

Interval. 

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This is when the two leading ladies – Delhi and Amethi, brighten the movie with their presence.

Despite striking features, Delhi looks oddly vulnerable. Once a young and sassy woman, Delhi is repeatedly raped as Thakur’s men remain helpless bystanders. Several scars and dark spots have blemished her pretty face. Nevertheless, a cynical Jai is attracted towards Delhi. A tender yet violent romance brews between Delhi and Jai.

When Amethi’s character comes alive in the second half of the movie, Veeru woos her in style. He has eyes only for her. Like the conventional Bollywood heroine, Amethi spurns his advances initially. Each time Veeru faces rotten eggs, he croons, “Koi Haseena Jab rooth Jati Hai To Aur Bhi Haseen Ho Jaati Hai.” 

Unlike the original, characters in this 3D sequel are complicated. Innumerable side stories and dirty stings confuse the audience. And then there is the all pervasive media. 

Aadhe Thakur ke saath hai, aadhe Babbar ke saath, aur baki Jai-Veeru ke saath. Basically, they are with no one, but their spicy speculative stories.

The toll of this bitter conflict is telling on the citizens of Ramgarh. Most of them look like Rahim Chacha– confused and dazed.They are asking, "Itna shor kyon hai bhai?"

Want more?

Well, I had to take a loo break at this point. I just hope that the movie ends on a happy note.But there is no real ending, is there? It is just the place where we stop the story.


Picture Curtesy: photogallery. indiatimes .com