The Indian Film Festival of Sydney (IFFS), brought to audiences by the team behind the globally celebrated Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), has announced a spectacular centrepiece for its 2025 edition. The newly restored version of Sholay will screen from 9–11 October, making Sydney the latest city to experience this monumental revival of Indian cinema’s crown jewel.
Often hailed as the most iconic film in Indian cinematic history, Sholay has been painstakingly restored in 4K by the Film Heritage Foundation in partnership with Sippy Films. The restoration process itself reads like a cinematic thriller—archivists discovered a rare colour reversal print in London, tracked down original negatives in Mumbai, and unearthed long-lost deleted sequences from an old warehouse. The result: a breathtaking restoration that returns Sholay to its original 70mm grandeur, complete with immersive audio and visual brilliance.
Most excitingly, the film now features director Ramesh Sippy’s originally envisioned ending—where Thakur avenges his family by killing Gabbar Singh. For fans, this is more than a restored print; it is a restoration of cinematic intent, offering audiences the chance to experience Sholay as it was first imagined 50 years ago.
After making its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) earlier this month, the restored Sholay now heads to Sydney for its highly anticipated screening.
Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange expressed her joy at presenting this historic screening: “Sholay is more than a film—it’s part of India’s cultural DNA. Bringing back its original ending restores not just a scene but the true vision of its creator. As we celebrate 50 years of Sholay, we celebrate the courage of cinema to endure, to challenge, and to be reborn in its purest form. Sydney audiences will now witness the film as it was always meant to be seen.”
Beyond Sholay, IFFS will showcase a dynamic line-up of 15+ films across languages, genres, and formats, alongside filmmaker conversations, retrospectives, and industry panels. True to its mission, the festival continues to bridge cultures and celebrate the timeless spirit of Indian storytelling.
