Sholay, a popular hindi film from 1975 tells the tragic tale of Gabbar, an OBC leader who is persecuted and pursued by a village landlord and feudal oppressor. The bourgeois media – bought and paid for – has represented Gabbar as the ultimate villain. The truth is a little different.
Unable to stand the caste oppression and police brutality in the Hindi belt of independent India, Gabbar and his men turn anarchist. They eke out a living in ravines, their needs supported by local villagers.
Of course, people who gain from inequality will always try to destroy anyone who challenges them.
Thakur, a police officer and absentee landlord, pursues Gabbar and attacks him. He does not follow proper procedure while arresting Gabbar. This is ignored by a corrupt and complicit judicial system.
Gabbar escapes, but he doesn’t kill Thakur. He merely neutralises his ability to be violent as a message to feudal oppressors everywhere.
Gabbar was made what he was by the brutality he had faced at the hands of an upper-caste elite.
Thakur retires from the police and begins plotting his revenge. Does he arm and empower the hard-working labourers and share-croppers in his village?
Of course not.
He hires two ruthless mercenaries to assassinate Gabbar.
Veeru, a creepy harasser is distracted by Basanti, a village belle, and even tries to impersonate God to fulfil his rapacious desire. After he is caught out, he blackmails her by threatening to commit suicide unless she reciprocates his affections. Caught in the trap of patriarchy and social pressure, Basanti and her reluctant Mausi give in.
Jai, a decent fellow is trapped by Thakur using his attractive widowed daughter-in-law.
There is much fighting. Gabbar initially has the upper hand thanks to the loyalty of his oppressed comrades. Jai, so committed to Thakur, kills himself in suicidal attack on Gabbar’s comrades.
Veeru returns and bests Gabbar, but the ruthless Thakur can’t let the glory go to one of his men, a mere mercenary. He maims Gabbar and tortures him, but chooses not to kill him.
The police does not arrest Veeru or Thakur for their vigilantism, or the many men they have killed.
Gabbar, the hero of the masses, is taken into custody, and no doubt to the gallows.
Video edited by Kunal Mehra.
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