“He was very close to VC Shukla.”: Bharathi S Pradhan recalls censorship “controversy” around GP Sippy’s ‘Sholay’ – World News Network

Last updated: March 11, 2025 12:00 am

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 11 (ANI): Ramesh Sippy’s iconic film ‘Sholay’ is regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.
Directed by Ramesh Sippy, the film boasts an ensemble cast, including Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra, along with Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, Hema Malini, and Jaya Bachchan. It has captivated audiences of all ages with its memorable characters, witty dialogue, action sequences and unforgettable songs.
Columnist, film critic, and author Bharathi S Pradhan recalled the “controversy” related to censorship around the movie because it was “violent”.
In a conversation with ANI, she said, “There was a lot of censorship of films. ‘Sholay’ the controversy at that time, 50 years later, I still remember it. The controversy was that it was violent. In those days, sex and violence were big things and not allowed by censors. But they allowed it in G. P. Sippy’s film. And a lot of people said it’s because he was very close to V C Shukla….He was very close to VC Shukla, who was the Information and Broadcasting Minister….”
She also remembered, “I saw the film with RD Burman”.
‘Sholay’ revolves around the village of Ramgarh, where retired police chief Thakur Baldev Singh (Sanjeev Kumar) plots to bring down the notorious bandit Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan) and enlists the help of two lesser criminals, Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) and Veeru (Dharmendra). When Gabbar attacks the village, Jai and Veeru wonder why Thakur does nothing to help them. They soon learn that he has no arms and that Gabbar was the one who cut them off. Enraged by this, they redouble their efforts to help Thakur.
Recently, at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2025 in Jaipur, the prestigious Rajmandir Cinema hosted a special screening of the iconic film ‘Sholay’.
Several Bollywood legends and cast members attended the event, and they shared their experiences and memories of working on the classic movie. (ANI)

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