At a time when records for the initial business of films are falling like skittles in Hollywood (Pirates Of The Caribbean) and Bollywood (Krrish), most people agree that when all Hindi film's total business are totted up and then adjusted to inflation, nothing can still outperform Sholay!

A Western-styled action film that tells a basic tale of good versus evil, Sholay still appeals to cineastes as well as the crowds. It is a masterly directorial exploitation of a terrific script.

Thanks to the exigencies of the censors, director Ramesh Sippy kept the violence at an acceptable level and the implied menace of several scenes (a gruesome mass murder is cut by a hooting steam engine) played its part in broad-basing the film's appeal. After a famously wobbly start at the box office, Sholay picked up steam and ran for five uninterrupted years in Mumbai's Minerva theatre with repeat audiences thronging the 70 mm screen.

It made superstars of not only its lead players -- Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini -- but also Amjad Khan who played the villainous icon -- Gabbar Singh. In an unprecedented occurence, Sholay's dialogues were even released on Long Playing records. Sholay lines like 'Kitne aadmi the' or 'Chal Dhanno' or 'Mausi chakki peesing' or 'Tumhara naam kya hai, Basanti?' are instantly recognisable even today, having been kept alive in popular culture through ads and spoofs.

Thirty-one years on, Sholay has lost none of its lustre.