Join us at the Rio Theatre on Friday, June 5 for Indian Summer Festival’s Box Office Launch Party! This special evening will include a one-time only screening of Ramesh Sippy's iconic, genre-defining cult-classic action blockbuster SHOLAY (1975), starring Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra.

The evening will kick off with a programming overview of the Indian Summer Festival Program (July 9-19), offering access to on-the-spot ticket purchasing for the entire festival line-up. Grab specially curated refreshments and mango cocktails and settle into the one, the only SHOLAY.

This 50th Anniversary restoration edition of SHOLAY had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025, where its star Bachchan mused, “Some things in life remain permanently etched in your mind. 'Sholay' is one such film. It’s wonderful that the Film Heritage Foundation has restored 'Sholay' and that they have managed to locate and include the original ending as well as some deleted scenes in the restoration.I hope that even 50 years later, the film will capture the imagination of new audiences across the world.” Dharmendra states, “Sholay is the 8th wonder of the world." Captivating audiences worldwide with its compelling narrative, memorable characters and groundbreaking action sequences, SHOLAY serves as a cornerstone of Indian cinema, and continues to be celebrated for its enduring impact.

This meticulously restored version, a collaborative effort by Film Heritage Foundation and Sippy Films Pvt. Ltd., brings back the film as it was originally intended. Audiences will have the unique opportunity to see the original ending and previously deleted scenes that were not part of the widely distributed theatrical cut, offering a fresh perspective on a cinematic masterpiece.

Co-presented by Rio Theatre and Indian Summer Festival, we are buzzing to be bringing the masala in masala films to East Vancouver. Join us for a spicy night of drama, art, and fun!

"'Sholay' delivers the goods, all right. It has, quite literally, everything -- action, adventure, romance, drama, comedy (very broad), musical numbers -- all superbly directed by young Ramesh Sippy." (Los Angeles times)

"'Sholay' is a grand, maximalist revel. It's the kind of movie that, while it may pass into the status of so many older movies more talked about than seen, it became that thing by being great." (RogerEbert.com)

"You can divide Hindi cinema into two eras, pre-and-post 'Sholay.' It is a landmark. They don't make 'em like this anymore." (The Indian Express)

Friday, June 5
Doors 6:30 pm | Movie 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Please note: This film screens with an intermission.

SHOLAY (Ramesh Sippy, 1975 / 204 mins / Hindi w. English subtitles / NR) In the village of Ramgarh, retired police chief Thakur Baldev Singh plots to bring down the notorious bandit Gabbar Singh and enlists the help of two lesser criminals, Jai and Veeru. When Gabbar attacks the village, however, 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. Content expanded.