Considering the time it was made in...this movie is a lesson in the Art of Film making...be it the story,characters,camerawork,choreography,props, editing,screenplay, direction....
It still stands out...and to think the shows went nearly empty for first 18 days...
Sholay survived the Emergency. The central Government introduced censorship policy to diallow any film depicting voilence and cruelty. Sholay was full of violence and chances of its ban were more. However the censorship took a linient view with regard to this movie . Movies in other languages wre not so lucky. The regional censor boards mwercilessly cut the movies with fight and 'romantic 'scenes . Naturally the became damp squib at the Box Office.