Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 234

Aarey o Samba kitne saal hue?
Sarkar 38 saal
 18.11.2013, Mumbai

Thirty eight years after the release of Sholay the producers are launching a 3D version of the film. While the film’s director Ramesh Sippy is fighting an ongoing battle on copyright issue with the family in court, the third generation of G P Sippy is ready to showcase the trailer of the classic.
It was a milestone moment at PVR Juhu to revisit the film footage in stereophonic sound and Dolby effect in the company of the young producer Sasha Sippy, distributor Jayantilal Gada, Ketan Mehta of Maya Digital and of course writers of Sholay Salim-Javed.
For years filmmakers tried to bring the duo to work together again but it never happened. They fought a common opponent – Zanjeer on the copyright issue and now share a platform for the 3D release of Sholay proving that life is indeed stranger than fiction.
I chatted with Salim and Javed independently and together and I realised that while a lot had changed over the decades, a lot remained the same.
Then, their credit mentioned them as Salim-Javed. Today, they are referred to as Salimsaab and Javedsaab. Then, both wore denim jeans and shirts. Today, Salim still wears jeans while Javed dons designer kurtas. Then, both had black heavy mop of hair. Today, Salim’s hair has turned brown and Javed’s hair is silver. Then, neither needed reading glasses. Today, Salim wears rimmed glasses while Javed after his laser surgery has done away with spectacles.
Both still have an attitude but have mellowed with time. The wit and old humour is still intact and it is evident in the manner they address the media.

Bhawana Somaaya / @bhawanasomaaya