SHOLAY TOPS POLL ON INDIAN CINEMA
(16 October 2002)

'Sholay', Ramesh Sippy’s 1975 ‘curry western’, has topped the British Film Institute’s poll on Indian cinema. With a dialogue that achieved cult-status, the film tells the story of two runaway thieves defending a village against bandits. Commenting on the success of Sholay, Cary Sawhney, Director of the ImagineAsia festival, said: “It is the perfect Hindi film.”

Voted for by a wide range of experts associated with South Asian film industries from film-makers and performers to writers and critics, the top ten features both Bollywood and arthouse titles. Satyajit Ray is the top Director with Pather Panchali and Charulata at second and sixth place respectively, while titles from the 1950s and 1960s dominate the list.

The Indian film poll is part of a wider survey on South Asian cinema which includes top ten lists for Pakistani, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi cinema. Films with contemporary Asian themes or made by Western Asians have their own category which is topped by Stephen Frears’ ground-breaking My Beautiful Laundrette (1984).

Part of ImagineAsia, the bfi’s eight-month nationwide celebration of South Asian film, the polls aim to generate discussion and provide a starting point for further research on these film histories and cultures. Andrew Lockett, Head of bfi Publishing and poll organiser, said: “The poll results and the research that led to them illustrate the immense diversity of South Asian film and will further encourage the growing interest in this vital and fascinating area of world cinema.”

Commenting on the success of Sholay, Cary Sawhney, Director of the ImagineAsia festival, said: “Sholay has themes akin to the great Hollywood and Italian Westerns, with an action-packed story of everyday heroes defending a village. It also has a spectacular villain, songs and an all-star cast led by the legendary Amitabh Bachchan. It is this mix of elements which makes Sholay infinitely watchable and loved by millions of fans. It is the perfect Hindi film.”

BFI'S TOP TEN POLLS

TOP TEN INDIAN FILMS

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TOP TEN DIASPORA FILMS

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TOP TEN BANGLADESHI FILMS

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TOP TEN PAKISTANI FILMS

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TOP TEN SRI LANKAN FILMS