NEW DELHI: At Bharat Mandapam on Monday evening, the buzz outside one of the screening halls stood out from the rest. It wasn’t for something new, but timeless, as people lined up in long, curling queues to watch the 1975 classic Sholay.Within the larger sprawl of the International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD), which is showcasing over 125 films from across the world, the iconic film was an instant crowd-puller. Much of the excitement about it came from a strong turnout of Gen Z viewers, many of them eager to experience the 50-year-old icon on the big screen for the first time.Volunteers were busy managing the growing queue as the air filled with animated chatter. Phones were out, selfies were being clicked and familiar dialogues, from “Ye haath mujhe de de, Thakur” to “Tera kya hoga, Kaliya?”, echoed through the crowd, often mouthed by those who never watched the film in a theatre before.“I feel like I already know the film without watching it,” smiled Kashika, a student from South Extension attending her first-ever screening of the classic. “My mother dragged me here. She’s seen it before, of course. I’ve only heard the famous dialogues. But when we spotted it on the schedule, we thought, why not? I’m excited.”That shared sense of discovery seemed to define the queue. Many of the younger viewers weren’t here for nostalgia, but because they were curious. For years, they had a desire to watch what their parents often describe as India’s answer to The Godfather.A few steps behind Kashika stood 22-year-old Neeraj, who travelled all the way from Dwarka. “It’s not just a film, right? It’s something everyone keeps referencing. I didn’t want to miss the chance to watch it properly, in a theatre, among an audience,” he gushed.Anurag (17), a Delhi University student, said, “I’m here more out of curiosity than fandom. I have heard so much about the film, and want to see if it lives up to the hype. People from older generations just can’t stop talking about it.”Just across the venue, the festival’s exhibition section leaned into that legacy. A dedicated Sholay corner showcased vintage posters, alongside towering cut-outs of Gabbar Singh and other iconic characters. Visitors paused to click photos, some striking exaggerated villain poses, others calling friends over for group pictures.But the crowd wasn’t only made up of first-timers. There were veterans, too. Those viewers who had grown up with the film and returned to relive it. Rambha Singh, 58, stood quietly to one side, watching the younger crowd with a smile. “I’ve seen Sholay in theatres twice before, and then countless times on television,” she said. “I can’t even put a number on it. I’ve always been a huge fan of Dharmendra. And after his demise last Nov, this feels emotional. Watching it again, like this, is special.”As the doors of the hall finally swung open and the crowd began to file in, the energy only intensified.Organised by Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation in association with Delhi govt, IFFD spans multiple venues and offers everything from gala premieres to panel discussions and masterclasses.Yet, amid all that variety, this screening told its own story. Half a century after it had been released, Sholay was being rediscovered at Hall no. 1 of Bharat Mandapam. And judging by the excitement at the venue, its legacy is far from fading.
