India, Aug. 17 -- India's biggest blockbuster pioneered 70mm screens, thunderous stereo, and a dialogue disc that turned homes into mini-theatres - shaping the future of film exhibition

In 1975, when Sholay hit the silver screen, Indian cinema was never the same again. The author of this article, then a 16-year-old technology-savvy student just stepping into college life, witnessed firsthand the unprecedented frenzy it created. He travelled from Allahabad to Mumbai to watch it in Minerva, with complete technology. Queues outside theatres stretched for hours, tickets were nearly impossible to get, and audiences were awestruck by a cinematic experience unlike anything they had seen. Beyond its unforgettable characters and iconic dialogues,...