Yesterday while coming back from Mumbai, I was a bit early at the station. I got into the train and found my berth. I started reading the book "Sholay, The Making of a Classic" by Anupama Chopra.Soon I found myself surrounded by 4 policeman. The first one (I guess he was the boss) asked me, "Kahan jaa rahe ho?". I replied, "Ahmedabad". He then asked me, "Job kahan karte ho?". I replied, "Educational Initiatives".
I guess he was inquiring because of the red alert that was announced in the city a day or two ago. And on top of that, my beard and my moustache might have made me a potential cause of that alert.
But before that guy could ask any more questions, the second one just recognised the picture on the cover page of the book. He just exclaimed "Sholay!!!" And he grabbed the book from my hand. He stared at the picture (of Veeru sitting on top of Jay and playing the mouthorgan in the song Yeh Dosti) for a while. I thought he was reading the title of the book "Sholay, The Making of a Classic". But soon I realized that he wasn't. He asked me, "Sholay ki poori story release ho gai kya?" I replied, "Nahi, Sholay ki making par kitaab hai." He replied, "Ohh achcha…making of Sholay."
I was waiting for more questions to come from their side. But instead, I was shocked to see all four of them just gripped by that cover page photo. They returned me the book and just walked away.
That's what I would call, The Sholay Effect!
