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By:

Rajeev Puri

24 October 2024 at 5:11:37 am

Before Sholay, there was Mera Gaon Mera Desh

When the comedian and television host Kapil Sharma recently welcomed the veteran screenwriter Salim Khan onto his show, he made a striking claim. India, he joked, has a national bird and a national animal; it ought also to have a national film. That film, he suggested, would surely be Sholay. Few would quarrel with the sentiment. Released in 1975 and directed by Ramesh Sippy,  Sholay  has long been treated as the Everest of Hindi popular cinema -quoted endlessly, revisited by generations and...

Before Sholay, there was Mera Gaon Mera Desh

When the comedian and television host Kapil Sharma recently welcomed the veteran screenwriter Salim Khan onto his show, he made a striking claim. India, he joked, has a national bird and a national animal; it ought also to have a national film. That film, he suggested, would surely be Sholay. Few would quarrel with the sentiment. Released in 1975 and directed by Ramesh Sippy,  Sholay  has long been treated as the Everest of Hindi popular cinema -quoted endlessly, revisited by generations and dissected by critics. In 2025, the film marked its 50th anniversary, and the release of a digitally restored, uncut version introduced the classic to a new generation of viewers who discovered that its mixture of revenge drama, western pastiche and buddy comedy remains curiously durable. The film’s influences have been debated almost as much as its dialogues – from scenes taken by the Spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone, particularly ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ (1968) or to the narrative architecture of ‘Seven Samurai’ (1954) by Akira Kurosawa. Others note echoes of earlier Hindi films about bandits and frontier justice, such as ‘Khotey Sikke’ (1973) starring Feroz Khan. Yet, rewatching ‘Mera Gaon Mera Desh,’ directed by Raj Khosla, one cannot help noticing how many of the narrative bones of  Sholay  appear to have been assembled there first. Released in 1971,  Mera Gaon Mera Desh  was a major hit at the box office, notable for holding its own in a year dominated by the near-hysterical popularity of Rajesh Khanna. The thematic framework of the two films is strikingly similar. In  Sholay , the retired policeman Thakur Baldev Singh recruits two petty criminals - Jai and Veeru - to help him avenge the terror inflicted upon his village by the bandit Gabbar Singh. In  Mera Gaon Mera Desh , the set-up is not very different. A retired soldier, Jaswant Singh, seeks to protect his village from a ruthless dacoit and enlists the help of a small-time crook named Ajit. Even the villain’s name seems to echo across the two films. In Khosla’s drama, the marauding bandit played by Vinod Khanna is scene-stealing performance is called Jabbar Singh. In  Sholay , the outlaw who would become one of Indian cinema’s most memorable antagonists was Gabbar Singh. There is an additional irony in the casting. In  Mera Gaon Mera Desh , the retired soldier Jaswant Singh is played by Jayant - the real-life father of Amjad Khan, who would later immortalise Gabbar Singh in  Sholay . The connective tissue between the two films becomes even clearer in the presence of Dharmendra. In Khosla’s film he plays Ajit, a charming rogue who gradually redeems himself while defending the village. Four years later, Dharmendra returned in  Sholay  as Veeru, a similarly exuberant petty criminal whose courage and irrepressible humour make him one half of Hindi cinema’s most beloved buddy duo alongside Amitabh Bachchan as Jai. Certain visual motifs also appear to have travelled intact. In Khosla’s film, Ajit finds himself bound in ropes in the bandit’s den during a dramatic musical sequence. A similar image appears in  Sholay , where Veeru is tied up before Gabbar Singh while Basanti performs the now famous song ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan.’ Other echoes are subtler but just as suggestive. Ajit’s pursuit of the village belle Anju, played by Asha Parekh, anticipates Veeru’s boisterous attempts to woo Basanti, portrayed by Hema Malini. Scenes in which Ajit teaches Anju to shoot recall the flirtatious gun-training sequence between Veeru and Basanti that became one of  Sholay ’s most cherished moments. Even the famous coin motif has a precedent. Ajit frequently tosses a coin to make decisions - a flourish that would later appear in  Sholay , where Jai’s coin toss becomes a running gag. Perhaps most intriguingly, the endings of the two films converge in their original form. In  Mera Gaon Mera Desh , the villain is ultimately killed by the hero. The uncut version of  Sholay  reportedly ended in a similar fashion, with Gabbar Singh meeting his death at the hands of Thakur Baldev Singh. However, censors altered the climax before the film’s 1975 release, requiring that Gabbar be handed over to the police instead. All this does not diminish  Sholay . Rather, it highlights the alchemy through which cinema evolves. The scriptwriting duo Salim–Javed took familiar ingredients and expanded them into a grander narrative populated by unforgettable characters and stylised action. On the 55 th  anniversary of  Mera Gaon Mera Desh , Raj Khosla’s rugged western deserves a renewed glance as the sturdy foundation on which a legend called  Sholay  was built. (The author is a political commentator and a global affairs observer. Views personal.)

Iceland’s Political Upheaval: A Snap Election Amid Policy Disagreements

Iceland’s Political Upheaval: A Snap Election Amid Policy Disagreements

Iceland, a small island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean near the Arctic Circle between Greenland and Norway, is one of the most geographically isolated countries in Europe. Its tiny population, with just over 370,000 inhabitants, is a stark contrast to India’s population of over 1.4 billion. Geographically, Iceland covers an area of approximately 1 lakh square kilometres, making it much smaller than India, which spans around 33 lakh square kilometers. Iceland is known for its stunning landscapes, active volcanoes, and pioneering use of geothermal energy.


This tiny island nation is now unexpectedly heading towards a snap election, a pivotal moment in the country’s political landscape. Internal disputes within the coalition government led to its collapse on 13th October. Prime Minister of Iceland Bjarni Benediktsson announced the dissolution of the government, setting the stage for elections taking place on 30th November. The election comes at a time when Iceland faces critical challenges—ranging from economic uncertainty to complex debates over immigration and energy policy.


The Collapse of the Coalition

The current political crisis in Iceland stems from deep divisions within the three-party coalition government, which has been in place since 2021. The coalition comprised the conservative Independence Party (led by Benediktsson), the centrist Progressive Party, and the left-leaning Left-Green Movement. Though these parties initially found common ground, the disagreements on key issues, particularly immigration and energy policy, became irreconcilable.


Prime Minister Benediktsson stated that it was impossible to move forward given the lack of unity on critical policies. He highlighted the growing rift on matters that impact Iceland’s future, such as how to manage the inflow of immigrants and the development of Iceland’s renewable energy sector. This division ultimately left the coalition unable to provide coherent leadership, prompting Benediktsson to request the dissolution of the parliament.


Key Contenders in the Election

Several political parties will compete in the upcoming election, representing different ideologies and policy proposals. The major contenders include:


Independence Party (Centre-right): Prime Minister Benediktsson’s party remains one of the leading forces. They focus on economic stability, conservative immigration policies, and energy resource development. Despite the collapse of the coalition, Benediktsson is expected to be the PM candidate once again.


Progressive Party (Centrist): Led by Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, this party traditionally champions rural and agricultural issues. The party is known for its pragmatic approach to governance and is expected to play a key role in the election.


Left-Green Movement (Centre-left): The Left-Green Movement advocates for environmental sustainability and a more progressive stance on immigration. Its departure from the coalition was driven by disagreements over energy policy and the handling of asylum seekers.


Pirate Party (Syncretic): Known for its focus on digital rights and transparency, the Pirate Party could attract voters disillusioned with the traditional parties.


Social Democratic Alliance (Centre-left): Another significant player, this party pushes for stronger social welfare policies and is expected to appeal to voters seeking more inclusive economic reforms.


Key Issues at Stake

The upcoming election will centre on several crucial issues that have divided Iceland’s political landscape:


Immigration Policy: One of the most contentious points of debate is how Iceland should handle immigration and asylum seekers. The Independence Party advocates for stricter controls, while the Left-Green Movement and other progressive parties call for more open and humanitarian policies. This divide reflects broader European discussions on immigration.


Energy Policy: Iceland, a leader in renewable energy due to its geothermal and hydroelectric resources, is also facing internal debates on how to develop these resources further. The Independence Party and its allies support expanding energy projects, while the Left-Green Movement is more cautious, focusing on sustainability and environmental protection.


Economic Recovery and Inflation: Like many other nations, Iceland is grappling with inflation, partly driven by recent volcanic eruptions and disruptions to public life in the country’s southwest. Voters will be looking for parties that can address these economic challenges effectively.


Iceland’s Role in Europe

Although Iceland is not a member of the European Union, it is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), maintaining close ties with the EU, particularly in trade and regulatory matters. The outcome of this election could influence Iceland’s approach to its relationships within Europe, particularly concerning energy markets and immigration policy.


The outcome of Iceland’s snap election on 30 November remains uncertain, as major parties compete for dominance after the coalition government’s collapse. The election’s results will not only shape Iceland’s future but may also influence its position within the broader European context, particularly in areas like immigration and energy policy.


(The author is a foreign affairs expert. Views personal.)

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