Aqeel Cinema — described as "the only independent cinema in the region" — has launched the programme "Bachchan: Back to the Beginning", an exceptional event concluding today that spotlights the rich artistic career and distinctive works of Amitabh Bachchan, one of the most prominent and influential actors in the history of world cinema, through seven celebrated films.
A restored version of the film Sholay will be screened in a rare opportunity for fans at Aqeel Cinema. The restoration was carried out by the Film Heritage Foundation using the original print preserved in its archive, offering audiences in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates the chance to experience one of the greatest classics of Indian cinema.
The programme takes its name and concept from a pioneering initiative launched by the Film Heritage Foundation in 2022, which saw 11 films from Amitabh Bachchan's body of work screened across 17 Indian cities over four days to mark his 80th birthday, drawing exceptional public turnout. Through this programme, Aqeel Cinema brings that unique experience to Dubai.
The programme opens with Sholay (1975; directed by Ramesh Sippy), which topped a list of the ten best Indian films in a survey conducted by the British Film Institute in 2022. It is also the first Hindi-language Indian film to be screened in 70mm, and it ran continuously for more than five years at Minerva Cinema in Mumbai.
Deewar (directed by Yash Chopra) is the darkest work in the collection, telling the story of two brothers — one who turns to a life of crime and another who dedicates his life to upholding the law — leading to an inevitable confrontation between them. Amar Akbar Anthony (1977, directed by Manmohan Desai) brings a large dose of energy and vitality to the programme.
Kaalia (1981, directed by Tinnu Anand) returns to darker territory, centring on a man unjustly thrown into prison who emerges a transformed figure that the world is no longer prepared to reckon with.
This is followed by Namak Halaal (1982, directed by Prakash Mehra), steeped in pure comedy, in which Bachchan delivers one of his most celebrated comic performances in Indian cinema.
The programme then takes a deeper and more intimate turn with Abhimaan (1973, directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee), a human drama centred on a married couple who are both singers.
The programme closes with Khuda Gawah (1992, directed by Mukul S. Anand), a cinematic epic that transcends borders and generations.
Buthaina Kazim, founder of Aqeel Cinema, said: "Amitabh Bachchan's films formed the earliest cinematic memories of many Dubai residents and played a close role in shaping the cinema-going experience in the United Arab Emirates. We are delighted to host this special programme in celebration of a cinematic legacy and an artistic language deeply rooted in the history of this city, one that highlights the shared cultural bond connecting it with Mumbai in particular — the home of Bollywood — and honours our partners at the Film Heritage Foundation, who contributed fundamentally to realising the programme."