Sholay's iconic opening fight scene is a tightly structured and electrifying spectacle that sets the tone for the rest of the film. Inspector Baldev Singh, played by Sanjeev Kumar, finds himself outnumbered and under attack when bandits descend upon the train he's travelling on; the scene becomes a thrilling showcase of action choreography and character dynamics. With the two handcuffed thieves, Jai and Veeru (played by Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra, respectively), offering their assistance, the stage is set for a high-stakes battle against the bandits. What follows is a mesmerising display of bravery and skill as Jai, with his calm and collected fighting style, deftly manoeuvres across the moving train, taking down adversaries with precise sniping and engaging in hand-to-hand combat with unwavering resolve. Meanwhile, Veeru brings a raw and explosive energy to the fight, delivering savage punches and overpowering opponents with his physical strength.
Sholay Train Scene:
According To Vulture, The opening fight scene is tightly structured, lasting under nine minutes. Inspector Baldev Singh (Sanjeev Kumar) is transporting two handcuffed thieves to a police station when their train gets attacked by bandits on horseback. The thieves, Jai (Bachchan) and Veeru (Dharmendra), offer to help, so Singh frees them and they spring into action. The ensuing battle sees Jai running across the top of a moving train, sniping bandits, then fighting them hand-to-hand when they make it onto the caboose. Bachchan and Dharmendra complement each other perfectly: Jai’s fighting style is calm, collected, nimble, while Veeru is more of a whizbang-smash type, dealing savage punches and strangling bad guys.
According to Vulture, In Mukesh and Om’s final showdown, the set catches fire and echoes their 1970s fight — a hand-to-hand flurry of bloody punches, bodies flung into corners, and desperation soaring with the orchestra. After a struggle, Om advances on Mukesh’s writhing body and aims to shoot him, but Sandy stops him. “His death is written,” she says, “but not at your hands.” She looks up, and a chandelier smashes to the ground, killing Mukesh. It’s revealed that Sandy was never in the room and that the vengeful ghost of Shantipriya ensured that he got his revenge.
According to Vulture, The core of the movie is the sequence in which Charan’s Raju and Rao’s Bheem collide in the chaos of an attack on the governor’s mansion as two friends seemingly on opposite sides of the colonial divide. Their clash is (comparatively) on the restrained side, though it does still include Bheem grabbing a hose from a fountain and Raju hefting a lit torch so that each can pose dramatically with, and then attack using, their signature element. (Raju also punches a tiger.) But it’s the unapologetic emotions that underscore the fight, the tears and the anguished betrayal, that are ready to leave their mark on the future.
It seems these three iconic Bollywood fight scenes have captured the hearts of audiences worldwide, distinguishing themselves among numerous action sequences that have enthralled viewers around the globe.