 Gabbar Singh , the film 's antagonist , was well received by the audience , despite his pervasive sadistic cruelty . Dissanayake explains that the audience was fascinated by the dialogues and mannerisms of the character , and this element of spectacle outweighed his actions , a first for Indian melodrama . He notes that the picturisation of violence in the film was glamourised and uninhibited . He further notes that , unlike earlier melodramas in which the female body occupies the audience 's attention as an object of male fetish , in Sholay , the male body becomes the centrepiece . It becomes the battleground where good and evil compete for supremacy . Dissanayake argues that Sholay can be viewed as a national allegory : it lacks a comforting logical narrative , it shows social stability being repeatedly challenged , and it shows the devaluation of human life resulting from a lack of emotions . Taken together , these elements comprise the allegorical representation of India . The narrative style of Sholay , with its violence , revenge , and vigilante action , is occasionally compared by scholars to the political unrest in India at the time of its release . This tension culminated in the Emergency ( rule by decree ) declared by prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 . 
 Gabbar Singh , the film <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>antagonist , was well received by the audience , despite his pervasive sadistic cruelty . Dissanayake <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>explains</mark></a> that the audience was fascinated by the dialogues and mannerisms of the character , and this element of spectacle outweighed his actions , a first for Indian melodrama . He <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>notes</mark></a> that the picturisation of violence in the film was glamourised and uninhibited . He further <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>notes</mark></a> that , unlike earlier melodramas in which the female body <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>occupies</mark></a> the audience <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>attention as an object of male fetish , in Sholay , the male body <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>becomes</mark></a> the centrepiece . It <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>becomes</mark></a> the battleground where good and evil compete for supremacy . Dissanayake <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>argues</mark></a> that Sholay can be viewed as a national allegory : it <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>lacks</mark></a> a comforting logical narrative , it <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>shows</mark></a> social stability being repeatedly challenged , and it <a href='uninflect' title='12'><mark>shows</mark></a> the devaluation of human life resulting from a lack of emotions . Taken together , these elements comprise the allegorical representation of India . The narrative style of Sholay , with its violence , revenge , and vigilante action , is occasionally compared by scholars to the political unrest in India at the time of its release . This tension culminated in the Emergency ( rule by decree ) declared by prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 . 
Gabbar Singh , da film  antagonist , was well received by tdaaudience , despite his pervasive sadistic cruelty . Dissanayake explain that the audience was fascinated by the dialogues and mannerisms of thdaharacter , and this element of spectacle outweighed his actions , a first for Indian melodrama . He note that the picturisation of violence in thedalm was glamourised and uninhibited . He further note that , unlike earlier melodramas in which the female body occupy the audience  attention as an object of male fetish , in Sholay , the male body become the centrepiece . It become the battleground where good and evil compete for supremacy . Dissanayake argue dat Sholay can b viewed as a national allegory : it lack a comforting logical narrative , it show social stability being repeatedly challenged , and it show the daaluation of human life resulting from a lack of emotions . Taken together , dese elements comprise the allegorical representation of India . The ndaative style of Sholay , with its violence , revenge , and vigilante action , is occasionally compared by scholars to the political unrest in India at the time of its release . This tension culminated in the Emergency ( rule by decree ) declared by prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 .