Sridevi in Mera Farz: The Hindi dub of Aakhari Poratam (1988)

Mera Farz (1989) is the Hindi dubbed version of the Telugu blockbuster Aakhari Poratam (1988), directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. Sridevi played the lead role of Pravallika, a CBI officer on a mission to expose a powerful criminal (played by Amrish Puri). Telugu superstar Nagarjuna was the lead but we Sridevi fans obviously only remember it for the leading lady! 

An action-drama where Sridevi’s character drives much of the story with strong action and dramatic sequences. The film is available on some YouTube channels and streaming platforms under the title Mera Farz. 

Aakhari Poratam originally released on 12 March 1988, the Hindi dubbed version, Mera Farz, hit the big screen on 5 April 1991  - fueled by the vast popularity of Sridevi in the Hindi belt. The film was a commercial success in Telugu and gained popularity in Hindi as a dubbed action-drama in some circuits. 

For us... the humour and the music somehow, just doesn't translate well. Better to watch the Telugu original with English subtitles. 

Nagarjuna and Sridevi in Aakhari Poratam (1988)

Nagarjuna and Sridevi in Aakhari Poratam (1988): Sridevi's signature rain song and dance rouine. But this time in a Telugu film. 

Sridevi dominating the poster of Mera Farz: The Hindi dub of Aakhari Poratam

Sridevi dominating the posters of Mera Farz: The Hindi dub of Aakhari Poratam. While the Telugu original was a smash hit, Mera Farz was not - a poorly dubbed enterprise trying to cash in on the stupendous success of Sridevi in the Hindi speaking belt - especially in 1989 when Sridevi was dominating the film industry. 

Aakhari Poratam released 36 years ago today on 12 March 1988 and remains a blockbuster in Sridevi's Telugu filmography. 
 

Nagarjuna and Sridevi in Aakhari Poratam (1988)

 Nagarjuna and Sridevi in Aakhari Poratam (1988)
 

Nagarjuna and Sridevi Centrespread: Telugu film poster: Aakhari Poratam (1988)

Nagarjuna and Sridevi Centrespread: Telugu film poster - click to enlarge. 
 

Obvious to all Telugu film fans, its a still of Nagarjuna and Sridevi in Aakhari Poratam (1988). 

Birth anniversary of Amrish Puri: Sridevi's famed nemesis on screen:

Be it Nagina, Mr.India or the Telugu smash Aakhari Poratam (pics below)... Sridevi and Amrish Puri battled it out on screen for years. They appeared in nine films together over a span of nearly two decades = the definitive listicle in earlier post here.

Off screen, it was a distant (Sridevi wasn't close to that many people) but respectful and professional relationship between the fine actors. 

Born on, 22 June 1932, today is Amrish Puri's birth anniversary - we pay our respects to the great actor.

Luminescent in white: Gorgeous Sridevi in Aakhari Poratam (1988)

 Luminescent in white: Gorgeous Sridevi in Aakhari Poratam (1988)

Fresh off the massive success of Mr.India, this was one of Sridevi's mega hits in Telugu, released on 12 March 1988. Though the film had Nagarjuna and Suhasini, Sri was the superstar by far. According to features, Suhasini stated that despite all her massive fame and stardom, Sridevi was perfectly normal off screen and encouraged her, the niece of Kamal Haasan, to work in front of the camera - when originally Suhasini was planning to head into film production and direction. The lovely now-Mrs Mani Ratnam managed to do both well; star in films and produce/direct them. 

Sridevi in the Telugu blockbuster Aakhari Poratam (1988)

Sridevi in the Telugu blockbuster Aakhari Poratam (1988) - dubbed later as Mera Farz and released in Hindi the following year.  

Yet another rain song and dance sequence - which Sri famously did not enjoy doing, but was the requisite of many a Sridevi film after the success of Kate Nahin Kathe (in particular - though she had done several rain songs in the past too). 

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Sridevi and Bella Hadid: No comparison: And yet...

Earlier this year, supermodel Bella Hadid made international headlines wearing a golden lung necklace at the Cannes Film Festival. As the images went viral in the summer of 2021, Sridevi fans noted a similar piece on the head of the iconic Indian actress from way back in 1986! A still from Sridevi's Telugu hit Aakhari Poratam, showcases a lighter version not completely dissimilar piece on her head. 

Same same, but different... 

Lols tho'. 

 

Sridevi in the Telugu blockbuster Aakhari Poratam (1988)

Sridevi in the Telugu blockbuster Aakhari Poratam (1988)

The cast and crew of Aakhari Poratam (1988): Sridevi, Suhasini and Nagarjuna

 

The cast and crew of the Telugu blockbuster Aakhari Poratam [The final Battle] which was released back in 1988. It was produced and directed by K. Raghavendra Rao with a stellar cast of Sridevi, Suhasini and Nagarjuna. With music by maestro Ilaiyaraaja. 

Sridevi in Aakhari Poratam (1988)

Sridevi in Aakhari Poratam (1988)

 

Nagarjuna and Sridevi in Aakhari Poratam (1988)

Nagarjuna and Sridevi in Aakhari Poratam

The wardrobe in the film is... somethin' else. But then, it was the 80s...

An archive of all the images from the film here.

The film was a major hit in the Telugu industry - the film was later (poorly!) dubbed into Hindi as Mera Farz and released to meet... tepid response. 

Sridevi in Aakhari Poratam (1988)

Sridevi in Aakhari Poratam (1988)

After the stupendous success of Kate Nahin Katthe in Mr India, released a few months before this, the chiffon sari-clad Sridevi rain song become a prerequisite for Bollywood and Telugu-wood!

Sridevi, Nagarjuna and Suhasini in Aakhari Poratam (1988)

Rare pic of the Sridevi, Nagarjuna and Suhasini on the sets of Aakhari Poratam (1988)