Rare pic: Film producer/director Subash Ghai with Sridevi and Jackie Shroff on the sets of Karma

Rare pic: Film producer/director Subash Ghai with Sridevi and Jackie Shroff on the sets of Karma in the early1980s in Bollywood!  

Th AI colour correction is a bit off - Sridevi's outfit had a different design and shade of pink, I don't know why it decided to add jewellery and accessories that were not in the original image, but the attempts to fix vintage photographs by AI is getting better with time. In the past, when AI tried to restore images, colour correct, it would be wildly off. For example, below, this image of Sridevi with director Shekhar Kapor on the sets of Joshilay back in 1984 is so wildly off the mark, it created a new person, instead of Sridevi! 

Like film journalism in the 1980s across India, let's take the early days of image distortions online with a pinch of salt. It has a semblance of truth, but not in entirety. 

Above: The real and the fake! Will new gen know the difference? 

Sridevi presents S Janaki her lifetime achievement award

Sistla Sreeramamurthy Janaki, known mostly as the legendary singer S Janaki was born on 23 April 1938. Sridevi presented the singer her lifetime achievement award back in 2007. 

More images and clips of the two in the archive. 

We honour the "Nightingale of the South" today on her 88th birthday. 

S. Janaki sang roughly 90–100 songs for Sridevi (across Tamil, Telugu, and a few Hindi films), mostly in the 1970s–1980s. This is based on the comprehensive list on her official/fan-maintained site (sjanaki.net), which catalogs dozens of Tamil and Telugu playback tracks where Janaki voiced Sridevi, plus a handful of Hindi ones noted separately. Exact counts vary slightly by source (as some films had multiple versions/dubs or solos/duets), but it’s a substantial body of work that helped define Sridevi’s early superstar image in South Indian cinema.

Sridevi and S Janaki in 2007

 Many of these are evergreen classics, especially the Ilaiyaraaja-scored Tamil hits from the late 1970s that blended melody, emotion, and Sridevi’s expressive screen presence. Telugu versions/remakes often adapted or reused tunes. Hindi songs were fewer but included some chart-toppers.

🎤 Most Popular S. Janaki Songs for Sridevi
(Chronological Order • Tamil, Telugu & Hindi Hits)

S. Janaki sang roughly 90–100 songs for Sridevi across Tamil, Telugu, and a few Hindi films (1970s–1980s). These are the most iconic and evergreen ones — perfect for any Sridevi fan!

Year	Film (Language)	Song	Music Director	Lyricist	Notes
1977	Kavikkuyil (Tamil)	Kuyile Kavi Kuyile	Ilaiyaraaja	Panchu Arunachalam	Soulful solo; early hit that launched the magical combo
1977	16 Vayathinile (Tamil)	Senthoora Poove	Ilaiyaraaja	Gangai Amaran	Massive rural romantic classic; still played everywhere
1978	Padaharella Vayasu (Telugu)	Sirimalle Puvva	K. Chakravarthy (Ilaiyaraaja tune)	Veturi Sundararama Murthy	Superhit Telugu version; concert favourite even today
1979	Dharma Yuddham (Tamil)	Aagaya Gangai	Ilaiyaraaja	M.G. Vallaban	Energetic duet with Malaysia Vasudevan; huge chartbuster
1980	Varumayin Niram Sivappu (Tamil)	Chippi Irukkuthu	M.S. Viswanathan	Kannadasan	Playful romantic duet with the great S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
1982	Moondram Pirai (Tamil)	Vaanengum Thanga Vinmeengal	Ilaiyaraaja	Vairamuthu	Dreamy poetic duet with S.P.B.; one of the most beautiful tracks ever

Other evergreen favourites often featured in Sridevi–Janaki compilations:
Manjakkulichi & Aattukkutti (16 Vayathinile), Ninaivo Oru Paravai (Sigappu Rojakkal), Kanne Pillavani (Aakali Rajyam), Gori Ka Sajan (Aakhree Raasta – Hindi) and so on.

Sridevi: The Oscar Tribute: A Reminder

Our views and demographic is the vast Indian diaspora - but also the fandom of Bollywood dotted around the world. Well, of Sridevians.

When Sridevi's image appeared at the Oscars back in 2018, many Indian celebrities took note. Many still miffed they forgot Dharmendra this year... 

Sridevi on the sets of Khuda Gawah

Sridevi on the sets of Khuda Gawah! 

Finally, not all AI slop, but some benefits. Rare newspaper scans that fade quickly, finally restored!! 

Gorgeous Sridevi in an outfit designed by Neeta Lulla. The shoulder-length hair and 90s perm worked for the 28-year-old-superstar. Some of the slight criticism Sridevi faced was that  Mehendi of Khuda Gawah was too similar to Pooja of Lamhe... We didn't see it. Mehendi had such a unique diction and stance. Pooja was more effervescent. Shot around the same time, of course the hair is the same....  

Sridevi with Sunny Deol on the sets of Chaalbaaz

Yet another rain song for Sridevi. The much talked about Kisike haath na aayegi from Chaalbaaz. 

With the wet Sunny Deol, who somehow managed to keep up with Sridevi, despite being one of the worst dancers in the history of Indian cinema. Saw Jeet in the cinema back in the day and when Sunny paji was dancing to Yaara oh Yaara, the audience burst out laughing - Kiku Sharma still uses that as reference in the comedy show when he mimics Sunny. Well, they were laughing all the way to the bank as Jeet was a superhit and Chaalbaaz was a success as well. 

Only in India do we need action stars to be great dancers as well! I mean, you can't imagine Sylvester Stallone or Jean Claude Van Damme cutting a rug can you?! Well, there is that lol-meme of JCVD dancing in the 80s... cringe. 

Sridevi on the sets of Chandni (1989)

Sridevi on the sets of Chandni (1989)
 

TBT: Throwback Tuesday: Gown and glory: Sridevi, Janhvi Kapoor, Khushi Kapoor

Sridevi wore a sparkling off-should gown while attending IIFA back in 2013. As a tribute to her mother, young Khushi Kapoor repeated the full look at the premiere of her (abysmal) film The Archies.