Sridevi and Kamal Haasan: Essential Tamil Cinema

 Yet another tribute to Moondram Pirai and the Sridevi Kamal Haasan jodi/duo! 

Sridevi in and as Roop ki Rani...

Sridevi on the sets of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja

Sridevi: The Last Empress: Filmfare Spread in the 1980s

 

SRIDEVI THE LAST EMPRESS

"I can't afford to do only quality films. That way I'd be able to do just 2-3 films a year."

SRIDEVI

The lady covered up her thighs but still she sold. Bumping and grinding her way through that blue-saree dance in Mr. India, she oozed more sex than the half-clad Sonams and Kimi Katkars. The saving grace of so many also-rans of the year like Watan Ke Rakhwale in which she poured herself into a police inspector's uniform and the only silver lining in the gloomy Himmat Aur Mehanat, Joshilaay, Sherni. Yes, as Sri, as Shekhar Kapur calls her, held on to her No. 1 status without really having to bat her false eyelashes.

Sridevi also turned down offers opposite Mr. Bachchan, she played hard to get with Lata Mangeshkar for Lekin and was replaced by Dimple Kapadia; plus it's said that her momma demanded too much moolah for Shashi Kapoor's Ajooba. Again Dimple was in. But does Sridevi care? Not really. Because she calls the shots, gets the money she (or her momma) demands and lives out of a suitcase in five-star hotels as long as the room service comes on the producer's expense..."

Vinod Khanna and Sridevi: Rare pic from Pathar ke Insan

Vinod Khanna and Sridevi: Rare pic from Pathar ke Insan 

A reluctant husband being seduced by the glamorous wife - its a popular Bollywood trope - the original was Main ka karun Raam, Mujhe Budhha Mil Gaya... from Sangam. A glamorously costumed Vyjanthimala trying to seduce her shy husband, played by Raj Kapoor. 

Sridevi went on to repeat the trope in not one but two films; first in the middling Ram Avtar, in the song Nigode mardon ka... And then again in Pathar ke Insan, with Chodh chala Raahon Main Kyun... 

Similar scenarios played out with comical flare - in over the top costumes, makeup  and feathers! 

That's the trouble with formulaic cinema; when one thing succeeds, the industry asks stars to do the same thing again, and again... Think of all the rain songs Sridevi has had to do, the comical numbers, the dancing gypsy on the road, Rekha's endless parade of mujras, the herioine dancing in the villain's den... Farrrrr too many to list! 

Gautam Rajadhyaksha's Sridevi centrefold

 

The late great photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha captures a pensive Sridevi in his library

The image appeared in both G magazine and Filmfare in the late 90s in Mumbai. 

Not many know that Sridevi really did wear eye-glasses. Not just for a shoot... 

Sridevi in white: Wearing Manish Malhotra, Wearing Sabyasachi

 Sridevi in white: Wearing Manish Malhotra, Wearing Sabyasachi 

Sridevi on the sets of Nagina

Sridevi on the sets of Nagina

Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor in the posters of the blockbuster film!