Sridevi's first Best Actress award for the Tamil film Meendum Kokila (1981)

One of many oddities in Sridevi's resplendent career is, the incomprehensibly short list of awards she's won, considering the volume of her many, marvelous performances that have studded her wildly prolific career in a multitude of languages.

When Mani Ratnam was just getting popular in Bollywood - and indeed in the national consciousness (he was already well-regarded in Tamil films), he was asked why he never worked with Sridevi and he was rather blasé about it. Saying, "She's acted far better in Tamil films." [Filmfare magazine interview and quote]

Indeed, Sridevi won her first Filmfare award for Best Actress in 1982, for the Tamil film Meendum Kokila (released in 1981), directed by G Rangarajan, written by the Hasan Brothers and co-starring Tamil icon and her frequent co-star Kamal Haasan. This domestic comedy is a favorite of many. Not to forget, the popular music of legendary composer Ilayaraaja that adds to the overall magical experience. Truth be known, many in the South know of Sridevi only for her Tamil and Telugu films, and to an extent her Malayalam films (but mostly as a child artist). Her Tamil oeuvre stands in a league of its own. 

A blockbuster that completed a 175-day run at the box office, Meendum Kokila was dubbed (horrendously!) in Hindi and released as Mr and Mrs Malini Iyer. All the magic lost in clumsy dubbing, far better to watch the film in its original formal... with subtitles!

Footnote:  Some rare, rare pics of Sridevi, Kamal Haasan and Rekha together! Originally cast with Bollywood diva Rekha, actress Deepa replaced her in Meendum Kokila. At the time, Rekha had been typecast as the 'other' woman in many films, she chose to walk out of this one, after shooting a few scenes, unhappy with the way her role was finally shaping up. 

Now legend has it that Gemini Ganeshan, Rekha's (mostly absent) father told Rekha to not play second fiddle to young Sridevi when she herself was a top star. Now this hasn't been verified by anyone but as we've seen in Indian tabloids, verification and veracity are secondary to gossip, so we take this tidbit with a pinch of salt. Sridevi went on to perform fabulously and just as she turned 19, she picked up one of her handful of Best Actress trophies. 

Rekha had an enduring friendship with Sri till the very end. Kamal Haasan, well, what can we say? He has more awards than any actor in the history of Indian cinema. 

Rare pic: Sridevi, Kamal Haasan and Rekha

click to enlarge

UPDATE: Rare pic of the team celebrating Kamal Haasan's birthday on set.

Other links:

Sridevi with her first Best Actress Filmfare for Meendum Kokila 

• Kamal Haasan and Sridevi together over the years here.
• Sridevi's long list of awards and accolades here.
• Sridevi and her awards here.

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi: 27 films together (26 released)

Kamal Haasan's pairing with actress Sridevi was a match made in cinematic heaven. Their talent, stardom, mutual respect and willingness to rise above and beyond the script (and often the film itself!) meant they were magical on screen. The masses loved them, the critics did too and their trajectory from child-star to superstar remains unprecedented. Having worked in over 25 films together, the audience never tired of them but after their last film did average business and Sridevi migrated to Mumbai, the two never worked together again.   

The duo's first project together was the less-known film Kuttavum Sikshayum (1977). The pair continued to work together in films like Thaayillamal Naan Illai (1979), Guru, Neela Malargal, Kalyanaraman and Varumayin Niram Sigappu, all in 1980.

Despite working in sooooo many Tamil, Telugy, Malayalam and Hindi films together, fans craved for yet another outing with the two superstars. Alas... wasn't meant to be. 

Thankfully, a rich archive of their cinematic gems, a veritable treasure trove, is left behind for us. 

Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in Sigappu Rojakkal (1978)

Below: Images of Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in Sigappu Rojakkal (1978)

Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in the Tamil film Neela Malargal (1979)

Tamil superstars Sridevi, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth in Moondru Mudichu (1976)

Tamil film Moondru Mudichu (The Three Knots) released in 1976, directed by K. Balachander. With an A-list star-cast of legendary South Indian superstars Kamal Hassan, Rajinikanth and Sridevi in major roles, it's a casting coup that's rarely been repeated. Hailed as the movie that made Rajinikanth a star, albeit in a villainous role, the movie revolves around three people, a college going girl (Sridevi) and the two men who fall in love with her.

Tall, slim and sari-clad Sridevi was just 13 at the time, but played the role of the leading lady with aplomb. Rajinikanth played the role of an anti-hero, a devious womaniser while Kamal Hassan did a small role for his mentor K. Balachander. Proving time again there are no small parts, of the three, it was Hassan who walked away with the Best Actor award - which he does often!

For Sridevi, though it was her first film as a leading lady at such a tender age, she fulfilled the promises she showed as a child-star. There are few women in the world who transitioned from phase to phase with such ease and elegance. There are some born to fame, gifted actors who never cease to amaze. Sridevi is a fine example of actress who remained relevant no matter what she did.

Sadly, Sridevi was overlooked - an act also done very often - and she didn't win an award for this or many of her films that she did with Kamal Haasan and/or Rajinikanth.

Family Holiday: Sridevi and family on a boat for annual vacation

One from the personal album of Sridevi; with her entire family on holiday. Daughters Khushi and Janhvi Kapoor and husband Boney Kapoor. 

Cirqle of Life: Popular fashion blog fashioncircle.com picks Sridevi as Best Dressed 2012

Ah, it's that time of year again. For quiet introspection and reflection on the year that was... 

Well, in purely serious frivolity  here's a second look at Sridevi's incredible off-screen designer looks this year, popular fashion blog fashioncirqle opts for these five looks as her top fashion moments for 2012. A fabulous mix of traditional and modern, Sridevi rocks every look.

Fashioncirqle says, "First of all, lemme tell you that I think Sridevi is ridiculously good looking. And much ahead of her contemporaries when it comes to style and fashion.

At 49, she can rock a Prabal Gurung gown or a Sabyasachi saree with utmost ease and can give any of these 20 something actresses a run for their money.

Here are my favorite Sridevi looks of 2012."

Three more looks which I thought deserved a mention as she looked amazing in them.

Famous Fan; Aamir Khan

While girls were going cra y over Aamir, he was smitten by the numero uno actress of that time, Sridevi. He didn't shy away form publicly declaring his admiration for her.

"Sridevi should be the heroine in all my films. I'm in love with her. I would love to do a Summer of '42 with her. I wonder if I will ever get the chance."
June 1989

"Sridevi isn't taller than me. In fact, she's a few inches shorter. And she is one of the tallest actresses, isn't she?"
May 1989

Filmfare Dec 07, 2011

See archive of images of Aamir Khan with Sridevi here.

Sridevi still rules

At a time when her contemporaries have settled for character roles or are struggling to make an impact once again, Sridevi proved that she was the Queen Bee of Bollywood for a reason. 2012 saw the actress making a comeback with a strong role in English Vinglish — a film that didn’t have any major male protagonist. Sridevi’s slender shoulders proved more than capable of carrying off the film.

But the actress is modest about her coup. “There was no strategy or planning behind my comeback. I didn’t work on a film for 15 years because my priorities had changed. The reason I decided to act in English Vinglish was because it suited my age and sensibility. Honestly, we didn’t even think that it would become a cult film,” she says, flashing her radiant smile.

Didn’t the acclaim that followed make the diva wish she’d returned to the big screen earlier? “I was never very competitive,” Sridevi says with a shrug. “Even today, when I’m asked about how I feel about being a part of the 100-crore club, I don’t bother. My job is to understand my role in a film and to act. That’s all I worry about.”

Sridevi as Shashi in English Vinglish

There certainly wasn’t any anxiety attending her big return. Sri says it’s unfair to use terms like “comeback” for veteran actors. “After having done so many films, I don’t think it’s fair to call it that. It’s just that actors of our generation can now afford to sit back and choose the work they want to do,” she adds.

Her hiatus from the arclights was spent nurturing her two girls, Jhanvi and Khushi, and Sri takes great pride in chaperoning them around. “My children bring positive energy in my life. They’re the reason I got back to work after so many years,” she says.

Considering the photogenic image the girls make alongside their glamorous mum, questions about a filmi career are inevitable. But Sri says the decision to take up an acting career is one she and husband Boney Kapoor have left to the girls: “It’ll be their call. I’m their mother, but also their best friend. So I’ll support them in their decisions.”

From the Asian Age
Dec 30, 2012 - Reena Kapoor

Amitabh Bachchan, "Sridevi has always been a fantastic artist and still is"

Rajeev Masand spoke to Amitabh Bachchan on his show and brought up his guest-appearance in the film English Vinglish.

From 7.22 on on the clip here.
Rajeev Masand: "Mr Bachchan I met Sridevi recently who's just completed her first film in 15 years, English Vinglish, I know you have a cameo in the film and I asked her about it. And she said that working with you was like meeting an old friend after many years. Is that what it felt like?

Amitabh Bachchan: Yes of course. We've done several films together. And Balki just wanted me to walk in and walk out. So I did that. She's always been a fantastic artist and still is."

Times of India; Best of 2012; English Vinglish

English Vinglish: Sridevi...ah! Is she really back??? Pinch me! Was I dreaming? Is this really the work of a first-time director? Gauri Shinde's directorial debut ranks right up there along with Manoj Kumar in Upkar, Gulzar's Khushboo, Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Khamoshi: The Musical, Aparna Sen's 36 Chowringhee Lane and Kalpana Lajmi's Ek Pal among the most accomplished directorial debut of our times. Gauri's USP was the simplicity of the tale. A Marathi housewife struggles to get conversant with the English language, finds her bearings and a sense of self in the bustling not-always-unfriendly anonymity of New York, comes home.The End. The film was exceedingly clever in premise, presentation and packaging and yet at heart a very innocent and artless tale with the nuances emerging not from cinematic ambivalence but the very essence of daily life where we often encounter existential wisdom without recognizing its worth. Sridevi's performance makes her a front-runner for all the Best Actress awards this year. She has only one competition. Priyanka Chopra in Barfi.

Rediff: Best of 2012; English Vinglish

An infectiously charming Sridevi discusses her love for banana chips with her daughter's school principal even as her first born appears ill at ease. It's the moment you want to offer her a plate of her favourite snack and thwack her heartless kid.

A completely crushed Sridevi breaks down after she's berated by a rude cafe attendant. It's the moment when you can feel her trauma and helplessness.

A heartbroken Sridevi starts making ladoos from scratch instead of appearing for her exams when an unforeseen accident caused by her son leads to a floor filled with smashed sweets. It's the moment where her visibly sorry boy joins in to help; making you wish you could too.

A grace personified Sridevi delivers a wedding speech in acceptable (in her case triumphant) English expressing the qualities that make a marriage truly work to her newly married niece. It's the moment when we are looking at Adil Hussain's deservingly embarrassed disposition.

It's moments like these that make the predictable but precious accomplishments of a glorious Sridevi as Shashi Godbole -- one of the best comebacks Bollywood has witnessed in a long, long time.

Another round of applause for debutant director Gauri Shinde.

From Rediff

Mr India 2 - a while away: Sridevi

We met the stunning Sridevi over a sumptuous lunch yesterday. The superstar was excited about the upcoming world television premiere of her widely appreciated film English Vinglish.

Gauri Shinde’s much-appreciated film English Vinglish reiterated two things quite solidly – one, that every successful film doesn’t have to belong to the coveted Rs 100 crore club, and two, that Sridevi is still a powerhouse of acting talent.We met the intelligent director and the fabulous actor yesterday at a suburban restaurant in Mumbai, as the two were gearing up for the world television premiere of their film on December 29, 2012, on Zee Cinema.

“I believed in Gauri Shinde’s conviction for this project. I had faith in this movie and followed Gauri’s instructions blindly. The result, as you can see, is overwhelming,” said Sridevi.

The 49-year-old turned up in a body-hugging brown outfit that made her look absolutely stunning. She is happy about how her film has been received by the audience. “The film has a solid message. After watching the film my daughter Jhanavi told me that her friends started crying. They came out of the theatre and felt sorry, and they confessed that they were taking their mothers for granted. That in my opinion is a huge achievement of the film. I was moved,” Sridevi added.

After making a stunning comeback to the silver screen after 15 years Sri will now choose her future projects carefully. “Well, if you ask me what next, I would say that I am looking forward to my husband Boney Kapoor’s next release, No Entry Main Entry. I am really excited about Mr India 2 also, but nothing has been finalised yet,” said the quintessential Hawa Hawaii!

Gauri Shinde, who accompanied Sridevi to lunch was happy about the way her first directorial venture was received. So will the director do more woman-centric films in the future, we asked. “Not really! There was no conscious decision to make a woman-centric movie when I made English Vinglish, though it turned out to be one! In the future, I would like to do human-centric films, for sure,” said Shinde with a giggle!

I definitely want to do more films : Sridevi life after success: English Vinglish declared a hit

Sridevi's performance in English Vinglish was praised highly and the film enjoyed a successful run at the box office. The actress is promoting the film all over again for its television premiere on Zee Cinema on December 29.

She has shot three customised promos only for the small screen. The channel has also launched a portal to teach housewives English, in keeping with the theme of the film.

Sridevi can only hope that all the excitement that greeted the film continues with television audiences.

"Since the release, something or the other exciting is happening. Hope the excitement continues. The families, who were not able to get out and watch the film, will be able to watch it on TV," she says.

And whether any one else watches or not "my husband (Boney Kapoor) is definitely going to watch it," she smiles.

She says she watches films with her family in the theatre, "but I like to watch good films again on television like Taare Zameen Par, Wanted, 3 idiots and No Entry."

The film she enjoyed watching the most recently is Life of Pi -- "It's fantastic!"

The hugely successful actress had not acted in a film for 15 years before making a comeback with English Vinglish.

What warmed her heart the most among all the praise she received was that after the English Vinglish premiere at the Toronto Film Festival "we received a standing ovation."

The film has had a salutary effect. "Some men have said that they have changed their behaviour towards their wives. Some mothers and wives have come up to me and said their husband's attitude and children's behaviour has changed. So all thanks to the film," she says smiling.

Kareena Kapoor had said, without any hesitation, that the Filmfare Best Actress award should be given to Sridevi for her work in English Vinglish.

"I really want to thank her," Sridevi gushes. "It was really sweet of her to say such nice things. I adore all of them from Katrina Kaif to Priyanka Chopra to Deepika Padukone. Vidya Balan is superb. Kareena is beautiful and a natural actress. I loved her item number Fevicol Se in Dabbang 2."

Ask her to list her best five Hindi films and she names Mr India, Sadma, Chalbaaz, Lamhe and English Vinglish.

Would she judge a reality show on television? "Not that I don't get any offers, but it hasn't worked out. It's very difficult for me to tell someone that his/her performance is not great, especially when they have put in so much hard work. I don't think I can do justice being a judge on the show."

So what kind of work is she expecting in the New Year? "I don't plan things, I didn't know that I would be doing English Vinglish, it just happened. "If I get some exciting offers, I will definitely want to do more films. But this time it will not be after a gap of 15 years!" she says.

Rajul Hegde in Mumbai

December 28, 2012 14:00 IST

From Rediff

English Vinglish premieres on TV: Sridevi meets the press

Sridevi meets the press on the eve of her film English Vinglish screening on TV. In a simple attire, she looked simply stunning! Gorgeous hair, look, outfit, smile... as our friend Tehmur said of her, "Mashallah... use khud ki nazar na lage..."

Above: Awesome hoardings around town as English Vinglish hits TV audiences.