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| Sridevi in Sadma - image not from Moondram Pirai! |
Released on 19 February 1982, the classic film Moondram Pirai, is cited as Sridevi's finest performance in Tamil cinema. What's noteworthy is, Sridevi was just 18 when she shot the film, as she embraced the nuance and complexity of her multi-layered role with such ease and elegance. Simultaneously Sridevi balanced a palpable innocence and fearless confidence.
The Tamil film's success and vast critical acclaim spurred the makers to re-do the entire movie in Hindi (with minor changes in actors in the supporting roles) as Sadma; which was released on 8 July 1983, 37 years ago today.
A frame-by-frame remake, it's how most cine-goers in the Hindi belt, and indeed the national consciousness first recognised the acting phenomena of Sridevi and Kamal Haasan. Prior to that, Sridevi was only seen as a dancing doll and sex symbol (we have reams of press from that era and the Bombay critics were not kind to the ingénue Sridevi) in jumping jack Jeetendra movies. To be fair, there wasn't a wealth of rich character filled roles Sridevi did in those commercial blockbusters. Only the true cinephile cognoscente of Sridevi's muli-lingual repertoire was aware of her oceanic talent.
Despite near-universal acclaim from every critic from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Kamal Haasan went on to win one of his four Best Actor National Awards, and Sridevi wasn't mentioned in the adjudicating hemisphere.
Sridevi went on to be unrecognised by the governing jury, thereby setting a pattern we saw repeatedly in her resplendent career. Stellar performances constantly neglected by whoever was in charge of these award ceremonies - all the way till her tragic end.
When she passed away so unexpectedly, suddenly the nation recognised her vast contribution to Indian cinema for 50 years in 266 films, in five languages.
Too little too late?
Of course as hardcore Sridevi fans we are embittered about it, but then we have so many issues with cruel fate taking her away at age 54, shop-able trophies and sponsored trinkets seem unworthy of our attention.
Sadma is not for the faint of heart nor is it for the immature of mind. It says a lot about how nature vs nurture, eros and id, you can do pages in a thesis on the film, what it says and its timeless performances.
Sridevi herself preferred the original to the remake, we suggest you grab the Tamil version for a look at the reason we've been obsessed about the actress our entire life!
- Archive of Sadma related features and image gallery here.
- Myths about the film debunked and facts verified here.
- Sridevi's fav scene in Sadma / Moondram Pirai.
Whoever jury be all those years for not accepting her acting capabilities and adorn her with her dues, in death she proved them wrong - the way people loved her , followed her to graveyard is enough.Not recognised by those biggest critics faded with fan following to graveyard which even for those biggies would have/ had or going to happen.
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