When fan letters had a bit more sense than film journalists in the 80s;
Postscripts:
Top notcher
You are fully justified in putting Sridevi on your cover (Nov 16-30). She richly deserves the treatment you gave her. Starting her career in Malayalam films, she has, by sheer determination, will-power and dedication, risen to be India's Number One female star. Success has added a new glow to her beautiful eyes, honed her acting and dancing talent and smoothened the rough edges in her personality. Though Nagina and Mr.India have taken her to the pinnacle of stardom, she should be choosy about the films she accepts, lest she should crash from the height she has attained.
B.N. Bose, Jamsehdpur
Good decision
It was heartening to know that at least one heroine has shown the guts to refuse a film opposite Amitabh because her role was insignificant. With Amitabh's ascent to the top, from Zanjeer in 1973 to Aakhree Raasta, the heroine has been progressively downgraded and reduced to the level of a dumb-headed sex symbol. Shokingly, the new breed of heroines fell over one another to grab one-scene roles just to be paired with Amitabh. The only exceptions were Shabana Azmi and the late Smita Patil.
One hopes that with Sridevi the era of respectable heroines returns.
Nutan, Meena Kunari, Nargis, Madhubala and Vyjanthimala never played cheap, insignificant roles even if they were cast opposite top heroes of their time like Ashok Kumar, Raj Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand. In fact, these heroines were capable of carrying a film on their own steam.
Sridevi is definitely moving in the right direction. If she sticks to her guns and succeeds in changing the style and pattern of current Hindi films. I am sure her name will go down in the history of Hindi cinema in letters of gold.
R.R. Bangadiwala. Ahmedabad.
Raw deal
I really do not understand what prompted the North Indian press to underestimate the talents of Sridevi. It is unfortunate that she has not offered any role worth mentioning, till recently. Even her much appreciated roles in Nagina and Mr. India only brought out a shadow of her talent. The glamorous roles she played only tested her stamina and ability to perform PT exercises. Though, to her credit, she acquitted them with grace and poise.
On the other hand, her roles in Tamil films like Moondru Mudichu, Sigappu Rojakkal, Pagalil Oru Nailavu, Meendum Kokila, Varunmiyin Nirma Sigappu, Moondram Pirai and Johnny were excellent, and her performances brilliant.
In most of the films mentioned above, her co-star was Kamal Haasan and they made an excellent pair. Hindi film-makers can be (dis) credited with separating their pair and giving a raw deal.
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