Sridevi 's gypsy rose coloured outfit: Banjaran: The Diwali release of 1991

It was the Diwali release of 1991 and the wild colours, song and dance routines, the festive mood, massive dance troupe, a predictable reincarnation storyline with the usual tropes (revenge, deja vu, paintings of Sridevi!)... rarely do Diwali movies tank. This technicolour musical fared well at the box-office despite a lukewarm reception by all critics. 

Despite being a flawed film in many ways, the audiences went wild for the return of the Nagina team; Rishi Kapoor and Sridevi and the cast and crew that included producer/director Harmesh Malhotra, music directors Laxmikant-Pyarelal, lyrcist Anand Bakshi, choreographer Saroj Khan, singers Lata Mangeshkar, Anuradha Paudwal, Suresh Wadkar and so on and on.

It's fun to watch - the music is a bit loud - but for a weekend viewing to see Indian stars who were larger than life... roll up on a couch with a comforting cup. 

Released on 8 November 1991 

Left: The costume designers were all over the place and so were Sridevi's outfits. Before the department was streamlined for a cohesive look. 

Glad Neeta Lulla and Manish Malhotra and others found fame and recognition in due course. Leena Daru is one of the few I wish got more media love. She did a lot of work in creating looks with the superstars of their time, especially Rekha, Hema Malini and Sridevi. The holy South Indian trinity of B'wood. 

• More images from Banjaran here.
• Sridevi celebrating Diwali over the years here
• Sridevi in pink here.