A remake of Telugu movie Justice Chowdary (1982), which also had Sridevi in the same role, the Hindi remake Justice Chaudhury (1983) was a near frame to frame remake except with Jeetendra leading the cast and the addition of Hema Malini, Moushumi Chatterjee and other Hindi-speaking stars in the roster.
A formulaic melodrama from the Madras movie factory, a film quickly made, quickly shot, quickly released, the producers made quick money in this predictable masala caper. Most memorable for its cute song and dance routines, it was the first year of hits in the Hindi belt for Sridevi.
The movie was a stepping stone for leading lady Sridevi, but it was a career gravestone for another. Namely, Moushumi Chatterjee! She had just turned 35 (for context Kriti Sanon just turned 35), and was cast opposite the older Jeetendra and played an elder woman--grey streaks and all--in the entire movie. The success of the hit however, sealed her fate as she was prematurely slotted into the older woman category, left playing mother and matriarchal roles--no longer leading lady.
It also put a mental note in Sridevi's mind; to not cave into pressure of working opposite co-stars as their mother at any given point, as it would end her desirous heroine stature. Moushmi was six years younger than Jeetendra and played his mother! Raakhee, Waheeda Rehman and on occasion even Hema Malini played mom roles to stars who were similar to their age when other, lucrative offers dried up in sexist, ageist Bollywood--a mirror of India really. Don't believe me? Just look at the comments section of Priyanka Chopra/Nick Jonas. We as a nation pay lip service for enlightened thought but in action and under the guise of net anonymity, express crudely what people really think.
No comments:
Post a Comment