Sridevi in her final Malayalam film: Deva Raagam

 Sridevi in her final Malayalam film: Deva Raagam 

Sridevi's final film in Kerala: the melodious Malayalam film Deva Raagam

Sridevi's final film in Kerala: the melodious Malayalam film Deva Raagam 

Sridevi in Deva Raagam: Sridevi's last Malayalam film

 

Sridevi in Deva Raagam. 

Sridevi in Deva Raagam

 Sridevi in Deva Raagam 

Sridevi in Deva Raagam (1996)

Sridevi in her last Malayalam film; Deva Raagam (1996). She looked so breathtakingly beautiful in her traditional South Indian avatar. 

Sridevi in Deva Raagam (1996)

 

Sridevi in the Malayalam film Deva Raagam (1996). 

Such a rare pic. Sridevi looked soooooo beautiful in this song. 

Arvind Swami with Sridevi in Malayalam film Deva Raagam (1996)

Arvind Swami with Sridevi in the Malayalam film Deva Raagam (1996).

As is the wont of tabloid media, a huge fuss was made in the 90s about the age gap between the lead actor and the legendary actress Sridevi in the film, rumours circulated that the families were in discussion as thoughts of marriage were in the mix - none of it was true. Both stars denied it vehemently but a tabloid doesn't let fact interfere with sales.  

Sridevi was only three years younger than the actor, in better shape and looked as heavenly as only Sri could! They certainly didn't seem mismatched on screen, if anything luminous Sridevi overshadowed the monotone Arvind Swami completely.

There are many fans of the original Malayalam film (the movie was dubbed into Tamil and Telugu later) and the album is flawless, be it the title song or the duets, every number is a gem. Sadly the film wasn't a blockbuster but recouped its initial investment for the producers. 

Sridevi in Deva Raagam (1996)

Sridevi's look from Deva Raagam, but with a fake background added by fans.. A reworked image of the beautiful Indian actress. 

Sridevi's designer lehengas in Deva Raagam

Sridevi looking so beautiful in Deva Raagam (1996). Her swansong in Malayalam films had the most divine music and Sri looked dreamy throughout.

See the entire archive of stunning images from the film here.

Features on the film:

• Not Chandni, Sridevi will forever be Lakshmi from Devaraagam to me
• Sridevi worked in Devaragam to keep her ailing mother's promise: KPAC Lalitha

Sridevi in her last Malayalam film: Deva Raagam

Watching the songs of Deva Raagam - good God Sridevi looked divine in the film.

Sridevi fan art: Sridevi's Deva Raagam look inspires artist

So gorgeous! Sridevi fan art; more at https://www.instagram.com/reena.paints/

Sridevi's look from Devaraagam

Sridevi's last Malayalam film: Deva Raagam

Sridevi's last Malayalam film: Devaraagam 

Aravind Swami and Sridevi in Deva Raagam

Aravind Swami and Sridevi in Deva Raagam

Despite the superstar power of the lead, the most memorable aspect of this film is probably its truly divine music. 

An expensive film - the salary of the star-cast alone - that didn't meet expectations at the box office. 

Sridevi in Deva Raagam

Not Chandni, Sridevi will forever be Lakshmi from Devaraagam to me - writes writer Priyanka Sundar for the Hindustan Times.

From Thunaivan in 1969 as a child actor to MOM in 2017, Sridevi ruled the silver screen in Tamil cinema as well as Bollywood. She might be Bollywood’s Chandni, but for me she will remain “Devi… Sridevi…”

Read the entire feature here at Hindustan Times. 

Sridevi in Deva Raagam

It was Sridevi's final Malayalam film and despite the star-wattage of Sridevi and Aravind Swamy, the movie didn't shake the box-office and it was mostly panned by the critics of that time. The only positive comments the film received back in 1996 - how gorgeous Sridevi looked and how incredible the music of the film was.

Highly recommend all Sri fans to check out the songs on YouTube.

BTW Sridevi age 33 here - the misogyny and sexism was intense in the mid-90s as critics (both men and women) were going and on about Sri being too old. A ridiculous argument perpetuated by the faulty press - and society - of the time.


Below: Aravind Swami with Sridevi in the film Deva Raagam.

Sridevi in Deva Raagam (1996): Indian actress' last Malayalam film

Sridevi's last foray into Malayalam films - where she was greatly loved as a child artist in several amazing movies. With Deva Raagam, she completed her Kerala chapter. Sridevi was splendid in this film, esp her comical scenes, she danced gracefully and looked stunningly beautiful in the songs - as she always did. 

Rare Pics: Sridevi, Arvind Swamy, Nedumudi Venu on the sets of Deva Raagam

Sridevi on the sets of Deva Raagam,1996

Sridevi waiting on set

The last Malayalam film of Indian actress Sridevi as a leading lady, Deva Raagam it was a return to form for Sridevi who started her career as a child-star in several Malayalam films. Sridevi's performance in the film, her look (especially her effortless, glamorous song and dance routines) was well-appreciated by the audience, the music was other-worldly. The lackluster performance of the lead actor, who was somnambulistic in most parts, and a lukewarm second-half just didn't lead to box-office success. 

Many critics also suggested the pair was a mismatch - to a certain extent we agree. Though he was just seven years younger than Sridevi, her stature and overall aura and vast experience aged her in the eyes of the audience. As splendid as she looked, the college crew didn't go for the mature tale and wanted to see the leads in their glamorous avatar, not the sombre tone of the film. 

The music and beauty of Sridevi in the film makes it memorable though. And we've seen the songs several (hundred!) times. 

Sridevi's comedy scenes were faultless in the movie...