Sridevi in Telugu cinema

 

Young Sridevi, 18, in the Telugu smash hit Devatha. 

Jaya Prada with Sridevi in Devatha (1982)

Jaya Prada and Sridevi in the Telugu smash Devatha (1982), which of course was remade in Hindi as Tohfa the following year and released in early 1984.

Rivals in life, sisters on screen, the tumultuous frenemies of the film fraternity made for interesting gossip. It was all very high-school of course, but then you realise, well, they were teenagers back then and it was teen behaviour--except the squabbles  was played out in national tabloids. 

With age and maturity, they did bury the hatchet - thankfully, not in the other's back. 

How lovely they were - just classic Indian beauties on the big screen. 

 

Gorgeous Sridevi in Telugu film Devatha

Sridevi, 19, as the village belle in Devatha. She looks soooo pretty in the film - of course Bollywood came knocking on her doors soon enough. 

 

Sridevi in Devatha: Goddess incarnate!

Released in 1982 Devatha (Goddess) is a Telugu film directed by K. Raghavendra Rao, starring Sobhan Babu, Sridevi, Jaya Prada and Mohan Babu. Produced by D. Rama Naidu, the film was a runaway hit that was remade in Hindi as Tohfa (1984), which ended up being the biggest Bollywood blockbuster of 1984. Both Sridevi and Jaya Prada reprised their roles but Jeetendra filled the shoes of the male lead. 

The original template was set early on--the jhatkas with the matkas--the costume, the jewellery, the dance steps, we've seen variations of this in both Himmatwala and Tohfa. Hey, if it ain't broke... Lather, rinse, repeat! 

Sridevi was 18 when she shot the original Telugu film, already a striking young star in Tamil and Telugu language mediums. By the time she was dancing the hookstep of Gori Tere Ang Ang Main, she had already done variations of those movements and mudras for years and did them perfectly at first take - much to the challenge of Jeetendra, who needed the rehearsals. The grace of Sridevi that she never complained and worked with him repeatedly till he got the steps coordinated.  

The mere haathon main step below, deja vu anyone?! 

Sobhan Babu and Sridevi in Devatha (1982)

 Sobhan Babu and Sridevi in Devatha (1982). 

 Sridevi was just 19 and looked like a doll in this movie. 

Sridevi's dance costume for the Telugu blockbuster Devatha (1982)

Sridevi's dance costume for the Telugu blockbuster Devatha (1982). Our archive of images from one of Sri's many Telugu blockbusters here.

Sridevi and a tree. Strike a pose! Gorgeous Sridevi in Devatha

 

Sridevi and a tree. Strike a pose! 

Sri essayed the part of the pretty village belle in soooo many movies - there are several shots of Sridevi posing by trees, leaves... scroll back and see! 

Sridevi and Sohan Babu in the Telugu smash Devatha (1982 )

Sridevi and Sohan Babu in the Telugu smash Devatha (1982 )

Sridevi and Sohan Babu in the Telugu film Devatha (1982)

Sridevi and Sohan Babu in the Telugu film Devatha (1982) - which was remade, almost frame by frame, with Jeetendra in Hindi two years later as Tohfa. 

Both films did exceptionally well at the box-office.

South Indian films - well, the successful ones - were a litmus tests for producers to recreate for a pan-Indian audience (the Hindi speaking belt). The notion that if it works in a smaller market, in limited screens, it could do well nationwide. 

This formula worked well throughout the early 1980s - and now, in 2021, you see many Tamil and Telugu remakes being made in Bollywood. To varying degrees of success. 

Sobhan Babu and Sridevi in Devatha (1982)

Sohan Babu and Sridevi in Devatha (1982). A film which was entirely remade in Hindi as Tohfa - (with the ladies reprising their respective roles but with Bollywood male actors) which also went on to become a blockbuster. 

Dancing diva: Sridevi in white: Devatha (1982)

Sridevi in white, from the Telugu blockbuster film Devatha (1982).

Dancing in wide open spaces around the matkas was done long before Himmatwala! Repeated in Bollywood. 

Sridevi in Tamil and Telugu films

Above: Sridevi in the Telugu film Devatha (1982)

With the help of informed and generous fans, we are entering a new age on this blog; flooding it with with accurate information on Sridevi's south Indian films - her life pre 1983, in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and the six Kannada films.

It's harder than it sounds as getting clear scans, images and information from the 70s and 80s is really tough. We rely entirely on the kindness of strangers to amend and edit as we get well-informed data and information.

Unlike many others on social media, when errors are pointed out, we are happy to amend as the goal is to have the most accurate, informative database of all things related to Sridevi. People get so offended when we point out errors that we've stopped policing, unless its a particularly egregious post! Pls note we aren't changing based on opinions only on facts!

Sridevi in Devatha (1982)

Sridevi in the Telugu film Devatha (1982). 

The original of Nainon main sapna... Not the song, but the dance routine, art direction, styling, the visuals... 

Rare Pics: Tohfa Silver Jubilee Party: Sridevi, Jaya Prada, Jeetendra celebrate the success

click to enlarge

The cast and crew of Tohfa at the silver jubilee celebrations of the film - the movie was the biggest hit of 1984. Before the arrival of the 100-crore club, movies celebrated long weeks/months at the box-office, not entirely sealing their fate on opening weekend collections. 

In above pics, find the leads Jeetendra, Sridevi and Jaya Prada, producer D. Ramanaidu and director K. Raghavendra Rao.

To celebrate the silver jubilee, producer D. Rama Naidu hosted a lavish party at Adyar Gate Hotel, Madras, on April 14, 1985.  

If you look closely at one pic, also find Sridevi's sister Srilatha and niece/cousin Maheshwari

Below: The side-by-side comparison of how the film was made again - not just dubbed but re-shot entirely. Sridevi often said in interviews she didn't always enjoy re-shooting or re-making movies but when the movie turned out to be a success, she didn't mind it! 

Devatha was made in 1982 and after its stupendous success at the box-office, it was remade, frame by frame - but with Jeetendra as leading man - as Tohfa. Sridevi and Jaya Prada reprised their respective roles as sisters in the film. 

Above; Sridevi and Jaya Prada in Devatha - which was remade nearly frame by frame into Tohfa - both were major hits in their respective market. The Telugu film released in 1982, the Hindi in 1984.