Sridevi: The OG: The AI Enhanced Sri

 How we imagine Sridevi returning... 

Sridevi and Chiranjeevi's biggest blockbuster: JVAS is one for the ages

 

The costume fantasy film: Telugu Blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari

You have no idea how big a hit this 1990 Indian Telugu fantasy film was... watching the audience reaction in the summer of 1990 was something else...  Sridevi and Chiranjeevi in 
Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (roughly translates to The World Hero and the Otherworldly Beauty), also known by the initials JVAS, was directed by K. Raghavendra Rao, who worked with Sri in 24 films over a span of several languages and genres.  

The plot revolves around a man who finds a ring that gives the bearer great power, but the goddess who lost the ring seeks it back to return to her world. Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari was theatrically released on 9 May 1990, an unbelievable success, the film soon became the highest grossing Telugu film of all-time and held the record for decades before SSR started making movies. A classic in the fantasy genre in Telugu cinema, the movie went on to win five state Nandi Awards (mostly technical awards). 

The film was poorly dubbed and released in Hindi - and most Hindi speaking audiences just didn't get it - the humour, the fantasy element, the songs... the poor dub just didn't work. No matter, the Telugu film made so much money for the producers, the blimp didn't matter. 

Janhvi Kapoor's Sridevi denim jacket!

Imprinted with stills from Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, Janhvi Kapoor's denim jacket is for... well, hardcore Sridevi fans. Wonder how much it retails for... Asking for a friend. 

 

TBT: Sridevi talking about Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari

TBT: Sridevi talking about Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari. As the film recently re-released for special screenings throughout South India, reminding folks of this little clip when Sridevi spoke about the film during the movie's 25th anniversary. She looks so gorgeous, so chic and so dignified. How warmly she speaks about the cast and crew of the film. She was lovely inside out. 

The Audience Reaction: Telugu blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari re-releases after 25 Years!

The Audience Reaction: Telugu blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari re-releases after 35 Years and the voice of the people have spoken - yet again. 

Fans go nuts at the screening as Sridevi and Chiranjeevi, Telugu icons, are celebrated once again especially during the memorable song and dance sequences. Be it an emotional, nostalgic reaction or a first-view for new generation kids who weren't even born when the original thriller/costume-drama/fantasy film was released, audiences are packing theatres. Bless. 

Remembering Sridevi: JVATS The Costume Fantasy Epic of Telugu Cinema

 

Sridevi in the Telugu blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)

Sridevi, 26, in the Telugu blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)
 

Sridevi and Chiranjeevi in Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari

Sridevi and Chiranjeevi in Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990) This blue ghaghra choli was such a fashion moment in the early 90s and with a doll-like Sridevi modeling for it! 

Sridevi in the Telugu blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)

 

Sridevi in the Telugu blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)

Sridevi and Chiranjeevi in the Telugu blockbuster in Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)

Sridevi and Chiranjeevi in the Telugu blockbuster in Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990) 
 

Sridevi as a celestial being in the Telugu blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)

Sridevi as a celestial being in the Telugu blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)

The costumes, the glitz and glamour... only Sri could pull it off. 
 

Sridevi in Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari

Sridevi in Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari 

Celebrating 33 years of this blockbuster! 

Sridevi and Chiranjeevi in the Telugu smash Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)

Sridevi and Chiranjeevi in the Telugu smash Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990) 

 

Sridevi in the Telugu blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)

Exquisite Sridevi in the Telugu blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990) Something was lost in the poorly dubbed version of this as Aadmi aur Apsara (1991). The original just worked - and how! Dubbed in Tamil as Kaadhal Devathai, and in Malayalam as Hai Sundari 

Again if you note Sridevi's film listicles, this suddenly becomes four movies! And that's just not true. When Sridevi's films are dubbed into Russian, it doesn't mean she did a Russian film. 

Chiranjeevi and Sridevi in the Telugu blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)

 

Chiranjeevi and Sridevi in the Telugu blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990) 

The biggest Telugu blockbuster of the 1990s: Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari

The biggest Telugu blockbuster of the 1990s: Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari
 

The Goddess in White: Sridevi

 Sridevi's costumes in the Telugu blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)

Sridevi and Chiranjeevi

Sridevi and Chiranjeevi! 

Sridevi looks like such a doll! 

From the blockbuster Telugu film, Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari , the comedic intro to Yamaho Ni 

TBT: Launch of Telugu blockbuster Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari: Sridevi and Chiranjeevi: Mahurat

Vyjaysnthi movie 

Production No: 9 

Date: 9/8/1989 

Muhurtham of Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari

  

Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari launch - the epic mahurat [launch] - no one could have predicted back in 1989, when the movie started production that it would become 'the' defining Telugu blockbuster.