Sridevi and Kamal Haasan: Essential Tamil Cinema

 Yet another tribute to Moondram Pirai and the Sridevi Kamal Haasan jodi/duo! 

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Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in Moondram Pirai

 

Sridevi and Kamal Haasan: The magic of Tamil cinema

 

Can fans name both films? Are they both from 16 Vayathinale?! 

Kalyana Raman: Sridevi and Kamal Haasan's supernatural comedy classic from 1979!

Kalyana Raman [or கல்யாணராமன்], released in 1979, a classic Tamil supernatural comedy film that brought together the iconic pair of Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in one of their early collaborations. 

Directed by G. N. Rangarajan and written by Panchu Arunachalam, the movie blends elements of fantasy, humour, revenge, and romance, making it a memorable hit from the late 1970s, a golden era in Tamil cinema.

The story revolves around twin brothers: Kalyanam (the naive, innocent younger one) and Raman (the elder, more street-smart twin), both portrayed brilliantly by Kamal Haasan in a dual role. Double roles and title roles have always been a great indicator of a star's meteoric position; double the whammy for the single buck. 

Kalyanam, the humble and wealthy son of a rich man, falls victim to a greedy estate manager (played by V. K. Ramasamy) who deceives and murders him to seize the family property. After his death, Kalyanam's spirit returns as a ghost to haunt the wrongdoers and seek justice. 

Meanwhile, his twin brother Raman returns to uncover the truth, take revenge, and protect the family legacy. The supernatural twist allows for comedic ghost antics, light-hearted moments, and emotional depth.

Sridevi, 15, plays Shenbagam, the charming female protagonist who becomes involved in the brothers' lives, adding romance and Sridevi is lovely with her signature grace and expressive face. Her chemistry with Kamal Haasan shines throughout, showcasing the playful and famed on-screen dynamic that made them one of South Indian cinema's most beloved pairs.

The film features a strong supporting cast, including Major Sundarrajan, Thengai Srinivasan, Manorama, Pushpalatha, and others, all who contribute to the comedic timing and dramatic tension of the now-considered Tamil classic. 

The music, composed by the legendary Ilaiyaraaja, is a highlight, and remains popular among fans even now - oh-so-many decades later. 

A commercial success upon release, the film is remembered for its innovative use of supernatural comedy - a novel idea at the time - in Tamil films, Kamal Haasan's versatile double performance (switching between the innocent victim and the vengeful brother), and lovely Sridevi's youthful charm, the initial sparks that ignited her career as one of Indian cinema's greats.  

Released on July 6, 1979, the movie stands as an entertaining example of 1970s Tamil cinema's creativity in blending genres and is a mercifully short film, just over two hours! 

Available on Amazon Prime for viewers interested in revisiting this gem.

Update: This film was later remade in Hindi as Ghazab, which released in 1982, featuring Dharmendra & Rekha!

Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in Khabardaar (1984): Shelved Film from the 80s

All the acting powerhouses and superstars of that era together in one movie? What a film this could have been! Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Sridevi and Jaya Prada in the shelved but lavishly launched film, Khabardaar. Alas, the movie was never completed after a roaring launch in 1984. But we have an archive of images and stills of the movie here. 

Grok tried to amend and restore this rarely seen newspaper scan from way back when... Alas, it didn't do a brilliant job on AB Snr! More success with Sri and Kamal Haasan... 

Kamal Haasan with Sridevi in Sadma

Kamal Haasan with Sridevi in Sadma 

 

Young Sridevi with Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth in Tamil Cinema

Teenaged Sridevi spent a lot of time on set with Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth - creating some of the most memorable moments of Tamil cinema. She was so painfully young, and so precociously gifted. She stood on her own, never getting eclipsed by her co-stars.

Wonder if they knew back then, while slogging away those endless hours, they were making Tamil cinema history... Classics of the genre. They would create the high watermark for all others to follow... 

PS: Can you name which film these screengrabs are from? Comment below. 

 

Leela Mishra, Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in Sadma

 Leela Mishra, Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in Sadma 

Balu sir, Kamal and Sridevi bonded well and became a team: Thyagarajan

Any news and tidbits on Moondram Pirai/Sadma, we remain fascinated on how this gentle story because an instant classic. 

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi over the years: A BW series of pictures

Nine years older than Sridevi, one of her most frequent and popular co-stars Kamal Haasan turns 71 today. What can we say about Kamal Haasan that hasn't been published ad nauseum? One of the greatest Indian actors of all time, filmmaker, director, writer and cine-thinkers... His personal life has provided so much fodder for the tabloids -- but we generally ignore all that and concentrate on his on screen antics.

Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in films over the years above - we have the comprehensive (exhaustive) list of movies in earlier post where we got all 27 films listed, ranging from the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi repertoire. 

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in the Malayalam classic Sathyavan Savithri (1977)

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in the Malayalam classic Sathyavan Savithri (1977). A costume drama from Kerala, somehow, when Sridevi became a huge star in the 1980s, the film was re-released as "Night Queen", a tawdry title to lure in the front benchers. Part of the early bad press Sridevi had when they accused her of being part of "adult films" - a rumour that persisted for a decade and when nothing came of it, finally died down. 

Sathyavan Savithri was released in October 1977 in Kerala and you can watch it online in YouTube here.

 

Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in 16 Vayathinile: Released 48 years ago today!

Some iconic stills of Sridevi and Kamal Haasan from a career defining film of three would-be superstars; Sridevi, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. 16 Vayathinile was released on 15 September 1977, the Tamil romantic drama was co-written and directed by Bharathirajaa in his exceptional directorial debut. The film focuses on the strengths and vulnerabilities of Mayil (Sridevi), a 16-year-old schoolgirl, and the challenges she faces and overcomes.

The film was originally titled Mayil, which would have been Sridevi's first title role - but was later changed. 

16 Vayathinile became the first Tamil film to be shot predominantly outdoors; Tamil films were primarily filmed in Madras studios. Its soundtrack album and background score were composed by the great Ilaiyaraaja. 

Sridevi herself was just 14 when she shot the film - a film called At the Age of 16!

Kamal Haasan, "When I first met Sri, she didn't even know how to wear a sari!"

 

Colleagues, mentor, friend... Kamal Haasan's quote on Sridevi. Looking for the full feature.

"When I first met Sri, she didn't even know how to wear a sari!" 

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in Moondram Pirai

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in Moondram Pirai 
 

This film.... 

Sridevi with Kamal Haasan: Rare photo

Sridevi with Kamal Haasan: Rare photo

Sridevi and Kamal Haasan's last Telugu film together: Started with a classic, ended with a hit!

Released on 2 October 1986, Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu was the last Telugu film Sridevi and Kamal Haasan worked in. 

 

25 Films of Kamal Haasan and Sridevi: The Hits: The Flops: The Unreleased: The Incomplete: The Dubbed!

 

Film List

No.	Film	Year		Dubbed	Hit/Flop
1	Moondru Mudichu	1976	Tamil	No	Hit
2	16 Vayathinile	1977	Tamil	No	Hit
3	Nirakudam	1977	Malayalam	No	Flop
4	Aasheervaadam	1977	Malayalam	No	Flop
5	Aadhya Paadam	1977	Malayalam	No	Flop
6	Satyavan Savithri	1977	Malayalam	No	Flop
7	Kalyana Raman	1979	Tamil	No	Hit
8	Neeka Malargal	1979	Tamil	No	Flop
9	Sigapukal Mookuthi	1979	Tamil	No	Hit
10	Thaayillamal Naan Illai	1979	Tamil	No	Hit
11	Manitharil Ithanai Nirangala	1978	Tamil	No	Flop
12	Kuttavum Shikshayum	1978	Malayalam	No	Flop
13	Sigapu Rojakkal	1978	Tamil	No	Hit
14	Varumaiyin Niram Sivapu	1980	Tamil	Yes (Aakali Rajyam)	Hit
15	Guru	1980	Tamil	No	Flop
16	Aakali Rajyam	1981	Telugu	No	Hit
17	Meendum Kokila	1981	Tamil	No	Hit
18	Sankarlal	1981	Tamil	No	Flop
19	Vazhvey Maayam	1982	Tamil	No	Hit
20	Moondram Pirai	1982	Tamil	No	Hit
21	Andhagaadu	1982	Telugu	No	Flop
22	Sadma	1983	Hindi	Remake	Hit
23	Khabardar	1984	Hindi	No	Flop
24	Aakhri Sangram	1984	Hindi	Yes (Thaayillamal)	Flop
25	Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu	1986	Telugu	No	Flop

 

 

Eight years her senior and an established star by the time Sridevi worked with him in their first film together in 1976 when she was but a teen, the magical pairing of Kamal Haasan and Sridevi resulted in an intermittent mix of the brilliant and the bad, the beautiful and the base, movies of great critical acclaim and box office, plus a dose of films both hated (Kamal Haasan esp was very vocal when it came to films he didn't like especially if he was in them!). 

About 25 films together, in four languages (the mere dubbed films we aren't counting as separate!), the enduring legacy will live on forever as there was a magical alchemy between the two super stars and superb actors. A healthy sense of competition and upmanship that both talked about in interviews. Their films, performances, and experiments in genre were fueled by the desire to do better than the past, be it in critical acclaim or box-office performance. By the 1980s, the producers and directors were too in awe of their stardom and fan base to give them both equal footage and meaty roles. The number of films where Kamal Haasan walked away with the awards and Sridevi was left with nominations, though never stated on record, must have bothered the star and her camp inadvertently.

Even Kamal Haasan's attempts to reunite on screen were thumbed down by Sridevi. Legend has it they were still talking about doing another film together and polymath Haasan (writer, director, choreographer, singer, actor!) had said that eventually he'd convince Sridevi to do a Tamil film with him - alas cruel fate stepped in instead. 

It's been a pleasure to find some of their vintage movies on Amazon Prime, clear copies with subtitles. Like discovering facets of a diamond through new lenses, digging in the archives to find hidden gems for us non-native speakers of the plethora of films they did together. 

Have a bizarre inkling AI will unite them on screen - whether we like it or not.

Happy Birthday Kamal Haasan: Sridevi's most memorable Tamil/Telugu Co-star

 

Happy Birthday Kamal Haasan: Sridevi's most memorable Tamil/Telugu Co-star. 

Stills from Vaazhvey Maayam - which you can now watch on Amazon Prime. 

The definitive, comprehensive list of films Kamal Haasan and Sridevi appeared in together is meticulously listed here.

Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in the classic Sigappu Rojakkal (1978)

Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in the classic Sigappu Rojakkal (1978)

Shot in just 30 days, when Sridevi was 15-16, this thriller was a surprise hit as a film on a serial killer with Tamil film industry's definitive leading man was unprecedented; an unheroic leading man. Kamal Haasan went on to win one of his many (many!) Best Actor awards. Sridevi was neglected yet again by the jury. 

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi: Young teenage Sridevi

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi: Young Sridevi held her own next to the great Kamal Haasan. 

From the Tamil film Neela Malargal (1979)