Jeetendra and Sridevi in Mawaali (1983)

 Jeetendra and Sridevi in Mawaali (1983)

The OG winking girl: Sridevi in Mawaali (1983)

 The OG winking girl: Sridevi in Mawaali (1983) 

Prem, Prem Chopra with Sridevi

The fabulous character actor, be it villain or comedian, Prem Chopra turns 87 today. Here he is with Sridevi in one of the six films they did together; Mawaali.
 

38 years of Mawaali: Sridevi, Jaya Prada and Jeetendra's Blockbuster of the 80s: Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor and Aruna Irani

38 years of Mawaali: Sridevi, Jaya Prada and Jeetendra's Blockbuster of the 80s!

In the post me too and woke world, its a hugely problematic film; the casual acceptance and celebration of eve-teasing and treatment of women in general. The only consolation, its so tame and the intentions were not to harm (the reception another matter). 

Movie was a huge hit in \83 - one of many for the Sridevi - Jeetendra combo. The songs are super fun and Sridevi looks soooo cute in the movie. 

Though the leads were obvious, shout out to Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor and Aruna Irani for providing comic relief and a villainous turn whenever the role demanded. 

Left: This pully quote from Jeetendra back in 1987!

Rare pics: Sridevi on the sets of Mawaali - Sridevi storms into Bollywood with four blockbusters in a row

Too cheeky: Sridevi with Jeetendra 

 

Rarest of rare pics of Sridevi on the sets of Mawaali - shot in less than a month, this was the sixth biggest hit of 1983. The outdoor locations for the song picturisation took the stars all the way to Mauritius, which has been the location of many a scene in a Bollywood film.  

Sridevi stormed into the Top Ten list of blockbusters with a record four films - Jaani Dost, Justice Chaudhury, Mawaali and the biggest hit of the year, Himmatwala. 

Sridevi had just turned 20 in the summer of '83 and already considered the Number One star, the Queen of the Box Office. By early 1984, she had taken the crown that teetered on the heads of Rekha and Hema Malini. Sri's track record was unbeatable - matching her incredible work ethic. 

The crop pants, the rainbow T-shirt became a style statement as Sridevi was a teen youth icon - the plastic accessories, the kitten-heels, the capris, whatever she wore became the trend of the time. 

Truth be told, in the early days, Sridevi did not get good press in Bombay's tabloids - on the plus side, Sridevi sure as hell didn't care and laughed all the way to the bank. She became the highest paid actress of her time, churning out hits for an audience hungry for light, uncomplicated entertainment. The demarcation between art cinema and masala entertainment was very clear. 

These rare images of Sridevi surrounded by fans are such a lovely throwback. She was too cute. And now, forever will be. 

The cast of Mawaali: Sridevi, Shakti Kapoor, Jaya Prada and Aruna Irani

The cast of Mawaali (1983): Sridevi, Shakti Kapoor, Jaya Prada and Aruna Irani

The masala caper was the sixth biggest hit of 1983 in India. 

 

Celebrating 37 years of Mawaali: Sridevi, Jeetendra, Jaya Prada's mega hit

 

Released on 4 November 1983, Mawaali was the sixth biggest hit of the year. 

The critics could not make sense of the film and it was absolutely pelted with bad reviews - the audience had the exact opposite reaction. The Jeetendra - Sridevi - Jaya Prada combination with catchy songs, melodrama, competent performances, the usual masala mix of a classic Bollywood potboiler, the producers were laughing all the way to the bank. Like Salman Khan movies of today, Jeetendra movies were critic-proof. 

Known as a sex symbol in the early 1980s in Bombay (it wasn't Mumbai yet!), Sridevi didn't get great write ups for the film either, however, she was saved from poisoned ink that year as it was Jaya Prada who got maximum critque for the song Oi Amma Oi Amma.  Why? Well, her sari flies off and she's dancing around undraped - albeit fully dressed - in the gardens of Mauritius. It is so tame and innocent now - but the social mores of the time were very different and in several interviews the actressed seemed horrified by the response and criticism. Jaya Prada vowed never to do such a "vulgar" song again. And she didn't. 

The movie is "time pass" as they say and Sridevi looks super cute in it - even though she's barely in the movie. Shot in a record 28 days by the Bollywood dream machine factory, the movie made stupendous return on investment; triggering innumerable Jeetendra Sridevi and Jeetendra Jaya Prada movies. These films were not loved by the typists of their time - but the Jeetendra mansion is emblematic of the money-spinners the movies were. 

We have an archive of images from the film here for a scroll back memory lane. 

Sridevi and Jeetendra in Mawaali (1983)

Sridevi and Jeetendra in Mawaali (1983)

From the song Jhopadi main, charpayi... 

Madcap fun of the 80s!

Click to enlarge this poster of Mawaali with Jeetendra and Sridevi

Jeetendra and Sridevi in Mawaali (1983)

Jeetendra and Sridevi in Mawaali (1983)

Shot in 28 days by the Madras movie factory, Mawaali was not loved by the critics - but it was by the masses. This was made in Tamil and Telugu and all the films were blockbusters.

TBH Sridevi is barely in the film - mostly in the songs and perhaps three scenes. It was early days of what went on to be an incredible career. Her song and dance routines were a huge hit from the get-go. Preliminary steps that lead her to the very top.

Doing a handful of glamorous roles, serious ones, memorable songs, in multiple languages, the then 20-year-old Sridevi, the "hardest working actress" of her time, Sridevi appeared in a whopping 21 films around India in 1983! 

You could love her, hate her - but sure as hell couldn't ignore her as Sridevi averaged nearly two movies a month in cinemas studded around India. The girl never took a break!

Below from IMDB.com:

1. Adavi Simhalu 
2. Adutha Varisu 
3. Devi Sridevi 
4. Kirai Kotigadu 
5. Lanke Bindelu 
6. Muddula Mogudu 
7. Mundadugu 
8. Rama Rajyamlo Bheermaraju 
9. Ramudu Kadu Krishnudu 
10. Sandhippu 
11. Shri Ranganeethulu 
12. Simham Navindi 
13. SP Bhayankar (Short) 
14. Urantha Sankranthi 
15. Kalaakaar 
16. Mawaali 
17. Justice Chaudhury 
18. Sadma 
19. Jaani Dost 
20. Trisulam 
21. Himmatwala 

Sridevi, Prem Chopra and Jeetendra in Mawaali (1983)

On the sets of Mawaali (1983), Sridevi, Prem Chopra and Jeetendra.

Jaya Prada, Jeetendra and Sridevi

This cover of Mayapuri magazine - Hindi language tabloid - with the top stars of the time; Jaya Prada, Jeetendra and Sridevi. The trio worked in several films together, many of which were blockbusters in Bollywood.

Sridevi's pink village belle outfit from her film Adutha Varisu (1983) Guess she repeated the look for a Hindi film too. 

Sridevi and Jeetendra in Mawaali (1983): 20 year old Sridevi in pigtails

A nearly 20 year age gap between them, but the two sailed through the 1980s in Bollywood with a steady stream of box-office hits. Bollywood was - for that decade - mostly light-hearted, muscial escapism with Sridevi and Jeetendra. And globally recognised and loved for the fun and frivolity they brought on screen from the Madras madcap film industry as they churned out movies (often 4 to 5 a year!) for the pan-Indian audience.

However, the movies were so much more than that. The messages we get on Facebook from Russia, Japan, Afghanistan, Australia, from a generation of fans who got the zany and inane plots of the easy to translate (its not like the movies had an subtext!) films continue to amaze us. Bollywood is so much more than what's seen on screens in India (or the brown belt as it is).

The films were of variable quality, not a single one favoured by critics but they had more successes than flops, danced around those beaches and pots - and got a stellar career out of it. And lifelong fans.

They did so many films back-to-back together, we can't categorically state which movies which stills are from. They all blur into one frothy bubble!

Above: Prem Chopra with Sridevi on set 

Mawaali (1983): Sridevi, Jaya Prada, Jeetendra, Aruna Irani, Shakti Kapoor and Kader Khan

Mawaali (Rogue) is a 1983 Indian  film, produced by G. Hanumantha Rao by Padmalaya Studios banner, presented by Krishna and directed by K. Bapaiah. 

The film stars Jeetendra, Sridevi and Jaya Prada in the lead roles, while Shakti Kapoor, Shreeram Lagoo and Kader Khan are featured in supporting roles. The music for the film was composed by Bappi Lahiri. 

The film is a remake of Telugu movie Chuttalunnaru Jagratha (1980), starring Krishna and Sridevi, which was later remade in Tamil as Pokkiri Raja (1982) which starred Rajnikanth and Sridevi. 

Sridevi has replicated her role in Telugu and Tamil adaptations, while Jayaprada  reprised Sridevi's role in Hindi adaptation. 

Mawaali was a commercial success grossing ₹40.7 million at the box office, becoming the sixth highest grossing Indian film of 1983.