Abhimanyu Singh attacks Sridevi: Heart thumping climax of Mom: TBT to 2017

 

Abhimanyu Singh attacks Sridevi: Heart thumping climax of Mom: TBT to 2017

Abhimanyu's quote on Sridevi's professionalism. She was aware of her legendary status but not crippled by it. 

Sridevi in Mom (2017): 8 year Anniversary of Sridevi's swansong

Mom was released on 7 July 2017 in four languages. It was a global blockbuster, grossing ₹175.7 crore (US$21 million) worldwide. 

Tragically, it became Sridevi's swansong. 

The Mother of all Roles: Bollywood and her obsession with the Matriarch; From Nargis to Sridevi, Raveena Tandon to Kajol, Rekha to Raakhee, Ayesha to Aasha Bhosle!

The Mother of all Roles: Bollywood and her obsession with the Matriarch. It may have started with Mother India (1957) and Nargis' career defining turn, but it certainly hasn't ended as Kajol's latest release over the weekend, Maa (2025) hit the big screens. 

In fact, let me correct that statement, in the 1950s and 1960s, there were innumerable soap operatic films with the crying-in-the-corner, sewing machine rolling, gajar-ka-halwa serving, white-sari-clad mothers relishing their roles of self-pity at circumstances, pining away at... something or another. The leading ladies that made their respective films a title role, in hopes of showboating their thespian skills however came courtesy of these fab women, namely, Nirupa Roy, Rekha, Hema Malini, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Raveena Tandon, Kajol, Ayesha Jhulka to... hold your horses... even singer Aasha Bhosle, who did a surprisingly good turn in the complete sob-fest Mai (2013)! 

Variations on the appellation, Ma, some great films, some predictable tear-jerkers, some saccharine ones, some sentimental mulchy melodrama... they run the gamut. The sacrificing one, the avenging one and mostly the weeping one, Bollywood pigeon holes actresses after they pass a certain age and tax bracket! The Bollywood playbook hasn't changed, from babe and leading lady to Bhabhi, then Mother roles, its an inevitable transition for women offered shorter shelf-lives as desirable leading ladies on the big screen. Rekha, bless her bangles, perhaps stretched it the longest and certainly actresses today are trying to turn the tides in their favour, but as troll comments on social media show, the audience is constantly looking for newer, younger, hotter faces. Talent be damned. 

Note there are now three films titled Maa; one with Nirupa Roy (possibly the most famous 'mums' on the big screen in Bollywood) in 1976, one with Jaya Prada in 1991, and now Kajol. Amma with Rakhee Gulzar hit the screens in 1986, and another with Ayesha Jhulka hit the screens in 2003! In America, it's really hard to get a film certificate with the name of a movie if it has been published before - the case for The Butler comes to mind. We kind of need to do the same in India. Film titles should not and need not be repeated. The paucity of good writers and foresight in Bollywood continues. 

Any other 'Ma' roles missing here? Let us know - comment below! 

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7 years of Sridevi's swansong, Mom: A National Award winning performance

7 years of Sridevi's swansong, Mom: A National Award winning performance. 

Well, she should have won it years before... 

The performances elevated the film and its predictable plot. For Sridevi fanatics who were surprised at the lukewarm reception the film got from film-critics, no film is released in a vaccum, but in context. Imagine being the poor slob who has to watch incessant rape-films with the avenging parent plot line, again and again. And again. Maatr had just released weeks before with Raveena Tandon, the Marathi film Ajji, and later Bhoomi. 

It was the film industry's trigger response to the horrors of the headlines of that year. You can't find  justice in real life, find catharsis in reels. 

The cast did a phenomenal job in this movie - not a single character was off pitch. Sajal and Sridevi were in a league of their own. Nawaz's look and antics were written about a lot but, Nawaz is always good. 

The film has the infamy of being the great Sridevi's last film so will have a longer shelf life than most other movies of the genre. But in her 200+ film repertoire, there are other peaks and valleys. 

 

Sridevi on the sets of her swansong, Mom

Sridevi on the sets of her swansong, Mom. 

The cast and crew watching the final work of a legend. 
 

Rare pic: Sridevi on the sets of Mom

Rare pic: Sridevi on the sets of Mom  

Never thought this would be her swansong... An incredible performance by Sridevi

TBT: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sridevi and Akshay Khanna during Mom film promotions

TBT: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sridevi and Akshay Khanna during Mom film promotions 

How lovely to see them all laughing and enjoying the otherwise painful and arduous promotions of a movie.

Sridevi famously quipped, "Picture se dar nahin lagta, promotions se..."

Too cute. 

Mom is now on Netflix. 

Why ‘Mom’ Is One Of The Best Crime Thrillers Of Bollywood: Sridevi's Swansong and Title Role

Tried & Refused Production channel's look at the Hindi film Mom. 

Sridevi with a transgender artist in the film Mom (2017)

 

Sridevi with a transgender artist Nary Sing in the film Mom (2017)

Nary Sing #FanMoment Once upon a time in Mumbai ...

Fan Nary Singh ~ My dream Comes true ! My next movie with #Sridevi.. film #mom... shri devi is not my only fv .atress ? She is my Idol.. I learn so many things from her movies. Thanxx to God u gv this opportunity .

Rare Picture: Akshay Khanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sridevi on the sets of Mom

Rare Picture: Akshay Khanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sridevi on the sets of Mom 

An acting tour-de-force by all three - but Sridevi was the National Award winner for her swansong. 

Six Awards for Sridevi's Swansong: Mom

For her swansong, Mom, Sridevi collected a record number of awards, some during her lifetime, others posthumously. The film, the music, the crew won others too, but Sridevi alone  in total won six major awards: 

65th National Film Award: Best Actress

Zee Cine Awards: Best Actress/Critics Best Actress

IIFA Awards: Best Actress 

GQ Awards: Excellence in Acting 

Bollywood Film Journalists Award: Best Actress 

Masala Magazine Award: Outstanding Performance of the Year 

Bollywood film Mom in China

Right: In early 2018, Mom was released in China and was a surprise hit, surpassing box-office expectation. After the success of English Vinglish in the region, an audience familiar with Sridevi's body of work turned up en masse to watch the thespian in action again. And they were suitably impressed. 

TBT: Sridevi wins an award for her faultless performance in Mom (2017)

 

TBT: For today's throwback Thursday, a clip of Sridevi as she wins an award for her faultless performance in Mom (2017). GQ India did the honours. 

TBT: Sridevi's fan meet and greet during Mom (2017)

TBT: Sridevi's fan meet and greet during Mom (2017) film promotions, with her director Ravi Udyawar and fans. 

TBT: Sridevi in Beverly Hills

TBT: The cast and crew of the Hindi film Mom, during the movie's screening at Beverly Hills, Los Angels.

August 2017

Sridevi on set, Sridevi on film

Sridevi on the set of her final film; Mom (2017).

Celebrating three years of Sridevi's swansong, Mom

On this day on 7 July 2017, Sridevi's swansong hit cinemas all around the world, the taut thriller Mom. 

The film was a box-office success, liked by many film critics, if not all; the simplistic vigilantism espoused by the movie was problematic for some. What was universally acclaimed, the film's leading lady Sridevi, who was conferred her first National Award for Best Actress for the film. Tragically, posthumously. 

An oft repeated tale of an avenging mother (it was the third of its kind that year alone with a similar plot line in Maatr and Ajji), the director and his leading lady brought audiences into the theatre in greater numbers than its predecessors. 

Power of Sridevi, fantastic marketing, music by maestro A.R.Rehman, a fine debut directorial venture by Ravi Udyawar and a stellar cast; each and every actor, supporting actor, be it the villain or kids or husband... every single person who appeared in the film showcased their finely honed talents; Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Akshaye Khanna, Adnan Siddiqui, Abhimanyu Singh and in particular a faultless, surprising Sajal Ali. 

There were early rumours that Alia Bhatt had been approached for the film and online speculation to see if Sridevi's own Janhvi Kapoor would star in the movie; a mother daughter pairing on screen and off? It seemed almost a given. 

Enter Sajal Ali, and her pitch-perfect performance - you can't envision anyone else but her pull through such a transformative arc in the movie. Sajal Ali was just 22-23 when she did the film, but she packed a punch like a veteran actress. In fact, she wasn't completely overshadowed by Chandni herself is a testament to her talents. 

Sridevi being brilliant on screen is... सूरज को दीपक दिखाना...  showing a lamp to the sun? However that adage translates. It's almost a given, and yet, after 265 films, she still manages to surprise cine-going audiences again. And again. 

Many actresses have that one defining film to hallmark their career, Nargis in Mother India, Rekha in Umrao Jaan, Meena Kumari in Pakeeza... Sridevi's finest hours are so many, every fan and self proclaimed critic argues over what her definitive film performance is; is it Chandni, Chaalbaaz, Lamhe, Mr. India, English Vinglish... and lest we forget, her Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam repertoire.   

In the infinite tragedy of her untimely passing, what amazes us still is... she had yet another career defining performance in her. Hell, she had ten. 

Mom is available on Netflix now.

UPDATE: 

sajalaly

Verified

There are some experiences that, no matter how much time goes by, you can never forget. More often then not, people think that an actors life is easy, but not everyone thinks about the things we leave have behind when we commit to a character. We commit a portion of our lives to a project, and in the process put our own lives on pause. That can sometimes be the most difficult thing. For me, MOM was not a film, but a portion of my life I will never forget.
Three years of #MOM ❤️

The cast of Mom

Left: The cast of Sridevi's swansong, Mom, on set: (L to R); Sajal Aly, Adnan Siddiqui, Sridevi and child artist Riva Arora.

Mom is now on Netflix.

To all actors of all ages from anywhere in the world; kindly study the one-take extended hospital scene. And get back to us with notes!

Sridevi on Netflix! Bollywood icons films Mom and Gumrah are streaming on OTT platforms

Sridevi's swansong Mom and her only film with Sunjay Dutt Gumraah are both on Netflix.

In both films, Sridevi's stellar performance helped her garner rave reviews and steady box-office.

In many ways, it took her tragic and untimely passing for the government of India to recognise her vast contribution to Indian cinema, spanning 266 films and in five languages.

Watch her magic unfold and relive the greatness of India's finest actress on Netflix tonight.