Namaste Sridevi

Namaste Sridevi  

Sridevi at the premiere of Khuda Gawah

Released on 8 May 1992, there was no bigger film in the 90s than Khuda Gawah -- a movie meant to be seen ONLY on the BIG screen.  We have so many features and images from the film in the archive here.

The premiere was phenomenal - god bless Lehrein Retro for this clip - but its so odd that there isn't a SINGLE shot of Sridevi at her own film's premiere!!! WHY? What happened. Of course we know she was there - there are dozens of photos (like the two above) -- as Sridevi attended the event with her mother. She was on stage with her co-stars, choreographer Saroj Khan and so on. Perhaps she didn't sign off on the release with Lehrein? If anyone knows, kindly let us know below.

Namastay Sridevi

Sridevi during Malini Iyer promotions, Dec 2003

 During the baby years and then after. Gorgeous Sridevi. 

Sridevi in and as Malini Iyer (2004): Sridevi's only sitcom

Sridevi in and as Malini Iyer (2004): Sridevi's only sitcom. 

The Kapoors were going through some financial situation that we'd all like to forget about, and Sridevi, 41, returned to the screen with this one-off season in a memorable show on the now-defunct Sahara channel. 

It started off well, with superb ratings for the first ever telecast, then poor writing, shoddy editing and failure-to-launch gags tanked the rushed comedy. It has its moments and Sridevi sure as heck looked great, but couldn't stop this ship from sinking. Oh well... 

The fleeting memories of this are fun. You can find clips on YouTube. 

Celebrating the sleeper hit Banjaran (1991): 33 years of Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor's Colourful Surprise

Celebrating the sleeper hit Banjaran (1991). Sleeper? Yep. It was totally written off the first few weeks after the film's release and there are hints in media that Sridevi wasn't a huge fan of this film. She herself went in disguise to watch the movie in theatre and was pleasantly surprised by the audience's reaction to her song and dance routines. 

How do we describe this film? It's a Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor musical, costume extravaganza. Personally, was no fan of this hodge-podge, double-role, too many loud songs, too many colours, reincarnation and revenge beset, deja-vu plot that somehow entertained the masses. The song and dance routines, usually a highlight of a Harmesh Malhotra-Sridevi-Saroj Khan combo, are a bit of a repetitive mess. The costumes are all over the place, the hair, makeup and styling is amped up to such a degree, its a bit of a colour-block-shock on film. The continuity shots are almost a joke; see how the stars' sizes, hair, costumes, makeup changes scene after scene with no interlinking motif. 

Despite saying all that - there's something about it that clearly hit a chord in the interiors, online and in Russia! The movie has a massive cult following for a rather... tepid affair. By all means its not a great film, and yet, nothing can deny its fandom. The number of Russian fans of this film has been extraordinary... Its a lot of colours and movement, the plot is sort of simplistic... something about it works - still works for the fan base as the songs have raked up over a billion hits - even after 33 years! 

The magic of Sridevi - something indescribable. A hit film, is a hit film, is a hit film. Critics be damned. 

Sridevi at the launch of Teerandaz

Sridevi at the launch of Teerandaz. One of several films Sridevi signed, but the movie never took off... 

More images and features regarding the film in the archive here.
 

Sridevi in Chaand Kaa Tukdaa (1994)

 

Sridevi in Chaand Kaa Tukdaa (1994). 

More of this classical dance look here in the archive. 

TBT: Sridevi at Chiranjeevi's Birthday Celebrations back in 2006

 

Sridevi at Chiranjeevi's birthday celebrations hosted by the Telugu Film Industry at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad. Sridevi was warmly greeted by the crowds as the stunning actress looked as gorgeou as ever. Sridevi arrived with her film producer husband Boney Kapoor, greeted her Telugu film colleagues and met up with her erstwhile co-star of superhit films, Amitabh Bachchan, who flew in to celebrate Chiranjeevi as well.  

-- April 23, 2006

Namastay Sridevi: Gorgeous Indian actress in Pathar Ke Insan (1990)

Namastay Sridevi: Gorgeous Indian actress in Pathar Ke Insan (1990)

Dozen of pics in the archive here.

Namaste Sridevi: Sridevi in a print power suit

 Namaste Sridevi: Sridevi in a print power suit 

Remembering Sridevi everyday but especially this day, inked in infamy: RIP Sridevi, RIP my Queen

Remembering Sridevi everyday but especially this day, inked in infamy: RIP Sridevi, RIP my Queen 

Sridevi in Zero. 

TBT: Sridevi as a child artist in Tamil films

 

TBT: Sridevi as a child artist in Tamil films 

Sridevi montage: Namastay Sridevi

Trending on a Russian fan site no less, a montage of Sridevi images. 

Namastay Sridevi. Stay forever.

Sridevi working with Dabboo Ratnani

Sridevi posing for Dabboo Ratnani - Bollywood's fav celebrity photographer, over the years. Sridevi looks so stunning in her saris.

Passing 7.1 million views: The Largest Sridevi fan page in the world: Namastay

We remember being excited about 50,000 views... Here we are now with over 7.1 million views. We hope to maintain the definitive Sridevi site for as long as humanly possible.

Divine Sridevi - forever thine, forever mine.

Sridevi wishes Junior B: Abhishek Bachchan's Year around the Sun Got a Moon-lit Wish

SRIDEVI BONEY KAPOOR‏Verified account @SrideviBKapoor Feb 5

Wish @juniorbachchan a very happy birthday and a wonderful year ahead.

Abhishek Bachchan‏Verified account @juniorbachchan Feb 5

Replying to @SrideviBKapoor

Yay!!! Thank you so much.

Sridevi nominated for Best Actress by Filmfare: will she be the mighty Won?

In an industry that genuflects tediously to the new and young, Sridevi might break all the rules IF she wins the Best Actress trophy by Filmfare for English Vinglish. 

Legendary actress Nutan holds the record for the oldest Filmfare recipient in the category. She won it at the age of 43 for her role as Sanjukta Chouhan in Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1979). If Sanjukta was the neglected housewife of the 70s, Sridevi in a similar vein, albeit entirely different role, could be the head-turning winner at age 49. But will she? 

TRP ratings, politics and sycophancy runs circles around award shows. With Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, Vidya Balan leading magazine sales, and all nominated with Sri, is the trophy hers... or for the sponsored cover-girls of today?

Wait and watch...

UPDATE: As expected someone else got the trophy. Oh well... 

Iyer and Higher: Sridevi's first interview for her TV series:

g magazine's first interview on the return of Sridevi - now on TV! 

SRIDEVI: Iyer and Higher! 

March 2004, Sridevi's pre-show - her television series debut Malini Iyer - interviews with all the magazines. 

This from 'g' magazine.

Sridevi says, "Love me, don't leave me!" in her pull quote! 

After a long hiatus Sridevi, the queen of acting histrionics, especially comedy, is back! The actress had won millions of hearts with her mesmerizing smile and gifted performances in a long Bollywood career. But with marriage came a full-stop to her professional life, while the personal one took over. After a srting of housewifery and a couple of kids down the line, the restless actress in her had to re-emerge. And thus one is not surprised to see big screen Sri on the small tube.. in Sahara Manoranjan's latest comic offering, Malini Iyer.

"It feels good to come back. I'm not nervous but I think it's fun to work again, especially with such  a concept and in such a set-up. It is a wonderful experience. The idea to do more and the thrill of doing something different excited me. The innovation, characterization and feel of the show excited me. I accepted this comedy because I think it's easy to make people cry, but difficult to make them laugh and get them into an emotional loop. The storyline o a south Indian girl called Malini who is married into a Punjabi household was stimulating and the thought of making a laugh-a-minute riot for the masses made me go for it. Also the fact that it was a serial, my daughters could watch with me." 

For more - click on the images to read.