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. 

Sridevi being oh so cute in Moondram Pirai / Sadma

Sridevi being oh so cute in Moondram Pirai / Sadma 
 

Sadma anniversary: Sridevi's finest hours with Kamal Haasan

 

Sadma anniversary: Sridevi's finest hours with Kamal Haasan! Released on 8 July 1983. The performance of all performances... 

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in Moondram Pirai / Sadma

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in Moondram Pirai / Sadma 

Sridevi herself preferred the Tamil original Moondram Pirai to the re-shot Sadma, as the spontaneity and innocence of the original was somewhat lost in the remake--according to her. For us hardcore fans of Sridevi, of course we only see one of the greatest performances by two of India's greatest actors. It boggles the mind that Sridevi was just 19 when she shot Moondram Pirai - more shocking that she didn't get any major awards for this definitive act by a leading lady. 

The future will right the wrongs of history as God knows who won what that year, but we all remember Sridevi's achievements as an actor beyond compare.

I've said this before and I'll say it again; Moondram Pirai is just one of those movies you need to see every decade of your life to understand its nuances and fathom its profound depth. And that ending... ufff... 

 

Sridevi in Sadma: Centrefold and poster of this beautiful Indian actress

 

Sridevi in Sadma

Sridevi in Sadma. 

Just gorgeous... and damn, what a performance. 

Released in the summer of 1983, Sridevi was 19 when she shot the film and turns 20 a month after the movie's release. 

8 Films of Gulshan Grover and Sridevi: Sadma to Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin: The listicle

Gulshan Grover, excerpt from his biography Bad Man, "As soon as Balu [Mahendra, director of Sadma] shouted, ‘Lights, Camera, Action!’ I lunged for Sridevi. Completely in character, she pushed me away so hard I landed in a heap on the floor several feet away. There was a roar of laughter from Kamal and Romu and with a hurried ‘Cut’ Balu came running towards me. He looked at me, sitting there looking stupefied, and said with a straight face, ‘What is this? The mighty villain has fallen!” 

I quickly recovered my equilibrium and was back on my feet. The second take went off smoothly and we wrapped up the scene quickly, thanks to Sridevi. Without saying it in so many words, she made me realize just how important it was to enact a r*pe scene without hurting the dignity of my female co-star. Every actress resents and detests a strange man touching her. I don’t remember her exact words, but the gist of what Sridevi told me that day was that while projecting a certain emotion, I had to be careful not to make the object of my lust feel uncomfortable with my unwelcome attention. I had to ensure that no matter what, I was never out of line. That was the biggest lesson I learnt on the sets of Sadma, and one which I have diligently practised all through my career. In later years, in an interesting turn of events, given that I would make their lives hell onscreen, several heroines, from Rekha-ji, Anita Raj to Kimi Katkar, Dimple Kapadia, Manisha Koirala, Raveena Tandon, Tabu, Karisma Kapoor and Mahima Chaudhry often pushed their producers to sign me because I never inconvenienced them in scenes that demanded physical proximity.”

Excerpt from Stardust: 

Gulshan will always be thankful to his buddy Anil Kapoor, who he says is responsible for getting him this film. Anil introduced him to the director Balu Mahendra and spoke highly about his acting capabilities. "I was also the dialogue delivery coach for Kamal Haasan, Sridevi and Silk Smitha in the film. With this film, my friendship with producer Rommu Sippy began and he later went to to cast me in 15 films. Sadma, according to me, is a cult classic," he says proudly. 

Gulshan Grover went on to work with Sridevi in several films including;

1. Sadma (1983)
2. Ghar Sansar (1986)
3. Waqt ki Awaz (1988)
4. Nigahein (1989)
5. Banjaran (1991)
6. Chandra Mukhi (1993)
7. Kaun Sachchan Kaun Jhootha (1997)
8. Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin (2004)

Rare Pic: Kamal Haasan, Gulzar and Sridevi

Kamal Haasan, Gulzar and Sridevi recording a song in Sadma back in 1983. 

One of the rarest pics we found online. 

 

40 years of Sadma: Sridevi and Kamal Haasan's most poignant film

40 years of Sadma: Sridevi and Kamal Haasan's most poignant film. You CANNOT be a Sridevi or Kamal Haasan or Indian cinema fan if you haven't seen Sadma - and for the hardcore fans, the original Moondram Pirai. 

Left: Sridevi centrefold/poster. 

Sridevi on the sets of Sadma: Rare Stills

Sridevi on the sets of Sadma: Rare Still

Sridevi, Puppy, Sadma, Hari Prasad!

Sridevi, Puppy, Sadma, Hari Prasad! 

Sridevi in Sadma, an acting tour de force

 

TBT: Sadma posters: Vintage 1980s painted film poster and postcards from Sridevi's most memorable film

TBT: Sadma posters: Vintage 1980s painted film poster and postcards from Sridevi's most memorable film 

Sridevi in Sadma (1983): 38 years later

Sridevi's role in Sadma remains the gold-standard for acting by a leading lady. 

Released on July 8, 1983, the movie had rapturous reviews, but a distinctly dull box-office response. Far too serious for what the nation was in the mood for back in 1983. 

It grabs you in a way that I can't explain. You'll think long and hard about the movie for years to come - God knows we have for 38 years. 

1983 was a career-defining year for Sridevi in Bombay and Bollywood (long before the city was re-renamed Mumbai!). On the one hand she had all the acclaim of Sadma and on the other, massive hits  crowning her the queen of Bollywood! Of the Top Ten movies of 1983, Sridevi appeared in four of them, including the number one film at the box-office that year, Himmatwala (and went on with successive successes Mawaali, Justice Chaudhury and Jaani Dost). You'll remember the song and dances of those films, her costumes, her beauty - but none are a patch on a single scene in this heart-tugging tragedy. 

The face that changed the concept of a leading lady in Bollywood; Sridevi.

 

Dimple Kapadia, "Sridevi was too good": Famous Fan

Today, June 8, is Dimple Kapadia's birthday - this quote about Sridevi from Dimple is lovely - not as funny as the one she had about Rajesh Khanna! 

Dimple Kapadia, "There is no role that I look forward to. I have done enough and I am not dissatisfied with the body of work that I have done. Sadma (1983) was one film I was supposed to do, but unfortunately Sridevi did it. That remains one role I wanted to do but after seeing Sridevi, that desire died. She was too good."

When asked about who her favourite actress is, Dimple Kapadia said in the same feature, "The best heroine around today is, unquestionably Sridevi. She's miles ahead of the rest and I am a great admirer of her. If you ask me who my favourite is, the answer would be simple, Sridevi. She is number one. Even you have said that."

As wonderful an actress Dimple is/was and so famously beautiful (that mane of hair is beyond compare), the one thing we loved about Dimple Kapadia unfiltered uncensored interviews. She was so much fun to read. No PC BS, just as truthful as she could humanly be. 

Below: Dimple Kapadia on the cover of Star & Style. Dimple, "Who's afraid of Sreedevi?" The No.2 Heroine has aces up her sleeve! 

Bollywood Film Poster Art: A dying format: Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in Sadma

 

Bollywood Film Poster Art: A dying format: Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in Sadma!

The skillset required to paint and create these in recognisable, large formats with alacrity and excellence.  A dying art form sadly as cinemas shut across India.

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in Sadma / Moondram Pirai

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in Sadma / Moondram Pirai.  

 

Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in Sadma

Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in Sadma 

Moondram Pirai / The third crescent / Sadma

Sridevi in Sadma - image not from Moondram Pirai! 

Released on 19 February 1982, the classic film Moondram Pirai, is cited as Sridevi's finest performance in Tamil cinema. What's noteworthy is, Sridevi was just 18 when she shot the film, as she embraced the nuance and complexity of her multi-layered role with such ease and elegance. Simultaneously Sridevi balanced a palpable innocence and fearless confidence.

The Tamil film's success and vast critical acclaim spurred the makers to re-do the entire movie in Hindi (with minor changes in actors in the supporting roles) as Sadma; which was released on 8 July 1983, 37 years ago today.

A frame-by-frame remake, it's how most cine-goers in the Hindi belt, and indeed the national consciousness first recognised the acting phenomena of Sridevi and Kamal Haasan. Prior to that, Sridevi was only seen as a dancing doll and sex symbol (we have reams of press from that era and the Bombay critics were not kind to the ingénue Sridevi) in jumping jack Jeetendra movies. To be fair, there wasn't a wealth of rich character filled roles Sridevi did in those commercial blockbusters. Only the true cinephile cognoscente of Sridevi's muli-lingual repertoire was aware of her oceanic talent.

Despite near-universal acclaim from every critic from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Kamal Haasan went on to win one of his four Best Actor National Awards, and Sridevi wasn't mentioned in the adjudicating hemisphere.

Sridevi went on to be unrecognised by the governing jury, thereby setting a pattern we saw repeatedly in her resplendent career. Stellar performances constantly neglected by whoever was in charge of these award ceremonies - all the way till her tragic end.

When she passed away so unexpectedly, suddenly the nation recognised her vast contribution to Indian cinema for 50 years in 266 films, in five languages.

Too little too late?

Of course as hardcore Sridevi fans we are embittered about it, but then we have so many issues with cruel fate taking her away at age 54, shop-able trophies and sponsored trinkets seem unworthy of our attention.

Sadma is not for the faint of heart nor is it for the immature of mind. It says a lot about how nature vs nurture, eros and id, you can do pages in a thesis on the film, what it says and its timeless performances.

Sridevi herself preferred the original to the remake, we suggest you grab the Tamil version for a look at the reason we've been obsessed about the actress our entire life!

• Archive of Sadma related features and image gallery here.
• Myths about the film debunked and facts verified here.
• Sridevi's fav scene in Sadma / Moondram Pirai.