Sridevi in Mera Farz: The Hindi dub of Aakhari Poratam (1988)

Mera Farz (1989) is the Hindi dubbed version of the Telugu blockbuster Aakhari Poratam (1988), directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. Sridevi played the lead role of Pravallika, a CBI officer on a mission to expose a powerful criminal (played by Amrish Puri). Telugu superstar Nagarjuna was the lead but we Sridevi fans obviously only remember it for the leading lady! 

An action-drama where Sridevi’s character drives much of the story with strong action and dramatic sequences. The film is available on some YouTube channels and streaming platforms under the title Mera Farz. 

Aakhari Poratam originally released on 12 March 1988, the Hindi dubbed version, Mera Farz, hit the big screen on 5 April 1991  - fueled by the vast popularity of Sridevi in the Hindi belt. The film was a commercial success in Telugu and gained popularity in Hindi as a dubbed action-drama in some circuits. 

For us... the humour and the music somehow, just doesn't translate well. Better to watch the Telugu original with English subtitles. 

Sridevi and Kamal Haasan's poster for Aakhri Sangram: The Hindi dub of Thaayillamal Naan

The poorly dubbed version of the Tamil hit Thaayillamal Naan Illai, which originally released on 14 April 1979, five years later, it was seen in Hindi as Aakhri Sangram in 1984! Though the original was a massive hit, this Sridevi, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth film flopped badly, as expected. Not all things translate for a pan-Indian audience. 

The Tamil original was the last film where all three superstars--Kamal, Sridevi, Rajinikanth--appeared in together.  

Sridevi's Telugu film Bala Nagamma (1981) re-released in the Hindi dub Jaadu Nagri

Sridevi's Telugu film Bala Nagamma (1981) re-released in the Hindi dub Jaadu Nagri (1986). Trying to cash in on Sridevi's pan Indian, national appeal. 

Sridevi wasn't always thrilled about poorly dubbed versions of her original films being released at later date. 

For us, it creates chaos when we try to tally the official list of films Sridevi starred in. 

 

Sridevi in the Telugu film Kanchu Kaagada (1984): Dubbed into Hindi as Aaya Toofan

Sridevi in the Telugu film Kanchu Kaagada (1984). 

As Sridevi was quickly labelled the Number One star of Hindi films by 1984, the film was (poorly!) dubbed into Hindi and released as Aaya Toofan in 1985. Though she looks striking and acts well, the Hindi version absolutely tanked at the box-office and it couldn't repeat the success like the original. 

From Russia WIth Love: Chandni translated into Russian: Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna's epic hit across the border

Sridevi's fandom goes beyond borders. Esp her classic films. The Russian version of Chandni. Iffy art-work, but if the fan club online is anything to go by, they are as fanatical about the Indian actress Sridevi as the others are.

More at our fav site here. Sridevi.Ru

Naaz: The voice of Sridevi in the 1980s

The voice of Sridevi in many of Sridevi's 1980s films, yesteryear actress Naaz.

Naaz

Husband Subiraj was responsible for Naaz's entry into the world of professional dubbing artistes. Till then she'd just looked on it as some pocket money, doing the occasional regional film. Himmatwala was about to be released and someone was needed to dub for its new South Indian heroine, "who was nil in Hindi" according to Naaz. Subiraj persuaded her to go for a test to the Ketnav dubbing studio and from numerous applicants, hers was the voice chosen for Sridevi.

"She was speaking the way they do Tamil - in one breath. I can still remember that first line from a scene between her and Asrani - she was saying, 'Mera dil karta, main katta katta kairi kaoon'.

My voice suited her, it had the right tone and I'd been able to get the correct feelings across. That was the beginning, since then I've dubbed for her in around 40 films.

"I was lucky for her," says Naaz, "See how many flops she's had since she's started doing her own dubbing."

Yesteryear's child star blames certain producers who spurred her on to do her own dubbing for her debacle. "Sridevi's shrill voice doesn't go with her face. People were so used to my voice behind her that her own voice sounds artificial. My voice was taken to be natural one and people keep asking her who's dubbing for her now."

Naaz was paid Rs 5,000 for her first work for Sridevi, she gradually progressed to Rs 30,000 for Chaalbaaz.

"After Himmatwala, Jeetendra and Kader Khan recommended me to producers to dub Sridevi's voice. Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) was also quite impressed with my work. He used to say that Sridevi shouldn't switch to any other dubbing artiste. If I'd continued to dub for her nobody would have known that the voice that matched her lips wasn't her own."

In between, when Naaz dubbed for Moon Moon Sen and Bhanupriya, Sridevi was asked why she was lending her voice to these two actresses. "Sridevi called me and asked why I was dubbing for others. I told her I was a freelancer. After all, she didn't have me under contract - 'Meri badnaami ho rahi hai,' she said, but what could I do about it? I have to make a living.

"She's a fantastic actress, her expressions and feelings were easy to match while dubbing. It was a pleasure working for her.

"While dubbing, a professional can add to an artiste's performance. I use glycerine when a heroine is crying in a scene. People are amazed but without it, how can you get the sniffles and the huskiness, to make the dialogue sound authentic?"

-- Naaz in Filmfare