Beautiful Sridevi in the Telugu hit Kshana Kshanam

Released on 9 October 1991, the Telugu hit Kshana Kshanam is one of Sridevi's better films. 

The movie won five state Nandi Awards, including Best Direction, Best Screenplay, and a Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu to Sridevi. Varma later remade Kshana Kshanam in Hindi as Daud, but opted for Urmila and Sanjay Dutt to lead the film. 

Sridevi sweeps the awards at age 19: The Tamil hit Meendum Kokila + The Beginning of the End of Kamal Haasan collabs

 

Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in the Tamil film Meendum Kokila - a critical and commercial success that released on 14 January 1981. 

Many have often wondered why the magical, successful, critically acclaimed pairing of Kamal Haasan and Sridevi petered out in time. 

I have a theory. 

Meendum Kokila was a critical and commercial success, where, for her performance, Sridevi won her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil. She was just 18 when the film released and 19 when she received the trophy. It remains one of the few films where Sridevi swept the awards instead of Kamal Haasan - an aberration in a trend where the multi-hyphenate superstar (actor, writer, director, producer, dancer, and choreographer) often dominated.

Whether in 16 Vayadhinile, Sigappu Rojakkal, or Moondram Pirai, Kamal Haasan consistently collected the accolades - amassing a staggering 17 Filmfare wins from 31 nominations - along with top billing and the biggest paychecks. Sridevi, despite being the emotional and commercial backbone of many of these films, did not. She truly held up “the other half of the sky.” but the critics seem to bypass her altogether. 

In hindsight, during the early 1980s, Sridevi’s versatility - her seamless shifts between serious and glamorous roles, especially in Telugu cinema - was often undervalued by critics and juries. Time and again, in films co-starring Kamal Haasan, her co-star, the director, or the film itself would win awards while her own stellar performances, effort went unrecognised. 

This pattern was particularly evident with Moondram Pirai, which followed Meendum Kokila. Sridevi didn't get the awards that she truly deserved - at an age when it mattered. As a rising star and teenage sensation, Sridevi wasn't in high school or University - the acknowledgement of hard work, of exceptional work is through the symbolic wins of these trophies and trinkets from governing bodies, which truly matters when you're a teen searching for approval. When Sridevi was firmly established, she really didn't care whether seven editors in a room liked her or not - as long as the audience did. 

Notoriously press-shy and known for giving monosyllabic interviews, Sridevi made it easy for editors to admire her on screen but harder to champion her off it. She was also an unpredictable presence at award shows, frequently out of station shooting across Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, or Telugu films. While her massive popularity with the masses was undeniable, the media establishment was often not in her favour - for a multitude of reasons. She did not enjoy photo sessions, she hated giving interviews, she was often shocked by what was written about her (and her family!) and she barely had a rapport with the male editors of film rags, wasn't pally with the female reporters/editors and didn't provide spicy quotes to sell tabloids. Awards are handed out by media corporations - what happens when you don't get along with that same media? 

The disadvantage was clear. The advantage? It didn’t seem to matter to Sridevi.

Meendum Kokila marked her first major award win, yet she always maintained that she preferred a solid box-office hit over trophies handed out by a handful of sycophantic critics and sponsored shows heavily reliant on ad sales and TRPs. The audience votes - by either buying a ticket at the cinema. Or not. 

Key Films Where Kamal Won Major Awards, Sridevi Did Not

Film	Year	Language	Kamal Haasan’s Awards	Sridevi’s Recognition	Notes
16 Vayathinile (Pathinaru Vayathinile)	1977	Tamil	Filmfare Best Actor (Tamil) Tamil Nadu State Best Actor	Special Commendation Award only	Kamal got the main acting award; Sridevi got a special mention.
Sigappu Rojakkal	1978	Tamil	Filmfare Best Actor (Tamil)	No Best Actress win	Strong performance by Sridevi, but no major individual award.
Varumayin Niram Sivappu	1980	Tamil	Filmfare Best Actor (Tamil) Tamil Nadu State Best Actor Filmfare Best Film (as lead)	No Best Actress award	Kamal and the film were heavily awarded.
Moondram Pirai	1982	Tamil	National Film Award – Best Actor Tamil Nadu State Best Actor	Tamil Nadu State Best Actress (she did win this one)	Partial exception – Sridevi won State award, but Kamal got the National Award.

Summary of the Pattern

• In several of their early-to-mid collaborations, Kamal Haasan dominated the award circuit (especially Filmfare South and State awards) while Sridevi, despite critical acclaim and strong box-office pull, was often overlooked for top acting honours.
• Meendum Kokila (1981) stands out as the clear exception — Sridevi won the Filmfare Best Actress (Tamil), and Kamal did not dominate the awards for that film.
• Their later joint films (e.g., Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu, Telugu remakes, etc.) were more commercially driven and generally did not sweep major awards.

Sridevi with Jeetendra in the biggest hit of 1984: Tohfa: A Gift that keeps on Giving!

Sridevi, 20, and Jeetendra, 41, from a still from Tohfa.

Released on February 3, 1984, director K. Raghavendra Rao’s Tohfa emerged as a towering box-office juggernaut. Made on a modest budget of approximately ₹2 to ₹4 crore, the melodrama went on to gross an unprecedented ₹9 crore, beating out heavy-weights starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, and Rajesh Khanna to become the highest-grossing Indian film of 1984. Simply based on ROI - return on investment - few films beat this movie's records. 

Its runaway success surprised industry insiders because the early 1980s box office was dominated by gritty, male-dominated action thrillers and revenge sagas. Posters of rugged men holding guns with a background of the screen ablaze... Switch to the dancing shots of Jeetendra-Sridevi-Jaya Prada, it was quite a left turn! A hyper-melodramatic, South-style family tale centered around two self-sacrificing sisters wasn't expected to rule the year's commercial charts.

However, producer D. Ramanaidu had a battle-tested template. Tohfa was a direct remake of Rao's 1982 Telugu blockbuster Devatha. Both Sridevi and Jaya Prada reprised their original roles as sisters in love with the same man (played in Hindi by Jeetendra). Knowing the underlying story possessed proven dramatic heft, the production team spared no expense in translating that emotional core for Hindi audiences.

What truly set Tohfa apart before it even hit theaters was its revolutionary pre-publicity campaign. Ramanaidu flooded major cities with massive, larger-than-life cutouts and towering billboards—a marketing scale rarely seen for social melodramas at the time. Crucially, the publicity leveraged Bappi Lahiri’s electrifying soundtrack. Tracks like "Pyar Ka Tohfa Tera" and "Ek Aankh Maroon To" were aggressively plugged across radio channels and audio cassettes, generating massive pre-release hype. Coupled with the real-life media fascination surrounding the Sridevi–Jaya Prada screen rivalry, audiences flooded theaters. The blend of high-decibel marketing, chart-topping music, and relentless emotional drama turned Tohfa into an enduring pop-culture landmark.

Critically, it was in no danger of being confused as an art-house film, the serious film editors and reviewers hated the film and its flimsy plot - but not a single person in the cast or crew cared; they were laughing all the way to the bank as the movie made more money than any other in India! Nothing succeeds like... success. 

Kalyana Raman: Sridevi and Kamal Haasan's supernatural comedy classic from 1979!

Kalyana Raman [or கல்யாணராமன்], released in 1979, a classic Tamil supernatural comedy film that brought together the iconic pair of Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in one of their early collaborations. 

Directed by G. N. Rangarajan and written by Panchu Arunachalam, the movie blends elements of fantasy, humour, revenge, and romance, making it a memorable hit from the late 1970s, a golden era in Tamil cinema.

The story revolves around twin brothers: Kalyanam (the naive, innocent younger one) and Raman (the elder, more street-smart twin), both portrayed brilliantly by Kamal Haasan in a dual role. Double roles and title roles have always been a great indicator of a star's meteoric position; double the whammy for the single buck. 

Kalyanam, the humble and wealthy son of a rich man, falls victim to a greedy estate manager (played by V. K. Ramasamy) who deceives and murders him to seize the family property. After his death, Kalyanam's spirit returns as a ghost to haunt the wrongdoers and seek justice. 

Meanwhile, his twin brother Raman returns to uncover the truth, take revenge, and protect the family legacy. The supernatural twist allows for comedic ghost antics, light-hearted moments, and emotional depth.

Sridevi, 15, plays Shenbagam, the charming female protagonist who becomes involved in the brothers' lives, adding romance and Sridevi is lovely with her signature grace and expressive face. Her chemistry with Kamal Haasan shines throughout, showcasing the playful and famed on-screen dynamic that made them one of South Indian cinema's most beloved pairs.

The film features a strong supporting cast, including Major Sundarrajan, Thengai Srinivasan, Manorama, Pushpalatha, and others, all who contribute to the comedic timing and dramatic tension of the now-considered Tamil classic. 

The music, composed by the legendary Ilaiyaraaja, is a highlight, and remains popular among fans even now - oh-so-many decades later. 

A commercial success upon release, the film is remembered for its innovative use of supernatural comedy - a novel idea at the time - in Tamil films, Kamal Haasan's versatile double performance (switching between the innocent victim and the vengeful brother), and lovely Sridevi's youthful charm, the initial sparks that ignited her career as one of Indian cinema's greats.  

Released on July 6, 1979, the movie stands as an entertaining example of 1970s Tamil cinema's creativity in blending genres and is a mercifully short film, just over two hours! 

Available on Amazon Prime for viewers interested in revisiting this gem.

Update: This film was later remade in Hindi as Ghazab, which released in 1982, featuring Dharmendra & Rekha!

Sridevi in Feroz Khan's Jaanbaaz: An Adult Film that was a huge hit in 1986

Released on 20 June 1986, Sridevi's extended guest appearance in Feroz Khan's Jaanbaaz was a surprise hit. She had an incredible song in the film, the profoundly lyrical Har kisi ko nahin milta, sung by the mellifluous Sadhana Sargam (a favourite singer) and Manhar Udhas.  

Legend has it that the picturisation of the song, Sridevi in monochrome chiffon saris seductively swaying at the beach, influenced the production and picturisation of the song Kate Nahin Kathe in Mr.India, which released a year later. According to online features (again, not a reliable source but...)  originally, the seductive song on Sridevi was going to be shot in some Arabic costumes but changed entirely after the team saw how gorgeously and simply shot Har kisi ko was. This could be pure internet speculation, but then there is some similarity in styling. The monochroome looks - first red, then all white fabric swaying with Sridevi with minimal accessories is an inspired look in Mr.India too... Either way, Sridevi rocked both songs with such unfiltered sensuality, proving that you can be covered head to toe, and still be considered gloriously sexy. 

An "Adult Film" that was a huge hit in 1986, the movie came with the usual bandwagon of controversies... 

But you know Bollywood; a hit is a hit, is a hit. 

Trying to find photos of the movie premiere but so far, nothing has cropped up - a film that featured reigning queens Rekha, Sridevi and Dimple Kapadia all in one film... what a casting coup! 

Mr India's Vintage Poster: Released by T Series

T Series got the scoop out of titan HMV back in 1987, the music rights to the super successful Mr.India. 

This vintage newspaper advert --ai colour edited this year--shouting the film's success. 

 

Sridevi with Jaya Prada in their epic dance off in Maqsad

 

Released on April 27, 1984, Maqsad was led by an all-star cast of Jeetendra, Rajesh Khanna, Sridevi and Jaya Prada. The film is no great shakes, but we were all shook up when we saw the epic dance-off between the famously warring leading ladies, Sridevi and Jaya Prada. The film is worth watching only to see these two dancing icons work their hardest. They made each other better. Both are so damn good in it, even with our cognitive bias in favour of Sridevi, cannot decide who is better. Expressions, movement, elegance, grace, precision, both are fantastic.

The men are... well, overacting their way through the dance, but really, no one's looking at them when these flashes of blue and pink are raging on the screen. 

Chaalbaaz: Rare poster of Sridevi on the sets of her iconic film from 1989

 

Sridevi: Keeps her hat on! 16-year-old Sridevi

Young teenaged Sridevi in the Telugu film... er... anyone recognise the movie?! 

UPDATE: Sridevi from the Telugu film Kaksha back in 1980.  

The 1980 Telugu Action Hit That Marked a Director’s Promising Debut

Kaksha (“Revenge”) emerged as a notable commercial success. Released on 28 March 1980, the film was produced by the legendary D. Ramanaidu under the banner of Suresh Productions and directed by V. C. Guhanathan in his Telugu directorial debut. With energetic action sequences, drama, and strong performances, Kaksha resonated well with audiences, earning a solid box-office verdict as a commercial hit.

The story revolves around themes of revenge and personal vendetta, typical of the era’s high-octane action dramas. The narrative follows a protagonist driven by tragedy and injustice, navigating family conflicts, intrigue, and redemption. The film blends intense action with heartfelt emotional arcs, a formula that appealed to Telugu moviegoers of the time. 

Music by K. Chakravarthy added to its appeal, complementing the dramatic tone. At the heart of Kaksha was a powerful cast led by veteran star Sobhan Babu in the lead role. Sridevi, then a rising young sensation, played the female lead, bringing her brand of charm and youthful appeal to the screen. 

Supporting roles featured talented actors including Jayachitra, Gummadi, Murali Mohan, Kaikala Satyanarayana, and Mohan Babu, among others. 

A striking aspect of the film was the significant age difference between its lead pair. Sridevi, was just 16 years old (turning 17 later that year) during the film’s release—already an established actress transitioning from child roles to lead parts. Her co-star Sobhan Babu, born on 14 January 1937, was 43 years old, showcasing the common on-screen pairings of the period where seasoned heroes shared the frame with youthful heroines.

Kaksha stands as a reminder of Telugu cinema’s 1980s dynamism, where action-packed revenge sagas thrived. The full movie is still available on platforms like YouTube via Suresh Productions, offering viewers a chance to revisit this classic hit. 

Sridevi in Laadla: Another Feather in Her Cap

Released on 17 Mar 1994, Laadla was a blockbuster from the get-go. Sure Anil Kapoor had the title role, but its Sridevi's iconic, over-the-top quasi negative role as Sheetal Jaitley that most remember. It earned her yet another Filmfare Best Actress nomination. Often credited with carrying the otherwise ordinary 90s Bollywood film, in the lens of 2026, the film is fabulous, flawed... fabulously flawed! 

Sridevi got high praise (Yash Chopra for one loved it), and mimicking her signature tagline in the film--You understand, you better understand--became a viral trend long before the invention of Instagram.  

1. Sreehari Nair (film critic), Rediff.com – "The VERY BEST of Sridevi" article, 10 July 2017
   "It's a character and a movie salvaged only by Sridevi's performance." He further elaborated on her inventive approach to an otherwise "trashy role.") "Sridevi doesn't try to embalm a trashy role, she plays trash like trash. She has an irony about the whole thing; she's too inventive and doesn't merely perform the rituals. When she struts and snaps her finger hard, we get it: She is too big for the role." 
2. Raveena Tandon (co-star, who played Kajal), Times of India interview – 25 March 2022 (on the film's 28th anniversary)
   "'Laadla was an amazing, very special film for me and working with Sridevi and Anil Kapoor was a lifetime experience which I always cherish.'"
3. Aneez Bazmee (screenwriter), interview with Komal Nahata – referenced in The Indian Express article, 25 March 2024 (on the film's 30th anniversary)
   "No one would have played the role better than Sridevi." (He added that the team rewrote scenes specifically "to complement Sridevi’s acting prowess and strength as an actor.")

These quotes highlight why Sridevi's fierce, campy, and larger-than-life portrayal remains the film's standout element decades later, even as the movie itself is often called over-the-top or messy. 
After a row of flops, the cast needed a hit. And they got a big one!