Celebrating 35 years of Chandni: Sridevi's alter ego on the big screen

 

Released on 14 September 1989, there was a pre-volcanic tremor at the box-office for the film as the music was doing brilliantly, the images of the film were doing the rounds of the media beautifully, the A-list star cast was had honed in on their respective strengths.. but nothing, absolutely nothing prepared the nation for the craze that ensued after the movie's release. Be it in fashion, music, aesthetics or drama, the movie was a breath of fresh air that unshackled the violence and grunge of most 80s movies. 

A personal favourite of innumerable Sridevi fans, as Sridevi herself said, the closest character to herself in cine-world was Chandni Mathur. 

Do yourself a favour and watch it again - and invite a new gen to watch it with you. 

Sridevi: The cute whistle in Chandni

Well, of course she was gorgeous beyond belief. And English Vinglish was a reminder, how beautiful she was as a performer and just an Indian woman draped in a Sabya sari... But she was also so damn cute! Gorgeous Sridevi in Chandni.

From a still in Mere Haathon main nau nau... 

Sridevi in Chandni

In the film Chandni, the images that Rishi Kapoor covers his walls with were taken by the ace photographer Rakesh Shreshta in the 1980s. Every large poster and picture of Sridevi is from his vast archive - he has photographed Sridevi more than any other photographer. We dream of going through his reels, to collect the treasure trove of Sridevi pics that we hardcore fans would swoon over.

We messaged Rakesh to beg him to do a book, not just of Sri but to create a volume dedicated to Bollywood, immortalising his work forever. He captured every major star from the 80s and 90s... sadly, he was nonchalant about it. Somehow wanting to close that chapter in his life especially after his son Rohan is now the bees knees of Bollywood photographer.

After Sridevi's shocking and abrupt end - God, even now, 9 months later we cannot wrap our brain around the circumstances of the diva's demise - we feel it important more than ever. To immortalise Sri in book and online. Generations should know that there once was a Queen like Sridevi - and there will never be another.