Our top five Sridevi films

On the second anniversary of the iconic actress's untimely demise, we take a look at some of her best roles

ChaalBaaz (1989)
When you need a pick-me-up from the past, just watch or re-watch this Pankuj Parasher directed comedy starring Sridevi in a double role. The powerhouse actress dancing in the rain to Na Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai (she was suffering from a fever yet shot for the song) is guaranteed to put a smile on your face again. The film is reportedly a remake of the 1972 film Seeta Aur Geeta starring Hema Malini. In an interview to a website, Parasher spoke about what led to the making of the film, saying, "When Jalwa was being readied at Prasad Studios, L V Prasad happened to see the film and liked it. He told [producer] Purnachandra Rao to get me to make a stylish film for him. At that time, Sridevi was basking in the success of Mr India and was the next big thing. When Purnachandra Rao approached me, I said: Get me Sridevi and I'll make a film for you.To my surprise, he promptly agreed and asked if I had a subject in mind, which I didn't. I just blabbered we would remake Seeta Aur Geeta. He agreed. That was it."
 
Mr. India (1987)
Directed by Shekhar Kapur, Mr. India had everything a true Bollywood buff could wish for - an invisible hero, the mighty Amrish Puri as one of cinema's most iconic villains - Mogambo, and of course, the histrionic and dancing talents of the gorgeous Sridevi. When Kapur dropped into the Khaleej Times office last year, and was asked about a second Mr. India film he expressed doubts because 'Mogambo was gone, Miss Hawa Hawaii (referencing her famous song from the film, which became a popular nickname for her) was gone.' In the light of recent announcement about a reboot and Kapur threatening to take legal action against the makers, we completely agree with his statement. Who can replace industry stalwarts like Amrish Puri and Sridevi? In an interview cited in The Asian Age, the actress had said, "I don't think that Mr. India can be remade or turned into a sequel. Such a film just happens. When we were working on it, we never thought it would turn out to be such an influential film. Even today, people remember the film, Mogambo, and my character of the talkative journalist. Everything just came together. Such a happy situation is impossible to repeat."
 
Lamhe (1991)
One of Yash Chopra's finest romantic dramas and one now considered a classic, Lamhe is a poignant tale of love and loss. The music of the film (including timeless tracks like Yeh Lamhe Yeh Pal and Kabhi Main Kahoon) was a superhit, and Sridevi's performance in a double role of mother & daughter in the film didn't go unnoticed either, winning her the Filmfare Best Actress award. Speaking to filmmaker Karan Johar about the making of the film, Yash Chopra revealed "When 90% of the London schedule was over, tragedy happened. Sridevi's father died... She came back after 16 days and had to shoot a comedy scene... At that moment she forgot everything and gave a wonderful scene. I understood that is the secret of her success... Why she is what she is."
 
Sadma (1983)
The eighties was a decade best known for entertaining over-the-top potboilers and typical Bollywood 'song-and-dance' romances, but sometimes, a compelling, thoughtful film shines through this loudness. Sadma, starring Kamal Haasan and Sridevi was a box office failure upon its release but is now considered one of the finest Indian films ever made. Sridevi's performance as a child-woman suffering from amnesia was hailed by Indian Express as "a milestone in her illustrious career." Actor Kamal Haasan told Bollywood Hungama after her death in 2018, "I lost touch with her soon after Sadma. Does Sridevi actually say she has learnt a lot from observing me? If she says so then I must say she's good learner. The amount she invests into the camera is exemplary. There's a dispute between Sridevi and me about how many films we've done together. She says it's around 25 films. I say it's a lot more. Moondram Pirai and its Hindi version Sadma are surely our best-known work together."
 
English Vinglish (2012)
If ever one doubts their abilities to accomplish anything, if they feel age or other factors are a bar, this film is a must-watch. Starring Sridevi as a docile housewife who is mocked by her family for her poor English language skills and taken for granted in her role as caretaker of the home, English Vinglish shows what perseverance to battle all odds and coupled with a strong desire to change your life can do. Directed by Gauri Shinde, the film was a hit on the international festival circuit, earning Sridevi global acclaim. The Hollywood Reporter in its review, wrote, "Indian screen legend Sridevi triumphs in a gentle, but affecting, story of a woman's awakening self-respect ... It's no surprise that by the end of the film, Shashi will conquer her fears, but the route Shinde takes to get her there is distinctively Shashi's. The image of the newly confident Shashi striding down a Manhattan street, a takeout coffee in hand and a trench coat belted over her sari, will make you smile days after you leave the theater ... Ultimately, what make English Vinglish memorable are the small, step-by-step choices Shashi makes to transforms herself. Yes, there's grit there, but it's tempered with compassion and dignity. The way the character has been crafted by Shinde, and interpreted by Sridevi, is gloriously feminine, and uniquely Indian."
enid@khaleejtimes.com