Sridevi, a name that needs no introduction, will always be remembered for the actress’s stellar performances in not just Hindi Cinema but in several Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada films as well. On February 24th night, the actress died of a cardiac arrest, leaving the entire nation shocked and in grief.
Born on 13th August 1963, the actress started her career at the age of 4 in a Tamil movie and kept giving numerous admirable performances till 1997 after which she took a break from films. Although she appeared briefly in a TV show named Malini Iyer in the year 2004, it was her Bollywood comeback in 2012 with English Vinglish that proved that she could still give the younger actresses a run for their money.
Looking back at the phenomenal career of the diva, here are 5 Hindi films that showed the caliber of Sridevi as an artist.
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English Vinglish (2012)
English Vinglish was a comeback film for Sridevi that re-introduced the actress to the world in a never-seen-before avatar. Essaying the role of a typical Indian housewife and a selfless mother who is not a fluent English speaker, the actress charmed the audience with her utter perfection. Even at 49, her aura and acting abilities stood unmatched and at par with excellence.
The scene when she is shown at a café in America and goes through a chaotic embarrassment for not being able to understand and communicate in English is simply a performance that one can never forget. The film was a commercial success and was also critically acclaimed for Sridevi’s acting skills.
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Chaalbaaz (1989)
This film was a remake of Seeta Aur Geeta showing the lead in a double role. When this film came out, everyone was convinced that no one else could have carried on the role with such perfection as much as Sridevi. The portrayal of her two contrasting shades of an innocent girl and a strong, revolting individual was comic yet powerful.
Chaalbaaz is one of the greatest comedies that Hindi Cinema has produced and without a doubt after Hema Malini in Seeta aur Geeta, only Sridevi could play the twins with such conviction. Her expressions and comic timing were pure gold and this is one of the films that one should not miss.
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Chandni (1989)
This Yash Chopra production was the ultimate hit of the 90s for introducing the actress as the country’s sweetheart. The film was a refreshing withdrawl from the usual hero villain stories and hence it was admired by the audiences.
Sridevi played the lead in the movie and was dressed in white for most of the portions which very few actresses could carry. Her role, her looks, and her song “Mere Hatho Mein Nau Nau Choodiyan”; everything about her became the talk of the town. The movie won the National Award and also cited as “one of the most watched films of Indian Cinema”.
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Mr. India (1987)
The cult classic of Hindi Cinema Mr. India is an essential part of every millennia’s childhood not just because of the invisibility superpower of Mr. India and Mogambo’s iconic role but also because Sridevi’s character and comic timing won everyone’s heart.
Right from the song Hawa Hawai, which became a chartbuster, to her annoyance towards kids, the actress was a treat to look at, in almost every frame. Also, the sensuous song I love You where she was seen performing in a plain saree still brings back fresh memories of her sultry yet graceful personality.
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Sadma (1983)
One of the most memorable and heart-wrenching performances ever given in Bollywood undoubtedly has to be by Sridevi in the film Sadma. The actress essayed the role of a young girl who gets injured in an accident and is left with the memory of a 7-year-old.
It’s not at all easy for an adult person to enact like a child but Sridevi does it so effortlessly that it’s almost unbelievable that she is acting. Each and every scene of hers speaks volumes about her caliber and even though Kamal Hassan was mind-blowing, Sridevi clearly took away the thunder with her unparalleled talent.
