Sridevi, a Legend Gone too Soon

I woke up today to the news that Madam Sridevi has passed away. Thinking it was a prank, I quickly Googled and found BBC reporting Sridevi's untimely passing. I was shocked to say the least.



I find this really weird as I was just watching Priya Anand talk about Sridevi and English Vinglish the other day on the programme Ninaithaley Innikkum hosted by Kushboo. And, today, this happened.

I am not going to talk about how Sridevi died or about her cine feat - you can get all that by Googling. I'm going to talk about how I saw her, through my eyes..

As a kid, I used to watch all the devotional films and there is this little cute Muruga. I thought it's a boy until I got very much older and got to know that it's a girl who grew up to be one of the most influential film icons of our time, Sridevi.

Sridevi on Jayalalitha's lap in Athi Parasakthi

All of us know that Sridevi had acted with the most leading actors in Tamil cinema, namely Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. But, she had also acted with Sivaji Ganesan - both as a child artiste and leading lady.

Even as a child, Sridevi was bloody talented - no wonder she went places

The first movie that impacted me is Moondram Pirai. Sridevi's portrayal of retrograde amnesia is so real, you can't sexualise her, portrayed excellently by Cheenu (Kamal Hassan)

Viji, Subramani the puppy & Cheenu = Moondram Pirai

Sridevi's childlike innocence in Moondram Pirai ought to evoke adoration. But today's guys are so perverted, they sexualise Baby Anikha, the Yennai Arindhal and Maa short film girl - she's just 15.

Anikha

Sridevi essays Oorvasi's character in Irattai Roja in the Hindi remake opposite  - I remember being awed by her beauty and acting as a woman who is materialistic. Her roles in Vaazhve Maayam, Meendum Kokila, Devaragam and 16 Vayathinile remain my favourites. I love how Mayil teaches Chappani to preserve his self-respect and encourage him to defend himself from his bullies. I opine that the line, "Ithu epdi irukku?" Rajinikanth sputters in 16 Vayathinile is best uttered by Mayil (Sridevi). And, of course, Jyothika's 36 Vayathinile's title is inspired by 16 Vayathinile!

Mayil, Senthoora Poove, 16 Vayathinile

Sridevi didn't complete school - from the age of 4 up to her death, she's been in movies, a feat only next to Kamal Hassan. Sridevi is my Uzhaga Nayagi. Oh, and she got a Padmashree too!

Look at her.. Girl crush.. Enekke love varuthe..

Sridevi's nose is a subject of controversy - her nose job has been such a topic. But, the way I see it, it's the ridiculously stupid female beauty standards imbued by hypocritically testosterone charged Indian film industry had set which is getting worse by the day that made her go under the knife for the sake of perceived beauty. Rajini is 60+ and y'all get angry when we call him grandfather when he indeed has 3 grandsons but you call Trisha who looks like like a college going girl as grandmother, old lady and aunty just because she's in her 30s. Whenever I see/hear the song Strawberry Kanne song from Minsara Kanavu, I get reminded of Sridevi by the remark, "Nose dha konjam oversized. Plastic surgery panniklame," made by Prabu Deva, unaware of the size of his own nose. You complain of perceived 'female physical imperfection' then if it's altered by surgery/makeup, you'll call it plastic/fake beauty. What to do with y'all really?

Sridevi has been a mainstay as meme template for Karutthu Kannammaa - particularly her role in English Vinglish.

In Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi, Sridevi speaks about Rajini and Kamal. Kamal always bullied and made fun of Sridevi - they did a movie Satyavan Savitri and at that time, unwanted hair removal was not so advanced and give lasting effects. Sridevi had hair growth at her sideburns and Kamal teased her as "Satyavan Sardarji." This proves a friendship the duo had.

Sridevi had impacted Bollywood so much, the song Hawa Hawai from Mr India got recreated in Tumhari Sulu with Vidya Balan rocking it.


As usual, moral policing people surface, celebrating Sridevi's death as her karma:

First of all, karma concept is bullshit - we came up with that to console ourselves. Secondly, it's the responsibility of a married person to preserve the sanctity of h/er marriage, not every Joe and Jane Doe on the street. Boney Kapoor didn't and it's his fault, not Sridevi's.

Sridevi lives on, in the movies she made. She expired - her legacy won't succumb to the mortality her physical self succumbed. Love Sridevi always.