Sadma Indeed, As We Look Back At Sridevi's Flawless Performance

Was Sadma Sridevi's best? Ponder a while as we remember the departed actress who enthralled us in almost every film of hers.

It was a complex role wherein Sridevi's performance as an amnesiac woman was widely praised and is considered one of the finest performances in Indian film history. Add this to the fact that it also brought her nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.


A Still Of Sridevi From Sadma

Rewind: Sadma, which hit theatres on July 12, 1983, was directed by Balu Mahendra. It was a remake of the director’s Moondram Pirai which also starred Sridevi and Kamal Hassan. The film told the story of Nehalata (Sridevi), a young girl who regresses to childhood after suffering a head injury in a car crash. Lost, she ends up trapped in a brothel before being rescued by Somu (Kamal Haasan), a lonely school teacher who falls in love with her.

Sridevi's performance in Sadma was called by Indian Express "a milestone in her illustrious career".] Sridevi also featured in the Mid-day list of "Challenging Roles played by Bollywood Actors" describing her act in the film as "her best performance ever".


Kamal Haasan And Sridevi From Sadma

Sridevi's performance as an amnesiac woman was widely praised and is considered as one of the finest in Indian film history. Sadma over the years has gained a cultural following and cult status.

Buzz then was, Sridevi spent months preparing for her part.

Speaking about the versatility of the actress, Sridevi could emote a wide range of expressions for every scene. The director simply had to choose.In fact, Balu Mahendra let Sridevi control the character's regression in ways that made the transition look utterly convincing.


A Still Of Sridevi From Sadma

Her co-star Kamal Hasaan, who remembers about his experiences of working with Sridevi, has said, "Have witnessed Sridevi's life from an adolescent teenager to the magnificeint lady she became. Her stardom was well deserved. Many happy moments with her flash through my mind including the last time I met her. Sadma's lullaby haunts me now. We'll miss her".

Originally Sadma was suppose to be Dimple Kapadia’s comeback movie  but she got busy with Ramesh Sippy’s Sagar and Sridevi who had essayed the role in the original Tamil movie was brought in.

Though the movie did not set the cash registers ringing--- Sadma, like Sridevis iconic histrionics in movies like Chandni, Chaalbaaz, Nagina and Khuda Gawah continues to be a favourite with the audiences.

Image Source: sridevi.biz