With each of her superlative performance and box-office hits, there were some unforgettable songs and some brilliant dancing. Narendra Kusnur picks his 10 such songs. Enjoy!
She arrived on the scene in the early 1980s and for over a decade, had some great roles and songs to match. Sridevi had a huge fan following, despite competition from Jayaprada and Madhuri Dixit.
To mark her 57th birth anniversary, we choose 10 songs that went totally with the personality of the late actress. Her dancing on some of them was brilliant, whereas songs from Sadma and English Vinglish showed her acting prowess. The list is chronological.
1 Nainon Mein Sapna – Himmatwala (1983)
Sridevi teamed up with Jeetendra in this excellently choreographed song shot on a beach with colourful earthen pots in the background. Bappi Lahiri provided the music and Indeevar wrote the words for this Kishore Kumar-Lata Mangeshkar duet which also had a catchy ‘Ta thaiyya ho’ chorus.
2 Aye Zindagi Gale Laga Le – Sadma (1983)
One of Sridevi’s most memorable roles, playing a girl with retrograde amnesia. This song, filmed with Kamal Hassan, was sung by the expressive Suresh Wadkar, with no female voice in it. Ilaiyaraaja’s orchestration and Gulzar’s words were magical.
3 Gori Ka Saajan – Aakhree Raasta (1986)
The actress teamed up with Amitabh Bachchan in this song sung by Mohammed Aziz and S. Janaki. The team of composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Anand Bakshi got together, and the chemistry of the lead pair was perfect.
4 Har Kisiko Nahin Milta – Janbaaz (1986)
Another song shot on the seaside with the sunset backdrop. Filmed on Sridevi and Feroz Khan, it was sung by Sadhna Sargam and Manhar Udhas. Indeevar’s words were set to tune by Kalyanji-Anandji.
Main Teri Dushman – Nagina (1986)
The snake charmer’s tune led to the nagin dance by Sridevi, with Lata Mangeshkar singing “Mein nagin tu sapera”. Music was by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and lyrics were by Anand Bakshi. Sridevi’s performance in this was just phenomenal.
6 Hawa Hawai – Mr India (1987)
The combination of Sridevi and choreographer Saroj Khan at its best. Kavita Krishnamurthy, whose voice and style suited the actress, sang “Bijli giraane main hoon aayee”. Music was by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and lyrics were by Javed Akhtar. Anil Kapoor also appeared on screen.
7 Chandni O Meri Chandni – Chandni (1989)
Another huge hit, picturised on Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor in Yash Chopra’s film. Sung by Jolly Mukherjee with Sridevi herself, it was composed by Shiv-Hari and written by Anand Bakshi. The film also had the popular ‘Mere Haathon Mein Nau Nau Chudiyan’.
8 Na Jaane Kahaan Se – Chalbaaz (1989)
The quintessential Sridevi number which was a rage among both young and old. Picturised on her and Sunny Deol, it was sung by Kavita Krishnamurthy and Amit Kumar, with music by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and lyrics by Bakshi.
9 Chudiyan Khanak Gayee – Lamhe (1991)
Dressed in traditional costume, Sridevi danced brilliantly on this Shiv-Hari composition. Since the song had a folk flavour, Ila Arun joined Mangeshkar on the vocals. Words were by Bakshi, and the song had a Yash Chopra film flavour.
10 Gustakh Dil – English Vinglish (2012)
This was one of Sridevi’s most memorable roles, and in this song, Shilpa Rao sang Swanand Kirkire’s words “Gustakh dil, dil mein mushkil, mushkil mein dil”. Music was by the brilliant Amit Trivedi.
Raadhe Raadhe